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It's All About the Sweets: Grandma’s Top 5 Must-Have Desserts Thanksgiving Edition

Updated: Dec 1

Destinee Hughes, MTN Reporter

November 27, 2024

As Thanksgiving approaches, a majority of people look forward to the big feast, while some are anticipating the desserts and getting those sweet taste buds going. For me and my family, the desserts are always essential to completing the big meal. With a variety of desserts such as pumpkin pie, pecan pie, cake, and etc., there's always that one that sticks around every year. I’ve gathered my grandma’s, Beatrice Leach, top five must-have desserts that my she makes every year that could be a great addition to your Thanksgiving dinner.


Here’s her Thanksgiving guide to the essential sweets for your table.

 

1. Banana Pudding

Banana pudding is more than just a dessert for my grandma, it's a statement. With the coolness, creamy vanilla pudding, bananas, and crunchy vanilla wafers mixed all together make the simplest yet delicious dessert at the table. The secret is in the pudding they say but my grandma says it’s all about balancing the bananas and the vanilla to get that perfect amount of sweetness.


“I’ve always loved banana pudding, it’s a cold and sweet dessert and it’s the easiest to make for everyone,” said Leach.

 

2. Caramel Cake

My grandma’s version of caramel cake is such a classic and it never disappoints in our family. Its richness and moisture in the cake comes from the infamous caramel icing that’s golden brown and perfectly gooey. Every time you take a bite; you get the feeling of a warm hug and the softness of the cake makes this dessert a one of a kind.


“Caramel cake is just so sweet and the caramel icing is really the cherry on top,” Leach says.

 

3. Pecan Pie

Pecan pie has always been a staple at our Thanksgiving table but my grandma definitely sets the standard. The filling has the perfect mix of a gooey and sweet syrup with just enough crunchiness from the glazed pecans. With buttery and flaky crust, it gives the perfect contrast to its rich and nutty taste. This dessert has been a part of our Thanksgiving dinner for years and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.


“I look forward to making pecan pies because it has that crunchy and gooey taste that melts in your mouth every time you take a bite,” said Leach.

 

4. Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry shortcake can be the perfect dessert as a lighter option after eating a full course meal. It's light and fluffy texture topped with ruby red strawberries and whipped cream has a

refreshing taste that's not overwhelming. It can be a great addition to your dessert for those who want something light and sweet as their meal comes to an end.

 

“My favorite thing about making strawberry shortcake is the mixture of cool whip, fruity

strawberries, and yellow cake that gives you three different textures,” said Leach.

 

5. Peach Cobbler

My grandma says that our dessert table is never complete without her famous peach cobbler. Her cobbler is warm and it has an inviting smell every time you walk in the kitchen. It’s our family’s favorite dessert of hers and it completes our Thanksgiving every year. Its tender peaches mixed with the golden crust creates the most satisfying dessert you’ve ever tasted. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream with and it always feels like home.


“It’s my favorite dessert because of the buttery taste it has and it’s just the perfect southern

dessert,” Leach says.


These five desserts are more than just sweets, they’re a part of our tradition that symbolizes family and love. Each dish takes us down memory lane and brings us back to unforgettable memories we’ve all spent together at our Thanksgiving table. Take a page out of my grandma’s book and try these desserts for yourself to see which one you want to add to your family tradition this year.


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