20 Unique Gluten-free Thanksgiving Desserts

It’s time to think outside the pie! Here are 20 deliciously unique gluten-free Thanksgiving desserts that are may not be traditional, but are still packed with seasonal ingredients. If you’re tasked with bringing a dessert to Thanksgiving this year, why not surprise everyone with something new they likely haven’t tried before? Especially if others have the old classics covered, these offbeat gluten-free treats will be a refreshing contrast. We’ve got pumpkins, cranberries, apples, pears, and more. Which one appeals to you most?

Pumpkin Creme Brulee Pie Bars may be my single most-dreamt-of dessert. They’re like pumpkin pie and creme brulee put together with a little chocolate in the crust for good measure.

Baked Pumpkin Custards with Maple Mascarpone Whipped Cream: These are super easy and you can make them ahead of time–what’s not to love about that?

Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake Pie: Is your oven kinda busy? No worries, because this stunner requires no baking or cooking. Also, pumpkin and caramel make an unbeatable combination!

Pear Galettes with Pistachio Frangipane: Pears are the unsung heroes of fall baking. They’re almost like custard once cooked, with a texture far superior to that of apples in my opinion. You have to try them in these galettes!

Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream: Why not go all fall all the way and serve this on top of pie instead of plain old vanilla? As a bonus, it’s vegan and paleo so more friends can enjoy it.

Pumpkin Caramel and Chocolate Ganache Tart with Potato Chip Coconut Crust: If you’re like me and you lose it over a little saltiness mixed into your sweets, this is for you. Plus pumpkin and caramel are teaming up again for the win, and chocolate is invited, too!

Maple Pumpkin Panna Cotta with Gingered Pears: Here’s another one that won’t take up precious oven space. It’s paleo and AIP, too.

Apple Honey Upside-Down Cake: This dairy-free cake is easier than pie to whip up. No one will guess it’s made with olive oil!

Pear Apple Crisp: Despite what I said earlier, no one is making you choose between pears and apples. You can have both in this easy paleo and vegan crisp!

Hasselback Baked Apples with Figs and Pecans: Fruit-centric desserts are healthy but still feel indulgent, and these baked apples are beautiful to boot.

Maple Apple Spice Cake: This loaf cake uses grated apples for moisture and sweetness, and is topped with an irresistible buttery nut crumble.

Grain-free Cranberry Galette: No one will believe this galette is gluten free AND nut free, but thanks to the wonders of cassava flour, it’s true. I love giving cranberries a chance to shine beyond the sauce!

Grain-free Cranberry Orange Bread: Even though this is totally a dessert, in my family we serve it with butter alongside the main meal. It’s so good and I highly recommend it!

Cranberry Bliss Cake: Have you ever had a cranberry bliss bar from Starbucks? I haven’t, but this paleo cake version is really calling my name.

Cranberry Chocolate Truffles: When everyone is stuffed after Thanksgiving dinner, it’s nice to have a dessert option with really tiny portions that still pack a ton of flavor. The tart cranberry filling and rich chocolate shell of these truffles are a perfect match.

Cranberry Orange Tart: If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may have noticed that I’m obsessed with fruit curds–lemon, strawberry, blood orange, you name it. This tart features a delectable cranberry curd with hints of orange nestled inside a rich pecan crust.

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Bars: Cranberry and orange come together again in these bars that take cranberry sauce and combine it with a shortbread crust for a vibrant and delicious dessert.

Kabocha Squash Spice Cake with Chai Caramel: Pumpkin shouldn’t be the only squash that makes it into your baked goods! Plus, can you really turn down chai caramel?

Cinnamon Hazelnut Date Cake: This non-traditional bundt gets most of its sweetness from dates, and an irresistibly warm nuttiness from hazelnut flour.

Chocolate Pecan Tart: I always find pecan pie way too sweet unless there’s something else to balance it out, like perhaps some dark chocolate and a sprinkling of flaky sea salt.

There you have it–20 non-traditional but delicious gluten-free Thanksgiving desserts. Do you have other Turkey Day dessert ideas? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!