26 of Grandma’s Best Thanksgiving Desserts

Read Time: 9 mins

26 of Grandma’s Best Thanksgiving Desserts2/26 Hot Milk Cake 216 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 50 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This simple, old-fashioned milk cake tastes so good it will surprise you! As I remember my mom’s delicious meals, this dessert was always the perfect ending. Mom always used “a dash of this and dab of that” to come up with what we thought was “the best.” —Rosemary Pryor, Pasadena, Maryland. Next, try these Thanksgiving desserts that aren’t pie. 3/26 Chocolate Malted Cookies 52 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Chocolate Malted

Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings about 1-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These cookies are the next best thing to a good old-fashioned malted milk. With malted milk powder, chocolate syrup, and chocolate chips and chunks, these are the best cookies I’ve ever tasted…and with six kids, I’ve made a lot of cookies over the years! —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan 4/26 Black Walnut Cake 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Black Walnut Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe

They are rich, chewy, nutty and buttery—all the good stuff

From the Recipe Creator: My mother’s family members all were excellent cooks and known for their great hospitality. A longtime family favorite, this old-fashioned black walnut cake was always expected at holiday dinners, special occasions and potlucks. 5/26 Butter Pecan Cookie Bars with Penuche Drizzle Contest Winner Butter Pecan Cookie Bars with Penuche Drizzle Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I have made these Butter Pecan Cookie Bars for many, many years. They are rich, chewy, nutty and buttery—all the good stuff. They freeze well, that

is, if they last long enough

is, if they last long enough. A little drizzle of old-fashioned penuche icing takes them over the top. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California 6/26 Potato Candy 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 55 min Servings 6-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My children love this old-fashioned potato candy. It’s so easy to make and I always have the ingredients on hand. Nutella would also work as a filling in place of peanut butter. —Bonnie Presley, Lovely, Kentucky 7/26 Apple Cobbler 4 Reviews Apple Cobbler Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings

12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Treasured by my family, this easy recipe for old-fashioned apple cobbler is a delicious nostalgic dessert. It travels well and slices nicely, so it’s perfect for picnics or tailgate parties. We like apples, but you can use your favorite fruit. —Rita Reifenstein, Evans City, Pennsylvania 8/26 Grandma’s Chocolate Meringue Pie 35 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 45 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My grandmother served this old fashioned chocolate pie recipe after Sunday dinner each week, usually with an apology it was

“too runny” or something else was wrong with it

“too runny” or something else was wrong with it. Of course, grandma’s chocolate pie was never less than perfect! —Donna Vest Tilley, Chesterfield, Virginia 9/26 Sweet Potato Pie with Condensed Milk 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Classic Sweet Potato Pie Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This simple but special deep-dish pie provides a down-home finish to hearty autumn meals. Pecans and pumpkin pie spices make it a comforting seasonal classic. —Paul Azzone, Shoreham, New York 10/26 Slow-Cooker Berry Compote Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooker

This berry compote is an old recipe my grandma made when I was younger

Berry Compote Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 3 hours 15 min Servings 16 servings (4 cups) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This berry compote is an old recipe my grandma made when I was younger. She always added extra blueberries to help thicken the sauce. —Diane Higgins, Tampa, Florida 11/26 Snickerdoodle Cheesecake 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Snickerdoodle Cheesecake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 35 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My maternal grandmother preferred sewing and quilting to cooking and baking, but there were

some things that she cooked and baked really well

some things that she cooked and baked really well. She was the only person I knew who made snickerdoodles, simple but yummy cookies that I’ve always enjoyed. Since cheesecake is my very favorite dessert, I couldn’t resist coming up with one that re-creates those flavors. I think of my grandmother each time I make it! Sometimes I’ll drizzle the slices with maple syrup. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas 12/26 Classic Apple Cranberry Crisp Classic Apple Cranberry Crisp Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For a little

It’s great on its own or served with a scoop of ice cream

old-fashioned goodness, treat your clan to this divine dish that bakes up warm and bubbly. It’s great on its own or served with a scoop of ice cream. —Billie Moss, Walnut Creek, California 13/26 Tillie’s Ginger Crumb Cake 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 55 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This recipe goes back at least as far as my grandmother, who was born in the early 1900s. Our sons and I enjoy eating it in a bowl with milk poured on it—much to the dismay of my husband, who prefers it plain!

My family has been making these delicate fruit-filled cookies for generations

—Kathy Nienow Clark, Byron, Michigan 14/26 Italian Horn Cookies 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 40 min Servings about 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My family has been making these delicate fruit-filled cookies for generations. They’re light and flaky, with the look of an elegant old-world pastry. —Gloria Siddiqui, Houston, Texas 15/26 Caramel-Apple Skillet Buckle 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 35 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My grandma used to bake a version of this for me when I was a little girl. She would

make it using fresh apples from her tree in the backyard

make it using fresh apples from her tree in the backyard. I’ve adapted her recipe because I love the combination of apples, pecans and caramel. —Emily Hobbs, Springfield, Missouri 16/26 Healthy Pumpkin Pie 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Classic Pumpkin Pie Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Nothing says Thanksgiving like a slice of pumpkin pie. And you can relish every luscious bite of this version since the tender crust is made with canola oil and a mere hint of butter. —Taste of Home

I love the sticky cinnamon topping

Test Kitchen 17/26 Apple Dumpling Roll-Ups 17 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Apple Dumpling Roll-Ups Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 1 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A family friend gave me a simple way to make apple dumplings without lots of steps. I love the sticky cinnamon topping. —Jenny Leighty, West Salem, Ohio 18/26 Grandma’s Pecan Rum Bars 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My grandmother handed down the recipe

for these gooey bars that we all love

for these gooey bars that we all love. The candied cherries are a must. —Deborah Pennington, Falkville, Alabama 19/26 Old-Fashioned Banana Cream Pie 47 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Old-Fashioned Banana Cream Pie Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This old-fashioned banana cream pie recipe is full of flavor. Because it uses instant pudding, this no-bake dessert is ready in just minutes. —Perlene Hoekema, Lynden, Washington 20/26 Pecan Shortbread Tea Cakes 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 55 min Servings about 6 dozen Go to Recipe

The results are, too!

From the Recipe Creator: My Grandma Ellis made her shortbread cookies only at Christmas because the ingredients were so indulgent. The results are, too! —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho 21/26 Contest-Winning Chocolate Potato Cake 6 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Contest-Winning Chocolate Potato Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I won grand champion honors in a potato festival baking contest with this moist chocolate cake. The icing recipe can be doubled if you have a real sweet tooth. —Catherine Hahn, Winamac, Indiana 22/26

My sisters and I always loved the recipe for rice pudding our grandma made

Rice Pudding 94 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Grandma’s Rice Pudding Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My sisters and I always loved the recipe for rice pudding our grandma made. After she passed away, I took it upon myself to try and find the secret to her rice pudding. It took quite a bit of experimentation, but I finally got it right! And I’m glad to share this easy recipe here. —Margaret DeChant, Newberry, Michigan 23/26 Apfelkuchen 17 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Oma’s Apfelkuchen

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