The best vegan Thanksgiving desserts include pumpkin pie, apple crisp, spiced cakes, and creamy cheesecakes that taste every bit as indulgent as their dairy-filled counterparts. This roundup gathers 22 easy, crowd-tested recipes to round out your holiday feast. From classic pies to make-ahead showstoppers, there is something here for every guest and every skill level. Scroll through and start planning your sweetest Thanksgiving yet.
How to Choose the Right Vegan Thanksgiving Dessert
Choose your vegan Thanksgiving dessert based on how much time you have, your oven space, and the crowd you are feeding. Make-ahead options like cheesecakes, puddings, and fruitcake free up your oven on the big day, while pies and crisps are best baked fresh for that warm, just-out-of-the-oven appeal. Balance your table with at least one fruit-forward dessert, one chocolate option, and one classic pumpkin recipe so every guest finds a favorite. If you are short on time, crisps and one-bowl cakes deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Jump to a category
Pumpkin & Warm-Spice Classics
Pumpkin is the undisputed star of the Thanksgiving dessert table, and these spiced pies, cookies, and custards show off every cozy side of it.
Crustless Pumpkin Pie with Coconut
Skip the fussy crust and let silky pumpkin do the talking in this coconut-kissed custard pie. It bakes into a smooth, spiced filling that sets beautifully without any cream, while coconut lends a gentle tropical warmth against the cinnamon and nutmeg. Chill it overnight so the slices hold their shape cleanly when you serve.
Get the recipe
Halloween Pumpkin Pie (Jack-o’-Lantern Pie)
This playful jack-o’-lantern pie brings seasonal fun to the table without sacrificing that classic custardy filling. A carved pastry top turns a familiar favorite into a centerpiece both kids and adults reach for, and the spiced pumpkin base stays creamy underneath. Cut the pastry face with a small paring knife before baking for crisp, clean edges.
Get the recipe
Vegan Pumpkin Cookies with Chocolate Chips
Soft, cakey, and studded with melty chocolate, these pumpkin cookies capture everything cozy about fall in one bite. The pumpkin keeps them tender and moist while warm spices make the whole kitchen smell like the holidays. They come together in a single bowl for easy batch baking. Underbake them slightly and let them finish setting on the tray so they stay pillowy.
Get the recipe
Vegan Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
These one-bowl pumpkin sugar cookies from Minimalist Baker are soft, perfectly sweet, and impossibly easy for a busy holiday week. Real pumpkin and warm spice give them a tender crumb that melts in your mouth, and a simple glaze makes them feel festive. Chill the dough for twenty minutes before shaping so the cookies keep their neat round edges.
Get the recipe
Vegan Pumpkin Creme Brulee
Feasting on Fruit turns humble pumpkin into an elegant creme brulee with a crackly caramelized top and a lusciously smooth custard beneath. It looks restaurant-fancy but comes together with pantry staples and a little patience, and the spiced pumpkin base feels right at home on a Thanksgiving table. Torch the sugar just before serving so the crust stays glassy and crisp.
Get the recipe
Foolproof Vegan Applesauce Spice Cake
The Full Helping’s applesauce spice cake is the kind of humble, deeply flavored dessert that beginners can nail on the first try. Applesauce keeps the crumb moist while cinnamon, ginger, and cloves fill every slice with cozy warmth, and it needs no fancy frosting to shine. Bake it a day ahead, since the flavor deepens and the texture improves after resting covered overnight.
Get the recipe
Apple & Pear Pies, Crisps & Strudels
Nothing says autumn quite like tender baked apples and pears, and this lineup covers everything from flaky pies to bubbling crisps.
Vegan Apple Pie
A true American classic, this vegan apple pie layers tender cinnamon-spiced apples inside a flaky golden crust that shatters at the fork. It is comforting, nostalgic, and guaranteed to disappear fast at any gathering. Serve it warm with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream for the full experience. Toss the sliced apples with a spoonful of cornstarch so the filling thickens instead of running.
Get the recipe
Dutch Apple Pie (Amish Apple Crumb Pie)
Instead of a top crust, this Dutch apple pie wears a buttery brown-sugar crumble that bakes into golden, craggy clusters. Underneath sits a generous layer of soft, spiced apples for the best of pie and crisp in one slice. It is pure autumn comfort. Tent the edges with foil partway through baking so the crumb toasts evenly without the crust over-browning.
Get the recipe
Upside-Down Apple Pie with Cinnamon
This clever upside-down apple pie caramelizes the fruit right in the pan so every slice reveals glossy, cinnamon-glazed apples on top. The flip is a showstopper moment that makes it feel far fancier than the easy method behind it. It is sweet, sticky, and irresistible. Let it rest five minutes before inverting so the caramel sets slightly and clings to the apples.
Get the recipe
Easy Apple Crisp
When you want fall flavor with almost no effort, this apple crisp delivers tender spiced apples under a crunchy oat topping in under an hour. It is endlessly forgiving and fills the house with the smell of cinnamon and baked fruit. Scoop it warm straight from the dish. Add a handful of chopped walnuts to the topping for extra crunch and a nutty, toasty finish.
Get the recipe
Vegan Apple Strudel
Flaky pastry wraps around a fragrant filling of apples, raisins, and cinnamon in this cozy strudel inspired by classic European bakeries. Each slice offers crisp layers giving way to a warm, spiced center. It is elegant enough for guests yet secretly simple. Brush the pastry with a little plant milk before baking so it turns deeply golden and shatteringly crisp.
Get the recipe
Pear Tarte Tatin
This pear tarte tatin flips juicy caramelized pears onto buttery pastry for a rustic French dessert that looks stunning with minimal fuss. The pears turn jammy and burnished in the caramel while the crust stays crisp beneath, making it an elegant alternative to apple for the holiday table. Use pears that are ripe but still firm so they hold their shape instead of collapsing.
Get the recipe
Showstopping Holiday Cakes
When you want a dessert that doubles as a centerpiece, these rich vegan cakes bring the drama without any dairy or eggs.
Apple Streusel Cake
Tender vegan cake meets soft baked apples and a crumbly streusel topping in this warming fall favorite. It strikes the perfect balance between fluffy sponge, juicy fruit, and buttery crunch on top. Serve it slightly warm with coffee for a cozy afternoon treat. Fold a squeeze of lemon into the apples to brighten the sweetness and keep the fruit from browning.
Get the recipe
Vegan Bundt Cake
Inspired by the authentic German dessert, this vegan Bundt cake is intensely chocolatey with a wonderfully moist, dense crumb. Its sculpted shape makes an effortless centerpiece that needs nothing more than a dusting of powdered sugar. Slice it thick and watch it vanish. Grease every groove of the pan generously and dust it with cocoa so the cake releases cleanly without sticking.
Get the recipe
Vegan Pound Cake with Cranberries
Tart cranberries burst through this rich, buttery vegan pound cake for a festive contrast that screams holiday season. The crumb is dense and satisfying while the berries add pockets of bright, jammy flavor. It slices beautifully for a dessert spread or afternoon tea. Toss the cranberries in a little flour before folding them in so they stay suspended instead of sinking.
Get the recipe
Vegan Fruitcake
This vegan fruitcake reimagines the holiday classic as a Bundt loaf packed with dried fruits, crunchy nuts, and warm spices. It is dense, moist, and deeply flavorful, aging gracefully over several days, and a thin glaze or dusting of sugar finishes it simply. Bake it a week early and wrap it tightly so the flavors mellow and meld into something truly festive.
Get the recipe
Vegan Carrot Cake with Frosting
Moist, spiced, and crowned with a tangy dairy-free frosting, this vegan carrot cake is a crowd-pleaser at any autumn celebration. Grated carrots keep it tender while cinnamon and nutmeg bring cozy depth to every layer. It is nostalgic comfort with a modern plant-based twist. Chill the frosted cake for an hour before slicing so the layers set and cut into clean pieces.
Get the recipe
Creamy Cheesecakes, Puddings & Tarts
For guests who crave something smooth and indulgent, these make-ahead cheesecakes, puddings, and tarts end the meal on a luxurious note.
Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake
Decadently rich and impossibly smooth, this vegan chocolate cheesecake tastes indulgent yet needs only a handful of ingredients. The filling sets into a velvety, mousse-like slice that satisfies serious chocolate cravings. It comes together fast and always impresses. Run a hot knife under warm water and wipe it between cuts so each slice stays sharp and clean.
Get the recipe
Vegan Vanilla Cheesecake with Apricot Jam
Creamy vanilla filling meets a glossy layer of apricot jam in this crowd-pleasing cheesecake that hides a clever secret ingredient behind its texture. It is smooth, lightly sweet, and loved by kids and adults alike, and the fruity top adds a jewel-like finish. Spread the jam only once the cheesecake is fully chilled so it stays glossy instead of soaking into the surface.
Get the recipe
Vegan Bread Pudding (Kirschenmichel)
This cozy vegan bread pudding, inspired by German Kirschenmichel, transforms day-old bread into a warm, custardy dessert dotted with fruit. It is humble comfort food that feels indulgent straight from the oven. Serve it with a drizzle of vanilla sauce for extra decadence. Use slightly stale bread so it soaks up the custard fully without turning to mush.
Get the recipe
Stewed Quince Dessert (Romanian Autumn Recipe)
This old-fashioned Romanian stewed quince dessert celebrates one of autumn’s most underrated fruits, simmered slow until tender, fragrant, and glowing amber. It is light, naturally sweet, and deeply comforting on a cold evening. Spoon it warm or chilled with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Add the sugar toward the end of cooking so the quince softens fully before it starts to firm up.
Get the recipe
Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart
A layer of gooey salted caramel hides beneath silky chocolate ganache in this decadent tart built for a grand holiday finale. Every forkful balances sweet, salty, and bittersweet in one luxurious bite. It looks bakery-worthy but requires no advanced skills. Finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt just before serving to make the caramel flavor pop.
Get the recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular vegan Thanksgiving dessert? Pumpkin pie is the most popular vegan Thanksgiving dessert, followed closely by apple pie and apple crisp. A crustless pumpkin pie or a classic apple pie will feel familiar to every guest while staying fully plant-based.
Can vegan desserts be made ahead of time? Yes, many vegan desserts actually improve when made ahead. Cheesecakes, puddings, fruitcake, and pound cakes can be prepared one to three days in advance and stored in the fridge, which frees up your oven and lets the flavors deepen before the meal.
How do you replace eggs in Thanksgiving baking? Common egg replacements include applesauce, mashed banana, ground flaxseed mixed with water, and aquafaba, the liquid from a can of chickpeas. Applesauce and flax work best in cakes and cookies, while aquafaba is ideal for light, airy textures like mousses and meringues.
What can I use instead of dairy in vegan cheesecake? Soaked cashews, coconut cream, and vegan cream cheese are the most reliable dairy replacements for cheesecake. They blend into a smooth, rich filling that sets firmly when chilled, giving you that classic creamy texture without any dairy.
Are vegan Thanksgiving desserts gluten-free too? Not automatically, but many can be made gluten-free with simple swaps. Several recipes in this list, such as certain crisps, cheesecakes, and flourless tarts, are naturally gluten-free or easy to adapt using a one-to-one gluten-free flour blend.
How far in advance can I bake a vegan pie? Most vegan fruit and pumpkin pies can be baked one day ahead and kept covered at room temperature or in the fridge. For the crispest crust, reheat the pie in a warm oven for ten minutes before serving to revive the texture.
