Ree Drummond's Top 10 Favorite Thanksgiving Desserts
Including the "pie that'll make you cry."
In the Drummond household, it's all about tradition on Thanksgiving. The Pioneer Woman has perfected her Thanksgiving menu over 30-plus years, from her favorite turkey brine all the way to her favorite Thanksgiving desserts. The key? "Planning and prepping a little bit every day is absolutely the secret to my success on Thanksgiving," Ree says in her recent YouTube special. "The whole point is to reduce the amount of cooking you have to do on the big day."
One of the biggest takeaways from Ree's cooking schedule is to make desserts in advance. Most of them have to cool and set, so do yourself a favor and make them a day or two ahead of time. Not sure what to make? Try Ree's Thanksgiving favorites listed here! They're all crowdpleasers, from her famous pecan pie that's so good it will "make you cry" to other family favorites like the chocolate pie Ladd "could seriously eat a slice every day of his life and never get bored."
And while there are mostly holiday pies on this list, you'll find a few Thanksgiving cake options to feed a crowd. There's also a newer recipe for cranberry crisp that may seem a bit non-traditional but has the exact flavor profile you'd expect on this seasonal holiday. So whichever you choose, know that they are all Drummond approved and guaranteed to be the sweet finish to your epic Thanksgiving meal.
Pecan Pie
When a pie is this good, it lives up to the name "The Pie That'll Make You Cry." Ree's recipe calls for traditional ingredients but the secret is finely chopping the pecans. That way, "every bite will have the perfect balance of crunchy nuts and luscious filling."
Chocolate Pie
"This rivals my pecan pie for Ladd's top favorite pie of all time," Ree says. And her daughter Alex admitted that it's her favorite Thanksgiving pie, too! It's "super easy, and you can use a graham cracker crust or a pre-baked regular pie crust."
Caramel Apple Pie
Ree recently perfected a new apple pie recipe, but admits: "This is the apple pie I made for YEARS, and the one my father-in-law Chuck loved the most." And because of that, it has earned a special place in her heart―and her stomach.
Cranberry Crisp
If you're looking for something bright, warm, and a little unexpected this holiday season, try Ree's new cranberry crisp! It's equal parts sweet, tart, and buttery, with seasonal flavor in every bite. Plus, doesn't everything taste better with scoop of ice cream?
Pumpkin Cream Pie
Did you know that while Ree loves the flavor of pumpkin, she isn't a huge fan of traditional pumpkin pie? But here's a pie she can get behind with a creamy filling and graham cracker crust. She calls it "utterly divine."
Caramel Apple Cheesecake
"This is going on my Thanksgiving dessert table this year," Ree announced on Facebook. There are sweet-tart apples and gooey caramel both in the cheesecake and on top for a truly magical autumnal dessert. Ree's reaction? "My gosh!"
Pumpkin Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
If you need to feed a crowd, try this seasonal twist on Ree's famous chocolate sheet cake. It's moist and layered with plenty of cream choose frosting. "It’s perfect for Thanksgiving! It’s also perfect for the other 364 days of the year," she declares.
Nantucket Cranberry Pie
There might be a debate on whether this is actually a pie or a cake. Either way, everyone will certainly call it delicious. Ree says: "It's pure heaven served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of whipped cream."
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
Perhaps not traditional for Thanksgiving, but the fluffy peanut butter filling and chocolate cookie crust make it irresistible. Ree says this decadent pie "belongs at every potluck and family gathering," which means it's perfect for Turkey Day!
The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake Ever
Another perhaps not-so-traditional Thanksgiving idea that you should try is this Drummond family favorite. The decadent chocolate cake makes an appearance at practically every birthday and special occasion on the ranch. I has "brought about family harmony all over the land," Ree jokes.
Quick and Easy Apple Tart
Dreamy Apple Pie
Apple Bread Pudding
Fruit Pies With the Creamiest, Dreamiest Fillings
