14 Vegan Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes You'll Want to Bake Every Year

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updated Oct 15, 2020

Vegan no-bake peanut butter cookies — Hummingbird High

Although most holidays have a way of bringing people around a table to share a well-prepared meal, no holiday is more centered around food than Thanksgiving. Home chefs everywhere will prepare their menus with their best holiday dishes in the weeks leading up to the yearly tradition: opulent main courses, plentiful side dishes, and tasty desserts.

Speaking of desserts, while we still love the classics like pumpkin and pecan pie, there's no reason we can't stray from tradition and serve a sweet treat with a twist—especially if we're planning on providing a vegan-friendly option.

When it comes to vegan desserts, there's an astounding number of mouthwatering recipes to whip up, and we've curated 14 of them to try. Most also happen to be gluten-free too, making the job of hosting people with dietary restrictions that much easier.

Plan your final course around a dessert that doesn't sacrifice on flavor with these vegan desserts ideas below.

01 of 14

Vegan Peach Cobbler Crumble

The Recipe: Vegan Peach Cobbler Crumble

Why We Love It: This classic peach cobbler just got a paleo, vegan makeover thanks to Food Faith Fitness. Plus, it takes a mere 20 minutes to prep. What could be better?

Pro Tip: Let the dessert sit for at least 30 minutes before serving.

02 of 14

6-Ingredient No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Recipe: 6-Ingredient No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies

Why We Love It: If there's one thing that's better than chocolate chip cookies, it's no-bake chocolate chip cookies that require just six ingredients. This easy, vegan dessert recipe from Half Baked Harvest is just as good as the "real" thing.

Pro Tip: Drizzle melted chocolate across the top of the cookies for an extra touch of sweetness.

If you're used to making a batch of cookies and sticking half in the freezer for another time, you'll love this recipe. Once they've fully cooled, pop them in the freezer for up to a month. If they've lost a bit of flavor after defrosting, put them in the oven for no longer than four minutes or sprinkle them with powdered sugar.

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Gingerbread Cookies

The Recipe: Raw Vegan Gingerbread Cookie Sandwiches

Why We Love It: Few desserts are as festive as gingerbread cookies, and these raw vegan cookie sandwiches from Wu Haus maintain the traditional flavors with a healthy twist. What's not to love?

Pro Tip: Alison Wu's recipe uses a dehydrator to dehydrate cookies. But if you don't want to shell out the cash on one, "I would bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit (or your oven's lowest temperature setting) for 15 minutes, turn off the oven and allow to sit in the oven for another 10–15 minutes," Wu advises.

04 of 14

Pumpkin Spice Paleo, Vegan Pecan Pie Bars

The Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Paleo, Vegan Pecan Pie Bars

Why We Love It: These vegan pecan pie bars from Food Faith Fitness are perfect for serving a crowd because it's easy to make a ton of them. The crust is made of maple syrup, coconut flour, and pumpkin pie spice and is finished with a pecan and pumpkin topping.

Pro Tip: "Weigh your flour as different brands can weigh differently for the same cup measurement," suggests Food Faith Fitnesses' founder, Taylor Kiser.

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Pumpkin-Miso Pie

The Recipe: Pumpkin-Miso Pie

Why We Love It: Not for traditionalists, this pumpkin-miso pie with a black sesame nut crust from Wu Haus is made for those with sophisticated taste buds. The dessert is mostly raw thanks to its healthy, natural ingredients, but that's arguably the best part.

Pro Tip: If you're storing the pie in the freezer, take it out to thaw at least 30 minutes before serving.

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Winter Bliss Balls

The Recipe: Winter Bliss Balls

Why We Love It: Another bite-sized creation, these winter bliss balls from Half Baked Harvest take just 10 minutes to make. They're so healthy that you don't have to feel guilty if you have more than one at a time!

Pro Tip: This recipe can last up to one week in the fridge as long as it's in an airtight container.

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Caramel Apple Cheesecake Tart

Caramel Apple Cheescake Tart — Minimalist Baker

The Recipe: Caramel Apple Cheesecake Tart

Why We Love It: It takes just 10 ingredients to whip up this seasonal, plant-based treat from Minimalist Baker. We love it because it tastes as good as it looks. So if you're Instagram needs some love, post a pic of this gorgeous dessert, and you'll be raking in likes.

Pro Tip: Bring all of the rich flavors together with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream.

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No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

No-bake vegan peanut butter cookies — Hummingbird High

The Recipe: No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

Why We Love It: These no-bake cookies from Hummingbird High require only a food processor and a 1-tablespoon cookie dough scoop, which makes them the easiest cookies ever, in our opinion. If you need a last minute dish for a potluck, these are your best bet.

Pro Tip: These cookies won't flatten out in the oven like most others, so press on them when they're raw to get your desired shape.

09 of 14

Vegan and GF Maple Doughnuts With Salted Almond Butter Glaze

The Recipe: Vegan and GF Maple Doughnuts With Salted Almond Butter Glaze

Why We Love It: If you're looking to stray from tradition, try your hand at these vegan and gluten-free maple donuts with a salted almond butter glaze from The First Mess. They're baked instead of fried for a far healthier treat.

Pro Tip: Make sure you have a doughnut pan ready before making this recipe. Alternative doughnut toppings could include cacao nibs or chopped dried cherries, for example.

10 of 14

Raw Carrot Cake With Tangy Citrus Frosting

The Recipe: Raw Carrot Cake With Tangy Citrus Frosting

Why We Love It: This raw vegan carrot cake from The First Mess will easily please any crowd. The dessert comprises a cashew-based frosting and a cake made with festive flavors, including pitted Medjool dates, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Yes, please.

Pro Tip: Top with chopped walnuts for a delicious crunch with each bite.

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Apple Crisp Crumble

The Recipe: Apple Crisp Crumble

Why We Love It: What would the holidays be without an apple crisp crumble? This dessert is special because it can double as breakfast. It's sweet enough that it makes for a satisfying post-holiday treat, but not so sweet that you'll get a sugar rush (and crash) if you down a piece for breakfast the next day.

Pro Tip: Make sure the apples are on the harder side because they tend to get a bit soggy when baked.

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Pumpkin Pie Dream Bars

The Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Dream Bars

Why We Love It: Instead of serving a traditional pumpkin pie, try your hand at these vegan pumpkin pie dream bars from Wu Haus. They're filled with pumpkin and maple flavors for a seasonal treat that's easy to serve to a crowd. Their striking appearance in both color and shape will have everyone ready to try a bite.

Pro Tip: "If you have two blenders, simply make the pumpkin layer in one blender and the vanilla layer in the other. If you have one blender, make one layer at a time and rinse the blender between uses," Wu says.

13 of 14

Almond Butter Vegan Brownies

The Recipe: Almond Butter Vegan Brownies

Why We Love It: If you want to serve up a moist, chocolatey dessert after dinner, these almond butter vegan brownies from Joyful Healthy Eats are for you. They're so fudgy and flavorful, and thanks to the almond butter, no one will realize they're vegan.

Pro Tip: "Top them with a scoop of vanilla coconut milk ice cream for an extra punch of deliciousness," recipe creator Krista Rollins explains.

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Vegan Pumpkin Pie

The Recipe: Vegan Pumpkin Pie

Why We Love It: Like we said, pumpkin pie is a perpetual Thanksgiving classic, and this vegan recipe from Sweet Potato Soul is no exception. There's something about this version, though, that is light and airy, which is great because we won't feel like we need a nap if we have a second piece.

Pro Tip: "Let cool for at least 30 minutes, then set in the fridge to chill for 6 hours or overnight," recipe creator Jenné Claiborne offers.

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