Thanksgiving desserts top of a great meal, but it can be a challenge to get everything done.

With a little planning it can be a lot easier to get those goodies on the table.

Here are some ideas for Thanksgiving desserts that your family will love and will are quite easy to make.

The first dessert everyone looks forward to is the old traditional stand by – pumpkin pie. Have a big family to feed?

Try super sizing it into a large square baking pan.

Pumpkins are a favored item during the autumn season. If you have time, fresh pumpkin can be used for the pie, especially nice if you've already processed your painted pumpkins from halloween.

But don’t sweat it if you have to use canned pumpkin. The family will forgive you and it is just as nutritious. Besides, you won’t have to worry about removing all of those stringy fibers.

Did you know that pumpkin is good for more than pie?

Use it in muffins with some raisins. Mini muffins can be very attractive on the table, and kids LOVE them.

Pumpkin bread is also scrumptious. You won’t even know it contains pumpkin. The sweet bread can be drizzled with a confectioner’s sugar or a lemon glaze or eaten plain, whichever you prefer.

Sweet potato pie is a nice alternative to pumpkin pie, I love it and it is another nutritional powerhouse.

Sweet potatoes go for around twenty-five cents a pound at Thanksgiving so pie bakers can stock up.

Sweet potato pie is a long standing tradition in many households for Thanksgiving dinner. Spiced up with nutmeg, cinnamon, and lemon extract, a good sweet potato pie won’t be around for very long.

Apple pie or a variety of apple pie alternatives are always popular.

Have the best of both worlds and try apple butter in your pumpkin puree for something different and oh so good for you.

Apples of all varieties are plentiful for the choosing at this time of year and several types make great pie fillings. Granny Smith apples are a favorite because they hold up well when cooked. They are a bit tart so a sweeter apple in the mix cuts the sour taste of these particular apples. Some suggestions for a more sugary taste are: Gala, Jonathan, or Fuji. Less sugar is needed in recipes when the apples are sweeter.

Apple pies can have a crumb topping like Dutch apple pie or a flaky butter crust. Canned pie filling can be used in a pinch, but it is definitely not as good as one you create yourself from fresh apples and one of the best things about making apple pie is that it really doesn't take that much time.

This year, give yourself a well-deserved break

THINK NO BAKE DESSERTS.

Try a few no-bake desserts to supplement the pies, sweet breads and muffins. Pudding is great for the kids. Vanilla or butterscotch instant pudding complements the pumpkin bread you worked so hard to make. Ice cream is the ultimate no-bake dessert. A la mode goes with all pies and cakes on the menu.

And a good pudding cake can't be beat. How about a pumpkin pie cake? Simply use some pumpkin pie filling in place of pudding in your pudding cake recipe.

This could be fantastic served warm with a spice cake recipe, topped with ice cream or whip topping. Or just supply a spiced and sweetened pumpkin puree as a side dish served with whipped cream and/or ice cream. A lower calorie alternative to pie or cake and just as yummy, in fact, it's my preference.

This goes for apple pie filling too. It's as easy a preparing the pie without the crust. You can add a few fancy cookies or crackers to the table and be surprised at how good it tastes as well as being a nutritional powerhouse.

A really nice alternative for those on a diet as well and less filling for those who are about to explode from eating to much turkey dinner!

PULL IT ALL TOGETHER

A nice way to pull it all together and give everyone lots of variety is to precut your desserts into smaller pieces so everyone can sample everything without being uncomfortable – and without retreating to the couch when there are dishes to do!

Another bonus is that you can do many of them ahead and keep them in the freezer until show time.

HINT: Having a hard time keeping up?

See if there is someone else in your family, neighbourhood or friends that enjoys making holiday treats and hire them to do it. They may appreciate the added income, and you will appreciate the time and delicious Thanksgiving desserts and treats. Win/Win. 

Or sharpen your planning skill. Prepare and plan ahead to make it so much less stressful with no forgotten items on the big day. Start today. It's never too late (until the day after :0)