Of course you’ll make the customary pumpkin pie, but if that’s all you think a can of pure solid-pack pumpkin is good for, you’re missing out. These pumpkin desserts go way beyond pie, showcasing Thanksgiving’s favorite flavor (sorry, turkey!) in layer cakes, pound cakes, cheesecakes, and more.

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Pumpkin & Cornmeal Cake with Orange Syrup

Pumpkin-y with a wonderful texture thanks to the cornmeal, the pumpkin-citrus flavor pairing makes a dynamite combination, in part because it’s a little unexpected.

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Bourbon Pumpkin Tart with Walnut Streusel

Consider this tart pumpkin pie’s more elegant cousin, despite being every bit as easy to make. It’s also a wonderful make-ahead since the flavor is best the day after baking.

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Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecakes

Even people on the fence about pumpkin sing the praises of these little beauties. You probably have all the ingredients you need on hand already, and they freeze exceptionally well.

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Pumpkin Sage Bundt Cake

This wonderful and savory combination make for an interesting and sophisticated pumpkin cake. Finish off slices with some maple syrup–sweetened crème fraîche.

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Pumpkin-Croissant Bread Pudding with Pecans

Sweet pumpkin, classic winter spices, and crunchy pecans make this bread pudding a perfect fit for the Thanksgiving dessert table.

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Pumpkin Pie Flan

Pie-spiced pumpkin turns this classic caramel-covered Spanish custard into a Thanksgiving-worthy dessert.

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Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cinnamon Cream

Traditional whoopie pies take a seasonal twist in this fun fall favorite that’ll add a little diversity to the dessert table.

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Pumpkin Spice Bread

If you like your pumpkin bread spicy, this is the pumpkin bread recipe for you. Ginger and a little black pepper give the bread a touch of heat. The recipe also works for mini loaves or Bundt cakes as well.

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Brown Butter Pumpkin Layer Cake

Truly a showstopper, a gingery glazed nut topping and brown-butter-spiked cream cheese frosting are the finishing touches for this spectacular spiced pumpkin cake.

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Pumpkin Bread Pudding

This rich satisfying pudding ends the holiday meal on a sweet note. You can scatter dried cranberries or golden raisins over the top, but dried cranberries make the dessert look especially festive.

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Pumpkin & Ginger Pound Cake

The lightest-tasting pound cake you’ll ever make, this twist on pumpkin pie comes together, as one reviewer put it, “like a dream.”

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Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap & Pecan Crust

When not obscured by overly assertive spices, pumpkin is a revelation. The filling here celebrates that fact. Gingersnaps, cinnamon, and pecans flavor the crust and toasted pecan halves add a decorative touch.

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