26 Healthy Thanksgiving Desserts

Spiced Tea Poached Pears

Pears are among my favorite fall fruits. This lovely dessert makes them especially spectacular. Easy elegance at its best—and that’s important around the holidays.

Apple-Spice Angel Food Cake

I dressed up an angel food cake mix with some nuts, spice and applesauce to make an easy and light dessert. I serve it with a dollop of whipped topping mixed with a half cup of sour cream. —Joan Buehnerkemper, Teutopolis, Illinois

Pumpkin Brownies

Chocolate and pumpkin pair up to make a family-favorite fall dessert. These pumpkin brownies are fantastic for parties and picnics. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Pumpkin Pecan Frozen Yogurt

I always keep fat-free frozen yogurt on hand. By combining it with just four other ingredients, I can quickly whip up this great-tasting treat.—Anne Smithson, Cary, North Carolina

Slow-Cooker Baked Apples

Coming home to this irresistible dessert on a dreary day is just wonderful; it’s slow-cooker easy. — Evangeline Bradford, Erlanger, Kentucky

Butternut Harvest Pies

This egg- and dairy-free pie is a great alternative to standard pumpkin pie! We love to make the pies with squash from our garden. Feel free to adding more of your favorite spices! You’ll be glad the recipe makes two. —Juliana Thetford, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania

Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Enjoy this holiday dessert without worrying about calories. Plus it is so luscious that no one will guess that it is light! —Jean Ecos, Hartland, Wisconsin

Pumpkin Snack Cake

The crunchy, sweet topping makes this simple pumpkin snack cake taste extra special. If you prefer a sweeter cake, omit the topping and spread with your favorite frosting instead. —Steven Schend, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Swedish Apple Pie

This decadent Swedish apple pie serves up homemade flavor in every bite. This is a perfect snack with coffee or as an after-dinner treat. —Sarah Klier, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Easy Almond Joy Chia Pudding

I enjoy making this coconut milk chia pudding recipe because it’s easy and I can find all the ingredients at my local market. No baking is required, and it’s served in individual jars for guests. For more flavor, add shredded coconut. —Ashley Altan, Hanover, Maryland

Dutch Apple Pie Tartlets

These adorable mini apple pie pastries make a delightful addition to a dessert buffet or snack tray. The recipe calls for convenient frozen phyllo shells, so they’re surprisingly easy to prepare. The lemon curd filling adds a unique flavor twist. —Mary Ann Lee, Clifton Park, New York

Upside-Down Blood Orange Cupcakes

Making blood orange cupcakes is my favorite way to use fresh blood oranges. I start with a cake mix and bump up the flavor with essential oil. No one knows these cupcakes are not from scratch. —Monica Chadha, Fremont, California

Cranberry Stuffed Apples

Cinnamon, nutmeg and walnuts add a homey autumn flavor to these stuffed apples, while the slow cooker does most of the work. —Graciela Sandvigen, Rochester, New York

Marzipan Bars

My husband’s grandmother made these lovely layered bars for us as our newlywed Christmas present.

Apple Pie Tartlets

Good-for-you things come in small packages when you make a batch of these tiny apple tartlets. Sweet and cinnamony, these mouthwatering tarts are a delightful addition to a dessert table or snack tray. —Mary Kelley, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Frosted Harvest Cake

Craving brownies but want something a little bit different? Indulge in a fall-flavored version topped with a cream cheese frosting. —Iola Egle, Bella Vista, Arkansas

Sugar-Free Apple Pie

This sugar-free pie is so delicious, you can’t even detect the artificial sweetener in the filling. I always get rave reviews when I bring it to church potlucks. —Teresa Garlick, Glendale, Arizona

Rustic Nut Bars

My friends love crunching into the crust—so much like shortbread—and the wildly nutty topping of these chewy, gooey bars. —Barbara Driscoll, West Allis, Wisconsin

Dark Chocolate Espresso Tapioca Pudding

I’ve been experimenting with espresso powder in different dishes. I really enjoy this chocolate tapioca pudding, and I hope you do, too! —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon

Low-Carb Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

These cheesecake bars have four delectable layers: a buttery crust, a creamy cheesecake filling, chocolaty morsels and a crumbly topping. It’s sugar free—and guilt free. You’ll get nothing but compliments on this dessert. —Rachel Sanders, Salem, Ohio

Butterscotch Pumpkin Mousse

Guests savor every creamy, spoonful of this spiced autumn dessert. It tastes so good, no one guesses that it’s actually low in fat. —Patricia Sidloskas, Anniston, Alabama

Frosted Pumpkin Cranberry Bars

With tangy dried cranberries tucked inside and a creamy brown butter frosting, these mildly spiced pumpkin bars are doubly delightful. It’s a good thing the recipe makes lots, because once you taste one, you won’t be able to resist going back for more!
-Barbara Nowakowski, Mesa, Arizona

Butterscotch Pumpkin Puffs

Yummy things come in these little pudding-rich “packages.” The puffs can be made and frozen in advance, then filled before serving for a timesaving dessert. —Michelle Smith, Running Springs, California

Honey Pecan Triangles

After stirring up batches of these tasty bar cookies for many years, I know to include plenty on cookie trays. They have all the goodness of pecan pie and are so easy to serve to a crowd. —Debbie Fogel, East Berne, New York

Mini Apple Pies

When I was in high school, my best friend’s mother baked this mini apple pie recipe every year. I was thrilled when she shared it with me—I finally felt like an adult! —Katie Ferrier, Houston, Texas

Orange Cranberry Cookie Bars

These cranberry cookie bars combine two beloved holiday flavors and top a delicious soft crust with cream cheese icing. We enjoy them during the holiday season. —Jennifer Blakely, Visalia, California