Pumpkin sweets can take over the Thanksgiving table, so a chocolate dessert brings another flavor to the spread. These 21 choices include cookies and brownies, layer cakes and pies, plus chilled and no-bake treats. Some can be finished in under half an hour, while longer-set desserts can be prepared ahead. Choose a sliceable centerpiece or a small bite to serve with coffee after the meal.
Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cup
Crisp pastry threads and cool fruit create a contrast of textures in Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cup. Kataifi is toasted in butter, mixed with pistachio cream and optional tahini, then layered with chocolate and strawberries. The recipe takes 35 minutes and makes four servings. It brings the familiar pistachio-and-chocolate pairing to the holiday table in individual portions, offering a fresh-fruit option beside richer cakes and pies.
Get the Recipe: Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cup
Homemade Buckeyes
Small, round candies are easy to pass around after a large meal. Homemade Buckeyes pair a creamy peanut butter center with a semisweet chocolate coating, and the recipe yields 48 pieces in about 15 minutes of prep. Their bite-size shape makes them useful for a dessert tray or a make-ahead sweet to set beside coffee. Keep them chilled until serving so the centers stay firm.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Buckeyes
Chocolate Hummus
For a dip-style dessert, Chocolate Hummus turns chickpeas into a smooth cocoa spread with maple syrup, tahini, avocado oil, vanilla, and flaky salt. It comes together in 10 minutes and makes eight servings. Offer fruit slices, pretzels, or graham crackers for dipping, or spoon a little into small cups. Its creamy texture and plant-based ingredients bring a different option to a table full of baked sweets.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Hummus
Chocolate Brownies
A thin, crackly top gives way to a chewy center in Chocolate Brownies. The batter uses butter, dark chocolate, eggs, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips, with sea salt flakes for serving. Total time is 45 minutes and the batch makes 16 brownies. Cut them into small squares for a dessert plate, or serve a larger piece with coffee after the Thanksgiving meal.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Brownies
Chocolate Truffles
After a few hours of chilling, Chocolate Truffles become rich little bites that are easy to arrange on a platter. Heavy cream, good-quality chocolate, butter, almond extract, and vanilla form the base, while cocoa powder or shredded coconut can coat the finished pieces. The full time is 2 hours and 30 minutes, yielding 20 truffles. Make them ahead and bring them out when guests want a small chocolate treat.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Truffles
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Powdered sugar leaves a snowy finish on Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, with a soft, fudgy center underneath. Cocoa, sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla, flour, and baking powder make the dough, which needs time to chill before baking. Total time is 4 hours and 27 minutes for 24 cookies. They suit a cookie tray or a dessert table where a hand-held chocolate bite is easier than another slice of pie.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Chocolate Salted Caramel Cake
A layered cake brings a tall, sliceable centerpiece to the dessert spread. Chocolate Salted Caramel Cake pairs chocolate cake with salted caramel frosting for a sweet-and-salty finish, and the recipe makes 12 servings. It takes about 25 minutes according to the recipe’s listed total time. Serve slim slices alongside coffee or bring it out after pie, when guests want a different flavor from the usual pumpkin dessert.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Salted Caramel Cake
Chocolate Covered Apple Slices
Crisp rounds with chocolate and assorted toppings give Chocolate Covered Apple Slices a lighter, hand-held feel. The recipe uses apples dipped in chocolate and white chocolate, with caramel, peanuts, mini candies, sprinkles, or chocolate chips for finishing. It takes 20 minutes and makes 10 servings. These are easy to place on a tray among heavier desserts, with fruit bringing a crisp bite between richer sweets.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Covered Apple Slices
Chocolate Cake
Deep cocoa flavor and a tender crumb make Chocolate Cake a classic alternative when pumpkin has filled the dessert menu. The batter includes flour, sugar, cocoa, buttermilk, eggs, and brewed coffee, with a dark chocolate frosting. It takes 1 hour and 25 minutes and makes eight servings. Cut it into neat slices for a simple centerpiece, or serve smaller pieces with coffee after the holiday meal.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cake
Easy Whoopie Pie
Soft chocolate cakes sandwich a sweet filling in Easy Whoopie Pie, making each serving easy to pick up and eat. The recipe combines cocoa, flour, brown sugar, butter, egg, vanilla, milk, and powdered sugar, and yields 12 pies in about 22 minutes. Arrange them on a platter for guests who prefer a handheld dessert, or wrap extras to send home after the gathering.
Get the Recipe: Easy Whoopie Pie
Chocolate Cherry Cookies
A little cherry sweetness cuts through the cocoa in Chocolate Cherry Cookies. The dough combines flour, cocoa, butter, sugar, and maraschino cherries, with semisweet chocolate chips and a condensed milk finish. The recipe takes 20 minutes and makes 16 cookies. These fit easily on a dessert tray beside plain chocolate treats, giving guests a fruity note without adding another cake or pie to the menu.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Cookies
Chocolate Pie
Flaky crust and a smooth filling give Chocolate Pie a familiar place on the holiday table. Cocoa, sugar, egg yolks, whole milk, butter, and vanilla form the chocolate filling, with whipped cream on top. It takes 35 minutes and makes eight servings. Chill and slice it ahead for easier serving, especially when the oven is busy with the main meal and other Thanksgiving dishes.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Pie
Soft Thin Mint Chocolate Cookies
Cool peppermint flavor makes Soft Thin Mint Chocolate Cookies stand out among the usual chocolate chip options. The soft cocoa cookies are topped with a peppermint buttercream and a chocolate coating, with green coloring optional for the filling. The total time is 55 minutes for 16 cookies. Their minty finish provides a fresh contrast after a substantial meal, and the cookies can be made ahead for a dessert tray.
Get the Recipe: Soft Thin Mint Chocolate Cookies
Neapolitan Ice Cream
Three distinct layers make Neapolitan Ice Cream a chilled option for guests who want something cool after a heavy meal. Sweetened condensed milk and whipped cream form the base, divided and flavored with vanilla, cocoa, and strawberry puree. The recipe takes 5 hours and 35 minutes and serves six, including freezing time. Prepare it in advance, then scoop it into bowls or pair it with a slice of cake.
Get the Recipe: Neapolitan Ice Cream
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chewy centers and crisp edges give Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies a familiar crowd-pleasing shape. The dough combines smooth peanut butter, butter, flour, brown and granulated sugars, eggs, vanilla, and chocolate chips. They take about 22 minutes and yield 24 cookies. Set them beside coffee or add them to a cookie assortment for guests looking for a small, easy-to-carry dessert after dinner.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Oreo Cheesecake
A dark cookie crust anchors the creamy filling in Oreo Cheesecake. The recipe combines cream cheese, sugar, eggs, sour cream, vanilla, flour, and crushed Oreo cookies, with more cookies and whipped cream on top. It takes 6 hours and 20 minutes and makes 12 servings, including chilling time. Prepare it ahead, then slice it when dessert is served so the oven can stay free for Thanksgiving dishes.
Get the Recipe: Oreo Cheesecake
Ultimate Brownies
Cookie and brownie layers turn Ultimate Brownies into an extra-rich square for a holiday dessert tray. The recipe stacks chocolate chip cookie dough, Oreo cookies, and fudgy brownie batter, then bakes them together. Total time is 40 minutes, and the batch yields 12 portions. Cut modest squares to share alongside fruit or coffee, since each piece combines several familiar chocolate desserts in one bite.
Get the Recipe: Ultimate Brownies
Oreo Balls
Smooth centers and a crisp chocolate shell make Oreo Balls a simple make-ahead treat. Crushed Oreo cookies and cream cheese form the center, which is coated in melted white chocolate. The recipe takes 1 hour and 20 minutes and makes 24 pieces. Set them in mini liners for a tidy dessert tray, or pack a few in a small container for guests to take home after the holiday gathering.
Get the Recipe: Oreo Balls
Biscoff Brownies
Cookie butter gives Biscoff Brownies a spiced note alongside the chocolate base. The batter includes Biscoff spread, melted butter, sugar, eggs, flour, vanilla, and chopped chocolate, and bakes in about 45 minutes. The recipe yields nine portions, so it works well for a smaller gathering or a dessert table with plenty of other options. Serve them in squares with coffee or a scoop of ice cream.
Get the Recipe: Biscoff Brownies
Chocolate Lasagna
Cool, layered textures define Chocolate Lasagna, a no-bake dessert that can be assembled before the holiday meal. Oreo cookies form the base, followed by cream cheese, sugar, milk, whipped topping, and chocolate pudding. It takes 2 hours and 30 minutes, including chilling, and the cached recipe card does not list servings. Slice it cold and keep it refrigerated until dessert, a practical choice when oven space is limited.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Lasagna
Mississippi Mud Pie
A cookie crust, dense chocolate layer, and creamy topping make Mississippi Mud Pie a substantial finish to Thanksgiving dinner. The recipe combines Oreo cookies, butter, chocolate, eggs, espresso, cocoa, pecans, and a creamy topping layer. It takes 4 hours and 30 minutes and makes 12 servings, with chilling time included. Prepare it ahead and slice thin portions for guests who want chocolate instead of another pumpkin dessert.
Get the Recipe: Mississippi Mud Pie