Thanksgiving is that holiday where everyone has their favorite dishes. I’m the same way! It just isn’t Thanksgiving to me without my dad’s dressing, mom’s mac and cheese, a gorgeous turkey made by my husband, my mother-in-law’s pumpkin pie, and the list goes on and on. Those are the foods that define Thanksgiving to me! We ALL have those foods during the holidays. But just sometimes, I like to throw in something a little different along with all the classics. And I like them to be additions the girls can help me make.
I am ALL about tradition – especially around the holidays. But I realized last year as the girls were getting older that everyone had a job to do but them. They both LOVE to cook. So I started trying to find ways to get them involved and create their own dish that everyone HAS to have at the table on Thanksgiving! Desserts were easy (and, let’s be honest, the most interesting) to them. Each year, I let them pick out some desserts they want to have and we make them together.
Here are 5 desserts we’ve made and loved! Some are easier for little hands and some require help from an adult if you’re cooking with smaller kids. Ellie’s favorite is the peanut butter pie and she has deemed it “her recipe” – which I just LOVE!
*Another great way to get kids involved with the Thanksgiving festivities is to let them make place setting cards/crafts. In the past, we’ve done paper turkeys and the girls have written everyone’s names. Their sweet little kid handwriting is such a special part of the Thanksgiving table to me! This year, we’re doing cinnamon sticks and pinecones with little cards stuck inside. Check out the picture in my Thanksgiving Dinner post to recreate this cute, easy, kid-friendly craft.
5 Delicious Desserts for Your Thanksgiving Table
1. Acorns – perfect for little hands
Even as an adult, I love the combo of chocolate and Nilla Wafers! Little ones can use the back of a spoon to spread the chocolate on the bottom of the kiss and stick it to the Nilla Wafer. This is an easy, fun dessert for any age!
2. Peanut Butter Pie – Ellie’s favorite
This Peanut Butter Pie is the real deal! It’s SO rich and creamy! We only made one pie so we had a lot of filling leftover. We used it as a dip for Nilla Wafers or anything else you have on hand. It was delicious and addictive! We also added some mini chocolate chips to the top of our pie – just as a little added decoration.
3. Pumpkin Roll
Oh Ina…..she just does no wrong in my book! Not only are her food recipes always some of my favorites but her desserts are amazing too!! You definitely need to add this Pumpkin Roll to your dessert table this year. And little ones can help spread the cream and roll it up.
4. Not-Quite-Christmas Crack
I am typically not a huge sweets person…..however, when it comes to Christmas crack, I just can’t help myself! It is just so good!!! I love making this and wrapping up a stack of it in a plastic gift bag for neighbors, teachers, etc. It’s also perfect for holiday parties. And who are we fooling, I just like having it around the house to snack on throughout the holidays (I’ll just do more yoga to balance it all out).
For all of you who don’t believe in celebrating Christmas until Thanksgiving is over, I’m calling it ‘Not-Quite Christmas Crack’ (see what I did there) but really the recipe is the same regardless of when you make it!
5. Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake Bars
