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wooden ladle and chopping board with ginger during daytime
wooden ladle and chopping board with ginger during daytime
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3 Unique Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Madeline Song
UCLA Contributor
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCLA chapter.

Are you bored with the pumpkin and apple pies that are always on your Thanksgiving table every year? Autumn may be the season of spices, but variety is the spice of life! Try making these desserts this Thanksgiving to knock people’s socks off! It’s time to spice things up! 

1. My Special Carrot Cake

This is my ultimate carrot cake recipe. I was very hesitant to share this just in case I decided to open a bakery one day in the future, but this cake is too good to be kept a secret. I make it every year as an alternative to the quintessential Thanksgiving dessert, pumpkin pie. The cake is full of texture from the walnuts, pineapple chunks, coconut and carrots. The best part of this delicious dessert? The cream cheese frosting. Keep reading to discover the secret ingredient to the best cream cheese frosting of your life!

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 2 cups of all-purpose flour

  • 2 tsp baking soda

  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon

  • 1 tsp pumpkin spice

  • ½ tsp nutmeg

  • 4 eggs

  • 1 ½ cups vegetable oil

  • 2 cups sugar

  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract

  • 3 cups shredded carrots

  • 1 (8oz.) can crushed pineapple (drained)

  • 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

  • 1 ½ cup halved walnuts

For the frosting:

  • 2 (8oz.) package of cream cheese

  • 2 (7oz.) containers of marshmallow fluff ( ← the secret ingredient!)

  • ¼ cup powdered sugar

  • ½ Tbsp vanilla extract

  • (optional) 2 cups flaked coconut

Directions

For the cake:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

  2. Grease and line two 9 inch circular pans with parchment paper.

  3. In a medium-sized bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and nutmeg. Set aside.

  4. In a larger bowl, mix eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla extract with an electric mixer (hand-held or standing).

  5. Beat in the flour mixture half at a time.

  6. With a spatula or spoon, stir in shredded carrots, pineapple, coconut and walnuts.

  7. Pour the mixture evenly in both pans, and bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes. Make sure a toothpick comes out clean. Let cake cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting:

  1. Mix all the ingredients with an electric mixer. Let it cool in the fridge before frosting.

  2. Assemble cake with frosting.

  3. (Optional) Press the coconut on the sides and top of the frosted cake for a pretty decoration.

  4. ENJOY!

2. Extra Moist Chocolate Chip Walnut Banana Bread

This bread is perfect to have with coffee after a delicious Thanksgiving meal! It will last up to 5 days in the fridge and is a family favorite in my household. It’s unbelievably easy to make and a great dessert to bring for your next Thanksgiving potluck!

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • 4 Tbsp flax seed

  • 1/2 cup white sugar

  • ½ cup brown sugar

  • 1 egg

  • ½ cup melted butter

  • 3-4 extra ripe bananas (the darker, the better)

  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract  

  • 1 cup chocolate chips

  • 1 cup halved walnuts

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

  2. Grease a loaf pan.

  3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda and flax seed.

  4. In a large bowl, mash bananas.

  5. Add white sugar, brown sugar, egg, butter and vanilla extract into the bowl with the mashed bananas. Mix with an electric mixer.

  6. Incorporate the dry ingredients into that same bowl, half at a time.

  7. Stir chocolate chips and walnuts with a spatula or spoon.

  8. Put mixture into the loaf pan and bake for 1 hour. Make sure a toothpick comes out clean. Let the bread cool completely before slicing.

3. The Easiest, Most-Delicious Banana Pudding Ever

This banana pudding recipe has been in my family for generations. My Great-aunt made this for my mom when she was a little girl, and my mom has done the same for me! I think it’s time for this amazing recipe to be shared with the world. Plus, it’s ridiculously easy.

Ingredients

  • Nilla wafers

  • 2 packs of Jell-O instant vanilla pudding

  • 8-10 banana

  • Whipped cream (store-bought or homemade. For homemade, my favorite recipe is by Add A Pinch!)

Directions

  1. Make the pudding by following the directions on the instant pudding packet. Set aside.

  2. Slice the bananas into ¼ inch slices. Set aside.

  3. Line a big dish with Nilla wafers (bottom and sides).

  4. Add a layer of the pudding.

  5. Add a layer of banana slices.

  6. Keep adding the layers of wafers, pudding and banana slices until you reach the top of the dish.

  7. Top the entire dish with whipped cream and sprinkle crushed Nilla wafers on top.

  8. Store in the fridge overnight to soak the wafers.

  9. Scoop and serve!

Madeline is the Assistant Director of Event Marketing for UCLA's Chapter of Her Campus. She is a third-year student majoring in Communication Studies. In her free time, she enjoys watching Rom Coms, cooking, and looking at pictures of cute pugs.
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