Healthy Diabetic Recipes Diabetic Holiday & Event Recipes Diabetes-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes Diabetes-Friendly Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes 17 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Desserts for Diabetes By Alex Loh Alex Loh Alex Loh is EatingWell's associate food editor. As part of the food team, she creates healthy, delicious recipes for the EatingWell audience. Alex also writes informative food and cooking articles that range from how to store ground beef to the best picks from Trader Joe's. Alex conducts product and taste tests to find the best options, from salad spinners to salsas. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 24, 2022 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Instagram Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, has been with EatingWell for three years and works as the associate nutrition editor for the brand. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Ease some of the Thanksgiving cooking stress with these make-ahead dessert recipes. You can make components of these desserts a few days in advance (or even the entire dessert!). Desserts like Spiced Pumpkin Cookies and Light and Luscious Pumpkin Pie are low in calories, saturated fat and sodium, which is perfect if you're looking for a dessert that's diabetes-friendly. 01 of 17 Spiced Pumpkin Cookies View Recipe The deep flavors of molasses, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg make these wholesome pumpkin cookies delicious without the addition of butter--and they lend themselves beautifully to the inclusion of whole-wheat flour. They are also the perfect texture for a sandwich cookie--fill them with a slightly sweetened cream cheese frosting. 02 of 17 Apple-Cinnamon Fruit Bars View Recipe These easy apple-cinnamon fruit bars make a big batch--perfect for fall potlucks and parties. 03 of 17 Light and Luscious Pumpkin Pie View Recipe If pumpkin pie is a must for the holidays, this version fulfills that holiday tradition without derailing your meal plan. 04 of 17 Cranberry Crumble Bars View Recipe These cranberry-orange bars freeze well. Make a batch on a free afternoon and pop them in the freezer so you'll always have a healthy dessert on hand when company calls. 05 of 17 Almond & Pear Rose Tarts View Recipe These pretty little two-bite almond and pear tarts are perfect for party buffets, especially in the fall when pears are in season. Thinly slicing the pears lets you roll up the tarts more neatly, giving you a bakery-worthy presentation. If you have a mandoline, this is a good time to pull it out. Cold puff pastry is important to ensure you get irresistibly flaky results. Want to make this easy, healthy dessert gluten-free? Just swap in gluten-free puff pastry, found in the freezer section of most grocery stores. And don't forget to use an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend to roll it out! 06 of 17 Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Cookies View Recipe Classic chocolate chip cookies get a fall update by mixing in pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Not only are these pumpkin cookies even more flavorful than regular chocolate chip cookies, they're also oh-so-soft and cakelike. Use chocolate chunks for big gooey bites of chocolate or opt for mini chocolate chips to ensure a bit of chocolate in each bite. 07 of 17 Fresh Apple Squares View Recipe One batch of dough does double duty as both the crust and streusel topping to make one of the easiest desserts around. 08 of 17 Caramelized Spiced Pears View Recipe Serve these caramelized pear slices over ice cream, stir into plain yogurt or enjoy as a topping for pancakes or waffles. Brown-skinned Bosc pears hold their shape during cooking, but any variety of pears tastes delicious. 09 of 17 Basic Crustless Pumpkin Pie View Recipe This low-fat crustless pumpkin pie is a perfect dessert for the dieters at your holiday meal or people who are watching their carbs. 10 of 17 Apple-Oatmeal Cookies View Recipe Brie Passano These healthy apple cookies made with oats, shredded apples and brown sugar make snack time enjoyable for everybody. 11 of 17 Chocolate-Swirled Pumpkin Loaf Bread View Recipe Chocolate and pumpkin flavors pair perfectly together in this diabetic-friendly loaf bread recipe. 12 of 17 All-American Apple Pies View Recipe Little apple pies are baked in hollowed out shells of apples, topped with a pie crust lattice, and baked until golden brown and filling is bubbly. 13 of 17 Soft Sugar Cookies View Recipe These easy and classic cookies incorporate mild-tasting white whole-wheat flour for extra fiber and nutrients. 14 of 17 Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream View Recipe Can't get enough pumpkin spice and pumpkin? Get those fall flavors you love in this dairy-free and vegan ice cream alternative made with bananas and pumpkin puree. This easy and healthy dessert contains no added sugar, unless you use the optional maple syrup--which is a delicious touch. Add some chopped pecans to make it really special. 15 of 17 Gingerbread Tea Cake View Recipe This low-calorie cake gets its festive flavor from molasses, cinnamon, ginger and ground cloves. Serve it for dessert at the holidays. 16 of 17 Peanut Butter Swirl Chocolate Brownies View Recipe This diabetic-friendly brownie recipe uses the classic flavor combination of chocolate and peanut butter to make a delicious dessert you'll want to make again and again. 17 of 17 Diabetic Carrot Cake View Recipe With this luscious take on an all-time favorite, you can fit this low-sugar cake into a diabetic meal plan with style. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit