I'm responsible for the pies every Thanksgiving (makes sense, since I wrote verbatim the book on pie), but I am aware that I only have a second billing. The real star of the dessert table is Auntie Vangie's almond cookies.
The size of a silver dollar, thinly coated with a translucent glaze and crowned with a trio of crushed almonds, these cookies ARE Thanks for me. My aunt makes a giant batch and we keep them out all week, the perfect snack for long kitchen chats, midweek basketball watching, and post-hike pick-me-ups. They also appear on the dessert table, placed next to the pie plates and cakes, and find their way onto everyone's plate. In short: These cookies are the best part of Thanksgiving.
My aunt shared the recipe with me and although I have tried to make them nearly a dozen times, I have never been able to replicate her genius. But I had an epiphany. Of course, I can't exactly replicate these cookies, but Aunt Vangie's Almond Flavors are proof of concept: Thanksgiving cookies are a very good idea. Why? They're the perfect bake to whip up for lunch and post-meal dessert, plus every moment in between. And they appeal to children and adults alike, so you can feed everyone around the table. (Besides, sometimes a small cookie is all you're craving after the big feast.) With their versatility and variety, these seasonal cookies give Thanksgiving pies a lift.
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
The obvious choice is these Chewy Pumpkin Cookies. They've quickly become my annual fall staple: I know the season has changed when I have a batch in my oven. The trick to their texture? Cooking pumpkin puree down on the stove in brown butter to dry it and concentrate its flavor.
Can't get enough pumpkin spice lattes this time of year? Bring the cafe into the house all Thanksgiving week by baking up a batch of these soft toppings Pumpkin Spice Latte Bars. Just like the drink they're named for, these bars are sweet and spicy, with an espresso flavor and a subtle but subtle pumpkin flavor. Think of them as pumpkin blondes: soft, thick and rich.
Photography by Patrick Marinello; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
And of course, yes, you should bake an apple pie for Thanksgiving (like maybe thisbaked, wonderfully, strangely, in a brown paper bag), but maybe even whip up a batch of Apple Cider Snickerdoodleswhich include mulled apple cider and an apple pie spice in the batter to evoke your favorite harvest doughnut.
I'm also partial to these extras Crushed Oatmeal-Date Cookieswhich have a thick, dirty interior and a thin, crackly exterior from their ingenious method of battering. With hearty oats, brown sugar and caramel dates, they embody a cozy holiday spirit.
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
Or pair your cookie with your Thanksgiving dinner by embracing cranberries, ideally in the shape of Blueberry Melt Butter Break. These crumbly cookies are fragrant with rosemary and pack a sweet punch of dried cranberries, and they boast a soft texture thanks to the use of melted butter.
Of course, you are already planning your pies. But leave room in the oven for a batch of cookies, too. Thanksgiving week is long – you're going to need them.
Looking for more Thanksgiving desserts? Check out our collection of 48 Thanksgiving Cake Recipes for a Sweet Feast.
Cover photo and food styling by Liz Neily.
