Dessert should never be an afterthought, but there is no shame in outsourcing this final course when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you’re tasked with bringing goodies to a Friendsgiving or preparing to host the entire Thanksgiving fête yourself, having a vegan pie or plant-based sweet treat ready to go will greatly reduce your stress day of, clear room in the oven, and decrease the chances of something going wrong (even the best bakers burn cookies from time to time, and there’s always the off chance of a pumpkin pie not quite setting).
From thick and gooey plant-based pecan pie to an impressive Piecaken, consider these shippable, delectable desserts as a sweet backup for a flawless vegan Thanksgiving feast.
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Vegan Thanksgiving dessert ideas
The classic quintet of pies that traditionally round out any Thanksgiving meal—apple, pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan, and pumpkin—are rarely vegan by default. Unless, of course, you’re using a vegan recipe or miraculously grew up in a plant-based household.
Pumpkin, sweet potato, and pecan classically call for eggs in the filling for structural integrity. While apple pie is often devoid of eggs (though always beware a top crust brushed with egg wash), dairy-based butter crusts are all too common. There are a few exceptions with apple pie. Some recipes call for pure shortening instead of butter. When you come across this kind of apple pie, order two slices!
Despite the heavy use of eggs and dairy in these iconic holiday pies, vegan versions do exist. Countless recipes online and a solid handful of store-bought, fresh, and frozen options offer plant-based solutions to the “What’s for dessert?” question on Thanksgiving.
Whole Foods starts churning out its vegan pumpkin and apple pies around this time of year, and plenty of animal-free options can be found in the freezer section (try Raised Gluten-Free or Wholly Wholesome). In a pinch, Marie Calendar’s, Sarah Lee’s, and Claim Jumper’s frozen fruit pies also happen to be vegan. Consider these pies a backup plan, though, because the tempting treats below are worthy of the shipping costs.
Vegan dessert, delivered
For truly unique, crowd-pleasing vegan Thanksgiving desserts, keep reading to discover the sweet possibilities that can be delivered to your door.
Giselle’s Vegan Kitchen
1 Giselle’s Vegan Kitchen
This storybook-themed, adorably pink Orange County, CA bakery took the leap at a brick-and-mortar in September 2020, and it’s now shipping delectable pies and other delightful treats nationwide. We simply cannot choose between the Apple Crumble, pumpkin, or pecan pie.
Find it here
Sticky Fingers
2 Sticky Fingers
Brownies, blondies, loaves, and frosting-filled cookie sandwiches—you can have it all when you order from this Cupcake Wars champion baker. For the perfect autumnal finish to a hearty meal, go for the apple crumb loaf. Alternatively, finish your Thanksgiving feast with a nod to the Christmas season with peppermint brownies or a holiday cookie tin.
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Achatz Handmade Pie Co.
3 Achatz Handmade Pie Co.
This vegan-friendly pie shop nails the classics. The four vegan options include Northern Spy Apple Pie, cherry, blueberry, and Michigan 4-Berry—all feature a generous amount of sweet fruit filling, and the latter three are made with a buttery and flaky double crust. They’re incredible on their own and only improve with a mound of vegan vanilla ice cream.
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Maya’s Cookies
4 Maya’s Cookies
Expecting a crowd this Thanksgiving? Give them cookies. While not a traditional Thanksgiving dessert, cookies are arguably the most shareable sweet out there. Maya’s Fireside Collection features classic seasonal flavors with a delicious twist. Cinnamon Bun, Red Velvet, and Holiday Spice Chocolate Chip offer just a taste of this cozy collection.
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Erin McKenna’s Bakery
5 Erin McKenna’s Bakery
Need a dessert for the allergen-averse? The queen of allergen-friendly baked goods (seriously, she launched in 2005) is shipping her baked goods across the US. For a dessert that goes beyond the standard Thanksgiving pie, opt for the apple upside down cake. Like all of McKenna’s treats, its vegan and gluten-free. For the cake aficionados, drop a carrot cake or cinnamon crumb cake in your virtual cart so every guest is satisfied.
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Shortbread Society
6 Shortbread Society
This vegan-friendly bakery is shipping one of the most creative Thanksgiving desserts we’ve come across. Founded by Chef Scottish Francis of MasterChef fame, Shortbread Society is making our mouths water with its Thanksgiving Cranberry Marmalade Shortbread. Just be sure to specify “vegan” when ordering, as the bakery makes two other non-vegan versions of this decadent dessert.
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Slice Pie Company
7 Slice Pie Company
Keep it classic with this award-winning apple pie. Made using a family recipe passed down through generations, this homestyle apple pie features Slice Pie Company’s flaky pastry crust, which earned a coveted blue ribbon at the North Carolina State Fair. Serve with a generous scoop of non-dairy ice cream to tame the richness of these bars.
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Foxship Bakery
8 Foxship Bakery
Weighing in at a full quarter pound, these cookies are a meal in themselves. You may have to play a round of touch football after dinner to make room for these thick Vegan Apple Butter and Pumpkin Pie Chocolate Chunk hockey-puck-sized cookies, but they’re well worth the wait. Pro tip: serve warm from the oven with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream. Can’t finish it all? The leftovers freeze beautifully.
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Frankie & Joe’sFrankie & Jo’s
9 Frankie & Joe’s Ice Cream
Even if you’re adamant about having pie on Thanksgiving, every pie could use a scoop of decadent vegan ice cream riding shotgun. This vegan, woman-owned scoop shop in Seattle has created a medley of inventive, fall-themed flavors that would perfectly accompany a thick slice of apple pie (or be suitable by themselves). Stock your virtual cart with a pint of Brown Sugar Vanilla, Cardamom Apple, Pumpkin Pie, and Miso Moon.
FIND IT HERE
Tipsy Scoop Boozy Ice Cream
10Tipsy Scoop Boozy Ice Cream
It’s in the name—this dessert is for adults only. Made with Elmhurst’s Oat Milk Apple Pie Spice Blend, this Miss American Pie non-dairy pint is infused with whiskey. Serve atop your pie or enjoy by the spoonful and eat it straight out of the pint.
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