Holidays & Entertaining Holidays Thanksgiving 11 Mini Holiday Dessert Recipes to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Smaller means you can fit more on your plate, right? By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Grace Elkus Grace Elkus Grace Elkus is a food writer and editor with over a decade of experience in culinary media. Highlights: * Associate food editor at Real Simple, where she developed recipes, wrote food stories, and assisted with styling * Deputy food director at Kitchn, where she and her team were responsible for 100 recipes a month * Currently the content lead for JOKR Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 4, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Jennifer Causey They say it's the little things in life that mean the most, and these tiny treats are certainly no exception. If you're stuffed from a large Thanksgiving dinner, just try one—or continue the feast and pile 'em all on your plate for the ultimate dessert smorgasbord. We particularly love mini desserts because they're already pre-portioned into single-serve treats—meaning no one gets mad about their smaller slice of pie, a sliver of cake, or a scoop of ice cream. Most of these desserts can also be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator, so you can spend Turkey Day working on the main course. This particular collection of desserts—which ranges from fruity cheesecakes and mini pies to tiny donuts and parfaits—is also a great inspiration for anyone contributing dessert to a friend or family member's holiday meal. Everyone will appreciate the creativity, and they're the perfect size to bring to a dinner with fewer guests. And don't limit these delicious ideas to Thanksgiving—they're a great sweet treat any time of year. 01 of 11 Salted Caramel Brownie Bites Meredith/Dotdash Not sure what to do with extra boxed brownie mix? Whip up these mini salted caramel brownie bites, which will please both caramel and chocolate lovers alike. Each one packs a secret surprise in the form of a pint-sized candy bar. If you don't like caramel-filled chocolates, swap in peanut butter cups, mint chocolate morsels, or extra dark chocolate chips. Get the Recipe 02 of 11 Mini Pumpkin Layer Cakes The Baker Chick Baking tiny cakes may seem like tedious work, but this clever recipe simplifies the process. The individual rounds are cut with a biscuit cutter, and extra scraps are crumbled for sprinkling on top. Freezing the layers will help you frost them with ease—a crucial step when frosting tastes this good. get the recipe 03 of 11 No-Bake Cranberry Orange Cheesecakes My Baking Addiction Instead of cramming another dish into an overcrowded oven, opt for a no-bake dessert you can serve straight from the fridge. Guests will swoon for these creamy, decadent cheesecakes, which meld sweet and tangy flavors. Topping them with cranberry sauce makes smart use of leftovers. get the recipe 04 of 11 Ginger-Pumpkin Mini Pies With Speculoos Crust and Whipped Cream Jennifer Causey These custardy, ginger-scented pies have a spiced cookie crust that will have you reaching for seconds. To make clean-up a breeze (which is always a good idea on Thanksgiving), line your muffin tin with muffin liners before pouring in the pie filling. Top each mini pie with homemade whipped cream, chopped crystallized ginger, or crumbled speculoos cookies, and serve alongside coffee after the big meal. Both the filling and the crust can be made up to one day ahead. If you can't find speculoos cookies (we bought ours at Trader Joe's), gingersnaps would be just as delicious in the crust. Get the Recipe 05 of 11 Mini Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pies Freutcake Instead of settling for mediocre pecan pie (the store-bought variety tends to be a bit too sweet), treat yourself to these boozy single-serve pies. To create the miniature shells, press the dough into a muffin tin, then pile in the filling and send 'em to the oven. Serving warm with ice cream is an absolute must. Get the Recipe 06 of 11 Caramelized Banana Cream Pie Parfaits The Chic Site End the meal on a lighter note with wonderfully nostalgic cream pie parfaits. To keep day-of stress at bay, prep the pudding and whipped cream in advance, and then top with bananas right before serving. Serve in mini mason jars for a playful presentation. Get the Recipe 07 of 11 Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse The Gunny Sack A simple slice of cheesecake is tasty, but uninspired. Opt for creamy cheesecake mousse instead, which is made with cream cheese, powdered sugar, pumpkin puree, and graham cracker crumbs. Use a piping bag to create picture-perfect swirls in hollowed-out mini pumpkins for a whimsical, kid-friendly treat. Get the Recipe 08 of 11 Mini Iced Oatmeal Cookie Apple Pies Girl Versus Dough These tiny pies, which combine two dessert favorites, are guaranteed to please the whole table. The iced oatmeal cookie topping is deliciously crunchy, and pairs wonderfully with warm apples and a buttery crust. You likely have all the ingredients on hand, and they're the perfect way to use up any apples from apple picking. Get the Recipe 09 of 11 Mini Chocolate Ganache Cake Oh Sweet Day Gold crystal sugar sprinkles add sparkle (and elegance!) to this 3-layer chocolate ganache cake, which is filled with fluffy buttercream and covered in rich, homemade ganache. The dark chocolate flakes (made by pouring chocolate onto parchment paper) cover the cake's exterior, so no need to worry about pouring the ganache perfectly. To create the miniature cake rounds, you'll bake a chocolate cake in a 9x13-inch pan, then use a 3-inch cookie cutter to create 12 rounds. Genius! Extra cake scraps can be toasted until crispy, then sprinkled over ice cream. Alternatively, layer them in a trifle with chocolate pudding and fresh berries. Get the Recipe 10 of 11 Mini Baked Alaskas Dessert for Two This dinner party-worthy dessert technically requires you to bake a cake for the base, but buying a store-bought version will give yourself (and your oven) a much-needed break. Once the base is prepped, add a dollop of sorbet, then surround the scoop with meringue, and brulee away. Get the Recipe 11 of 11 Mini Vegan Pumpkin Pie Love and Lemons Thanks to a combination of almond milk, cornstarch, and pumpkin puree, this pie filling is supremely creamy—without a drop of cream. Maple syrup acts as a natural sweetener, and the five-ingredient crust is held together with coconut oil, not butter. Serve with crushed pecans, coconut whipped cream, and a light dusting of cinnamon. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit