Most days, 363 to be exact, it’s perfectly acceptable to not like pie; however, on Thanksgiving and Pi Day, everyone is expected to partake in a slice. The fact is that we’re not all pie people, and that’s ok. Thanksgiving should be about enjoying the foods you love, not eating under obligation. Let’s think outside the pie plate and create new delicious holiday traditions. Here are 10 dairy-free Thanksgiving desserts that aren’t pie.
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Why do we eat pie for Thanksgiving?
Like many “traditional” Thanksgiving foods we eat today—think green bean casserole, stuffing, and mashed potatoes—pie wasn’t served at the first Thanksgiving in 1621, according to History.com. Pumpkin, however, was likely part of the very first Thanksgiving spread, which also featured seafood, venison, corn, and other local produce. The squash was consumed in a stewed format, far from the enriched and silky pie filling we know today.
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Historians believe pumpkin pie—or pumpkin pudding, as it was called—made its way into American kitchens by the 1800s. The Library of Congress cites several nineteenth century cookbooks that include recipes for “pompkin” or pumpkin pudding, all crafted with stewed and strained pumpkin, sugar, cream or milk, and often molasses and warming spices such as ginger, mace, allspice, and nutmeg. Growing in popularity, the pie was iconized in Sarah Josepha Hale’s novel, Northwood: A Tale of New England, which devoted an entire chapter to the idyllic ritual of Thanksgiving. Hale would later become an unrelenting advocate of Thanksgiving as a national holiday, writing to then-President Abraham Lincoln to make the declaration, which he eventually did in 1863.
Despite pie being a modern Thanksgiving mainstay, we’re not all fans of the dessert. Fortunately, you can still give thanks and celebrate nature’s bounty, no pie crust necessary.
10 dairy-free Thanksgiving desserts that aren’t pie
If a pumpkin pie has never piqued your interest or apple pie seems “just fine”, here is a cornucopia of vegan seasonal desserts that fit right into a Thanksgiving feast.
Kirsten Kaminski
1Easy, Vegan No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
Perhaps you don’t love pie not because of the taste, but because of the complexity. For a seemingly simple dessert, pie can be intimidating, and no one wants to set themselves up for a dessert fail. Kirsten Kaminski, author of Vegan Holiday Cooking, is here to ease any baking anxiety with a fool-proof, super simple vegan pumpkin cheesecake. All you need is a blender, a pie tin, and a few hours of chilling time—no fear of overdeveloping the gluten in the crust, no second-guessing whether you under-or overbaked the pie. Bookmark this recipe for a confidence-building dessert everyone can enjoy. Get the recipe
Dreena Burton
2 Vegan Sweet Potato Cake
If pumpkins can transform into delicious muffins and pies, why not feature sweet potatoes in a luscious layer cake? Yellow sweet potatoes add a mellow sweetness, moisture, and a tender crumb to cake, in addition to adding a fall flair to a dessert that isn’t typically served at the Thanksgiving table. Those who prefer cake to pie should put this recipe on their must-make list. Get the recipe
Gibbs Smith Publishing
3 Silky Vegan Sweet Potato Chocolate Mousse
Give this sophisticated sweet potato mousse a go for the ultimate make-ahead dessert. It requires just seven ingredients and an overnight chill, giving you more space in your oven and more time to engage with your guests. Bonus: because they’re made with wholesome ingredients, they’re naturally gluten- and refined-sugar-free! Get the recipe
Baker by Nature
4 Apple Pie Cookies With Maple Cream Filling
Nostalgic oatmeal cream pies take on the flavors of fall with the addition of applesauce and a hint of maple extract. Unlike classic apple pie, which can be a pain to cleanly slice and serve, these cookies are super sharable. Make more than you think you’ll need—leftovers are always appreciated.Get the recipe
Orchids + Sweet Tea
5 Vegan Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts
For us, doughnuts fall firmly in the dessert category. They’re essentially a dense cake in a ring-shaped form. Given that logic, these tender, cider-forward, sugar-coated treats are perfect for Thanksgiving dessert. Recipe developer Shanika Graham-White strongly recommends enjoying them with a cup of coffee; we’ll take it one step further and suggest an exquisite after-dinner espresso to cut the richness of the Thanksgiving meal. Get the recipe
Simon Smith
6 Cinnamon-Spiced Apple Crumble à la Mode
Warm, fork-tender apples meet a buttery oat crumble in this humble yet delicious dessert. We highly suggest this recipe for intimate gatherings where guests don’t mind taking giant, slightly messy spoonfuls out of a communal baking dish. Because a crumble is inherently crustless, this is a naturally gluten-free dessert. Serve with a generous scoop of your favorite vegan vanilla ice cream. Get the recipe
Lauren Toyota
7 Crunchy Vegan Coconut Pecan Biscotti
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to end with a feast-sized serving of dessert. Sometimes, a few bites are all you need. These subtly sweet, pecan-studded biscotti are the ideal finish to a large holiday meal. Like all good biscotti, these are greatly enhanced when accompanied with a cuppa hot tea or espresso beverage. Get the recipe
Dreena Burton
8 Almond-Pecan Vegan Baklava
The flakiness of the filo dough combined with the sticky-sweet pecan filling of this mouthwatering baklava gives a respectful nod to the classic pecan pie. Cookbook author Dreena Burton nails this traditionally Turkish dessert, using agave nectar in place of honey and coconut cream in lieu of butter. Add this recipe to your Thanksgiving table for a new take on what a pecan dessert can be. Get the recipe
9 Vegan Toasted Marshmallow and Pecan Milkshake
Milkshakes may seem out of place at the Thanksgiving table, but we’re already abandoning tradition by eschewing pie, so why not have a milkshake? It goes down easy after a long and heavy meal, and you can make it festive by serving the shakes in tall, retro glasses or chilled mason jar mugs. Punch it up by adding a bit of bourbon for guests that plan to stay awhile. Milkshakes may just be our new favorite Thanksgiving dessert! Get the recipe
10 Vegan Gingerbread Fudge Bars with Cranberry Frosting
This dessert is the perfect treat to make the transition between the fall and winter holidays. It gives a taste of what’s to come with a warmly spiced gingerbread cookie base while also paying respect to Thanksgiving with a lightly tart cranberry cream cheese frosting. For those who can’t wait to put up the tree and bring on the merriness, this recipe is for you. Get the recipe
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Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.
