5 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Desserts That Make Meal Prep Even Sweeter

Imagine all of the tasty traditions of Thanksgiving - juicy turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, savory casseroles and, of course, spending quality time with the people you love most. And although enjoying the whole Thanksgiving meal with family is something we look forward to every year, let’s face it. The holiday isn’t complete without biting into our favorite Thanksgiving desserts. 

From pumpkin treats and delightful pecan bites to cookies and more, there are so many different desserts you can choose to make. However, if you’re the cook in the family, you already have so many other dishes to whip up on Thanksgiving. Plus, space in the oven is usually a little limited. So, go ahead make life a bit easier this holiday with these five make-ahead Thanksgiving desserts!

Pecan Pie Cookies

Although pecan pie can be made the night before (or even a few days beforehand) as well, these Pecan Pie Cookies are something the kiddos can help you with! Show them how to measure the ingredients, follow the directions, scoop the dough onto the baking sheets and top with the pecan pie “filling”. It’ll be a fun activity and help you make some merry memories together. 

Once your cookies are baked, you can store them in an airtight container for up to four days. Or if you’re serving a smaller group this year and want to save some for a longer period of time, split the baked batch in two and keep one container of cookies in the freezer to enjoy on another occasion. 

Ready to start baking? Scoop up the full recipe here! 

Donut Hole Pumpkin Cake Pops

Our second make-ahead Thanksgiving dessert is another kid-friendly treat that you will have a blast making together as a family. All you need are some lollipop sticks (or wooden skewers - cut in half), donut holes from your Food Lion Bakery, a bag of white chocolate morsels, food coloring and a green cookie decorating icing tube. That’s it! So, not only will these sweet treats look festive with your Thanksgiving spread, but they are also low-cost to make. 

The first step is to melt the white chocolate in the microwave. Then, it’s time to mix in the food coloring and start assembling your Donut Hole Pumpkin Cake Pops. Get the full list of step-by-step directions on our recipe portal! 

Chocolate Pecan Bars

Here’s another Thanksgiving dessert that is a nod to the beloved holiday indulgence, pecan pie! These Chocolate Pecan Bars give you the chance to enjoy this sweet tradition in a slightly new way. With a pie crust base, chocolate drizzle on top and a pecan pie filling, your family is sure to love taking a bite out of these after a delicious holiday meal. 

Since you’re making this ahead of time, simply cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to store overnight to keep it fresh and delicious Also, hold off on cutting the dessert into bars until right before serving.

Want to give these Chocolate Pecan Bars a try? You can find the recipe here! 

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites

Pumpkin pie and cheesecake are two popular desserts to serve for Thanksgiving. But with this recipe, there’s no need to choose between them! With each bite, you and your family get to enjoy the taste of pumpkin and tangy cheesecake at the same time. 

These Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites are layered with a gingersnap cookie crust, followed by your pumpkin cheesecake filling and topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon. However, when making this dessert the day or night before Thanksgiving, save the whipped cream & cinnamon final step until right before you’re ready to eat these bite-sized treats. 

Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies

Our last make-ahead Thanksgiving dessert idea is another tasty cookie, but these are festively decorated to look like little round turkeys. And making them is as simple as baking refrigerated sugar cookie dough, spreading some chocolate frosting around the top edge, placing the candy corn feathers and two candy eyes and piping colored frosting for the feet and beak. 

Not only will your kids love eating these cookies, but they’ll also love helping you make them too! After all, how darn cute are they? Check out the full recipe for all of the ingredients and easy-to-follow directions.

Pick Up What You Need & Get Baking!

Which of these five easy make-ahead Thanksgiving desserts will you try this holiday? Whether you choose to make one, two or even all five, remember that your neighborhood Food Lion is your go-to destination for baking essentials (and more) at low prices that make these desserts even sweeter. From our family to yours, we hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving and share some merry moments with the people you love most.