The Best Thanksgiving Dessert from Every State

From the Recipe Creator: If you've had your fill of pumpkin pie, this cool and creamy pumpkin mousse is perfect for you. Its light and fluffy texture won't make you feel "stuffed" after your favorite turkey dinner. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: Each fall here in Alaska, an abundant crop of wild cranberries is ripe for cooking. This cake, a favorite in my family, makes good use of the harvest. What's more, since you can prepare it the night before your Thanksgiving celebration, the recipe is a real timesaver at a hectic time of year. —Gladys Wilson, Anchorage, Alaska

From the Recipe Creator: You'll love the smell in your kitchen—and the smiles on everybody's faces—when you make this scrumptious caramel apple pie recipe. It takes me back home to Virginia, to my granny's table. —Jean Castro, Phoenix, Arizona

From the Recipe Creator: After taste testing lots of apple cakes, I've found this apple cake recipe the best. Full of old-world comfort, the yummy brown sugar sauce really makes the cake special. For a festive occasion, top with a dollop of whipped cream. —Debi Benson, Bakersfield, California

From the Recipe Creator: This is a wonderful recipe I discovered and changed a bit to suit my taste. I love the flavor of pumpkin and the cinnamon makes ordinary cream cheese frosting extra special. When I made a batch for my husband to take to work, he said they disappeared in record time. —Debbie Wiggins, Longmont, Colorado

From the Recipe Creator: While everyone is enjoying a bountiful meal, this eye-catching tart can be baking to perfection in the oven. The pretty holiday dessert calls for very few ingredients, and it's a snap to assemble. —Jackie Zack, Riverside, Connecticut

From the Recipe Creator: This pumpkin cake is packed with a warm, seasonal taste from ground cinnamon and pumpkin, bits of crunchy pecans and a rich cream cheese frosting. The flavors combine for a cozy, sweet treat you'll want to have year-round. —Leon Dellinger, Elwood, Indiana

From the Recipe Creator: I bake my family-favorite fall cake to usher in this abundant season. It looks so luscious that eating one piece is nearly impossible. —Jamie Jones, Madison, Georgia

From the Recipe Creator: These delicious snacks make wonderful gifts, and although they look and taste like they came from an expensive chocolate shop, they couldn't be more guilt-free. The dried fruit and nuts are heart-healthy and full of fiber. Bet you can't eat just one! —Alina Niemi, Honolulu, Hawaii

From the Recipe Creator: I received this recipe for baked apple dumplings with Mountain Dew from a friend of mine, then tweaked it to suit my family's tastes. The soda is definitely the secret ingredient in this rich apple dessert. —Chris Shields, Monrovia, Indiana

From the Recipe Creator: This apple pie with crumb topping is absolutely delicious! If you’re a beginner, use a store-bought pie crust to get a head start. You’ll still get a bushel of compliments. —Virginia Olson, West Des Moines, Iowa

From the Recipe Creator: A touch of cinnamon helps blend the flavors in this tender pumpkin chocolate chip bread. And since the recipe makes two loaves, you can send one to a bake sale and keep one for your family to enjoy. —Lora Stanley, Bennington, Kansas

From the Recipe Creator: Even folks who claim not to like cranberries rave about this dish. I cherish the recipe from my mother, who inspired my love of cooking. —Debbie Daly, Florence, Kentucky

From the Recipe Creator: My husband constantly requests this homey, old-fashioned version of carrot cake. The frosting is still tasty even without the pecans. —Adrian Badon, Denham Springs, Louisiana

From the Recipe Creator: My 6-year-old son and I conjured up this recipe to use the last of the apples we picked from the local apple orchard. Each bar goes beautifully with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine

From the Recipe Creator: These miniature tarts feature whole pecans, a caramel-like filling, and a butter and cream cheese crust that melts right in your mouth. —Janice Hose, Hagerstown, Maryland

From the Recipe Creator: This deep-dish apple pie is a winner! The crust is so flaky and the filling is sure to please everyone. —Salem Cross Inn, West Brookfield, Massachusetts

From the Recipe Creator: I won a baking contest with these chunky glazed cookies that are so easy, even novice bakers can pull them off. What makes them special? Fresh cranberries. —Laurie Cornett, Charlevoix, Michigan

From the Recipe Creator: There's more to pumpkin than pie, as this impressive trifle proves. It looks so elegant with alternating layers of gingerbread cake and pumpkin/butterscotch pudding. Try making it ahead of time for a fuss-free dessert when you're planning to entertain guests. —Lyla Lehenbauer, New London, Missouri

From the Recipe Creator: The aroma of baking gingerbread stirs up such warm memories. This cake looks festive and is even on the lighter side. —Nancy Beckman, Helena, Montana

From the Recipe Creator: My mother makes incredible apple crisp, and I've added a few twists of my own. We think it's best warm, with ice cream on the side. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

From the Recipe Creator: No one will guess this showstopper dessert with luscious cinnamon frosting starts with a mix! It's a year-round favorite. —Linda Murray, Allenstown, New Hampshire

From the Recipe Creator: I come from a line of family cooks and have liked to cook and bake since I was young. Mother and Grandmom were always in the kitchen cooking up something delicious. These carrot cupcakes were Grandmom's specialty, and we always have them at family gatherings. —Lisa Ann Panzino DiNunzio, Vineland, New Jersey

From the Recipe Creator: Thanksgiving dinner at our house includes an average of 25 guests and a dozen different pies. This one has all the luscious flavor of German chocolate cake. A friend who tried it told me he wanted it to be his birthday pie from now on.—Debbie Clay, Farmington, New Mexico

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

From the Recipe Creator: The simple rice pudding gets a makeover with this upscale recipe. It has just the right thickness to soak up a hot caramel topping. —Janice Elder, Charlotte, North Carolina

From the Recipe Creator: This apple cheesecake won the grand prize in an apple recipe contest. With caramel both on the bottom and over the top, every bite is sinfully delicious. —Lisa Morman, Minot, North Dakota

From the Recipe Creator: This beautiful layered cake has a creamy filling with a mild pumpkin flavor and a little spice. It is quick and always turns out so well. The nuts and caramel topping add a nice finishing touch. —Trixie Fisher, Piqua, Ohio

From the Recipe Creator: One of the nice things about this trifle is the way it uses up leftover cakes that never seem to get eaten! It's convenient, too—it tastes like a traditional pumpkin pie, even though you don't have to make a crust or bake it. My husband's a construction worker and ex-farm boy. When we were first married, it was trial and error to cook like his mother. Now, after 17 years, he says that I've passed the test! We have four children, 13 to 8. So there's another reason I like this trifles—it lasts through two meals at least!

From the Recipe Creator: When our children come home for the holidays, I make sure to bake this cranberry coffee cake. I always use fresh berries in season, then put a few bags in the freezer for later on. That way, we can enjoy this moist cake any time we want! —Mildred Schwartzentruber, Tavistock, Ontario

From the Recipe Creator: Here's a charming use for pumpkin. Bursting with flavor and plenty of eye-catching appeal, these sweet and spicy filled cupcakes are bound to dazzle your family any time of the year. —Ali Johnson, Petersburg, Pennsylvania

From the Recipe Creator: Cheesecake is the ultimate comfort food, but a big slice can be too rich. These bite-sized cheesecakes topped with apples and creamy caramel dazzle the senses. —Brandie Cranshaw, Rapid City, South Dakota

From the Recipe Creator: Put a twist on traditional pumpkin pie with this recipe. It packs the spicy pumpkin flavor you love, but in a new crowd-sized form. —Tena Huckleby, Greeneville, Tennessee

From the Recipe Creator: I pack these easy candied pecans in jars tied with pretty ribbon for family and friends. My granddaughter gave some to a doctor at the hospital where she works, and he said they were too good to be true! —Opal Turner, Hughes Springs, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: I get tremendous satisfaction making and giving time-tested yuletide treats like these dipped gingersnaps. Dipping them in white chocolate makes much-loved gingersnaps even more special. —Laura Kimball, West Jordan, Utah

From the Recipe Creator: Folks in New Hampshire apparently appreciate maple syrup almost as much as we do in Vermont. When my husband and I took a road trip through New Hampshire, we discovered this pie at a number of diners and restaurants. We loved it so much we created our own version. —Laurie Herr, Westford, Vermont

From the Recipe Creator: When I was young we produced several ingredients for this longtime favorite on the farm. We raised pumpkins in our large vegetable garden, and made our own butter and lots of sour cream using milk from our dairy herd. —Evonne Wurmnest, Normal, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: I love the excellent texture of this easy cinnamon coffee cake recipe. Always a crowd-pleaser, its pleasing vanilla flavor enriched by sour cream may remind you of breakfast at Grandma's! Make it the night before a holiday to save time in the morning. —Eleanor Harris, Cape Coral, Florida

From the Recipe Creator: I live in apple country, and making a delicious apple crisp is one way to use the fruit. This treat doesn’t take a lot of time to assemble. —Gertrude Bartnick, Portage, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: These cookies are very popular here in Wyoming. Mix up a batch for your crew and see why. —Patsy Steenbock, Shoshoni, Wyoming