Help me select my Thanksgiving desserts!

[PA Baker]

As many of you know I'm in charge of Turkey Day dinner again this year. I always go overboard on quantity--in part on purpose so everyone can take some leftovers and in part because it's a chance to try lots of recipies! My family usually aren't big dessert eaters (where did I come from?!?) so this is my chance to fill 'em up!

So as I struggle to whittle down my menu to something managable, I need to narrow down the dessert choices a bit. Last year I made 3 (apple pie--a required standard, cranberry angel food cake, and sweet potato rum cake) and although we only have 7 people to feed, it was a nice variety everyone enjoyed and provided lots of leftovers.

So I'm thinking I'll do 3 again but can't decide. :roll: Please help!

Apple pie w/ vanilla ice cream(it's a required tradition so it has to be one of the three)
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Low-fat cheesecake with a maple cranberry topping
Pumpkin pie with a pecan crust
Bourbon sweet potato pie (probably won't be a big favorite w/ anyone other than me)
Chocolate merangue pie

 

[jasonr]

Chocolate meringue pie?! How come I never thought of that? Finally, I would be able to eat my meringue pies. But then again, maybe that's not such a good thing. The advatange of lemon meringue was always to foist the calories on OTHER people. :twisted:

 

[marmalady]

Well, you've already got the apple pie covered - I like the idea of the chocolate pie - who doesn't love chocolate, lol! And, the bourbon sweet potato pie sounds yummy - maybe with the pecan crust from the pumpkin pie above it? So you'd have a fruit - a sweet but traditional - and a sort of 'over the top, roll your eyes' pie!

 

[Konditor]

Top recommendations for Thanksgiving desserts (from my repertoire):

Pumpkin-Frangelico Cheesecake
Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Custard with Maple-Cranberry Sauce
Roasted Sugar-Pumpkin (or Kabocha Squash) Soufflé served with warm chocolate spice sauce & dried-fruit biscotti
Triple-Layered Pound Cake with Chocolate & Grand Marnier
Lemon Charlotte with Raspberry Sauce
Bourbon-Pecan Layer Cake with Brown Sugar Icing
Pumpkin-Cornmeal Gingerbread & Pan-Glazed Oranges
Pumpkin-Pear Tart with Maple-Cream Lattice
Hot Apple-Pecan Cake with Butterscotch-Ripple Ice Cream
Maple-Sugar Cake & Hazelnut Crème Anglaise
Chocolate-Chestnut Cake Mont Blanc (Based on my interpretation of Montebianco. Presenting this cake was instrumental to being hired for my first restaurant job.)
*Pumpkin-Challah-Bread Pudding with Cranberry-Caramel Sauce & Ginger Ice Cream
Sweet-Potato Cake with Medjool Dates & Curry Ice Cream

*This particular bread pudding (as well as the other items in this list) obviously reflect my northern-latitudinal roots. However, for our readers who live in, e.g., Florida, the South-West, or Hawaii, you may prefer alternatives which contain tropical elements – such as:

Papaya Bread Pudding with Coconut Ice Cream
Mango Tarte Tatin with Lemon-Lime Sherbet
Coconut-Rice Pudding Parfaits with Mango & Pineapple Compote
White-Chocolate Bread Pudding with Blood-Orange Sauce
Rum-Lime Mousse in a Coconut Tuile

And, finally, this Tropical Carrot Cake from the April 2003 issue of Bon Appétit has temptation baked right into it! (This dessert I have not yet made – but it’s definitely on the must-have list!) Have a peep:
http://www.epicurious.com/run/recipe/view?id=107949

 

[debthecook]

Just like Marmalady wrote.

 

[middie]

go for the pumpkin pie with pecan crust

 

[mudbug]

I think I'm with deb and marmalady. You can always take a piece of that leftover bourbon pie for lunch. Betcha won't go out and buy something else that day!

BTW, Konditor, you are rapidly turning into the Bad Influence of the Year. What an astounding array you have suggested for us!

 

[PA Baker]

Yes, I may just skip my Thanksgiving dinner and go to Konditor's!

I think I'll do the apple and chocolate meringue pies for sure, but am still unsure about the sweet potato bourbon. I don't think many people will be interested in it (altho I think it sounds yummy!). I know DH's family likes cheesecake, so I could do that, or do you think that's too heavy for T-giving? I know that my parents would like the pumpkin (I got "comments" last year when there was no pumpkin pie--ah, tradition!).

I think next year I'll suggest an all-desserts Thanksgiving dinner!

 

[buckytom]

how much is a flight to the northeastern seaboard? i'm with pa baker, konditor's it is....

 

[Audeo]

Don't you guys leave for Konditor's without me! That pear tart with Maple Cream Lattice caught my eye!!!

Konditor, do you pipe maple cream on top? Geez, what an astounding idea!!!

PA, I can't wait to hear how well your Thanksgiving Dinner went in your wrap-up report! You've really got this one under control!

 

[kansasgirl]

My vote would be for sweet potato pie and cheesecake with cranberry. I offer some other suggestions; sometimes I think a variety is better than just all pies.

Rich bread pudding (comfort food)
Maple cake layered with pralines (I LOVE all things MAPLE!)
Fruit tart (really beautiful for a special table)

 

[pst1can]

PA....the others are all busy at their Thanksgiving day...you see in Canada we had ours so I could leave time to come to yours....you've got the desserts covered maybe I could bring some Canuck beer???
The maple/cranberry topping sounds wonderful!!! Of course you have to have apple pie and I agree with the other choclaholics....choclate meringue pie to finish!!! Pst

 

[PA Baker]

pst1can, with entertaining our families all weekend, I'll need that beer--come on down!

I think I've probably decided on the apple pie, cheesecake, and chocolate meringue pie. I'll just "owe" my dad a pumpkin pie for Christmas.

Life would be easier for us foodies if magazines would do their Thanksgiving issues in September or October. By the time I got my mags in the mail the last couple weeks I had my menu planned, but as I read through them, I come up with more and more recipies I want to include!

 

[Lisa110]

Hi all.

I'm new here, but I had to post the link to this recipe, because not only is it delicious, but if I don't make this every Thanksgiving, people actually whine! That's how good it is. Unless someone asks for a pumpkin pie, this is what I bake instead. It's called PUMPKIN ROLL CAKE WITH TOFFEE CREAM FILLING AND CARAMEL SAUCE. If you don't like the flavor of rum, you can always substitute something else, or leave it out completely. Also, I make my own caramel sauce instead of buying it.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/911

In addition to the Pumpkin Roll, I make a simple deep dish apple pie with a lattice crust...but after the pie is filled with the 'requisite' apples, sugars, flour, cinnamon etc.., a small bit of sauce containing brown/white sugar, water, butter and cinnamon is cooked down, then poured over the lattice before it's baked. It's incredibly good!

I also put together some kind of fruit ambrosia for the calorie watchers, and of course, a pecan pie...with a white and milk chocolate drizzle on top.

By the way, the link to the Tropical Carrot Cake is now a part of my Thanksgiving dessert (or 'anytime' dessert) repertoire! Thank You!

 

[Psiguyy]

I'm kind of partial to pumpkin chiffon pie.

 

[PattY1]

go for the pumpkin pie with pecan crust

This year I am thinking of a Pumpkin Pie with Ginger Snap Crust.

 

[Dawgluver]

This year I am thinking of a Pumpkin Pie with Ginger Snap Crust.

I made one a couple years ago, recipe from 5 Ingredient Fix. I did add some other stuff to the filling. It was outstanding. Will have to dig out that recipe.

 

[PattY1]

I made one a couple years ago, recipe from 5 Ingredient Fix. I did add some other stuff to the filling. It was outstanding. Will have to dig out that recipe.

Will you post it please?

 

[Dawgluver]

Will you post it please?

Will try to find it. I remember the gingersnap crust was so good, just using cheap grocer cookies.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I am thinking a pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese frosting.