No-Bake “Pumpkin Delight” Is the Only Dessert I Make on Thanksgiving (So Much Easier Than Pumpkin Pie!)
In the past year and a half, I’ve developed and tested a lot of no-bake delight recipes. Everything from our OG strawberry delight to chocolate delight, cherry delight, and even chocolate chip cookie delight. My biggest takeaway from making so many of these impressive layered no-bake desserts, and bringing them to a variety of gatherings, is that when you set one down in any dessert spread, it will be devoured almost immediately.
So, it should come as no surprise that my contribution to this year’s Thanksgiving dessert table is a no-bake pumpkin delight. It’s impossible to resist a dessert with five incredible layers: graham cracker crust flavored with cinnamon and brown sugar, whipped cream cheese, fluffy pumpkin, pillowy whipped cream, and a pecan topping.
Get the recipe: No-Bake Pumpkin Delight
What Makes No-Bake Pumpkin Delight So Good
For starters, just look at it! Those layers are totally stunning, and not to mention super tall. This no-bake has serious cozy fall vibes, and tastes like pumpkin mousse meets no-bake cheesecake, but way better. To be clear, it’s not a replacement for either dessert, but the flavor is reminiscent of each.
It’s also one of the best dessert mash-ups I know. Each layer is light, fluffy, just sweet enough, and incredibly delicious. Plus, it’s easy to make and lends itself well to being made in advance.
If You’re Making No-Bake Pumpkin Delight, a Few Tips
- Use a pan at least 2 inches tall and don’t forget to line it with parchment. This pumpkin delight is tall, so it needs some support until it’s fully chilled. Don’t overlook the parchment slings; this helps support the top layers of the pumpkin delight, and makes it a breeze to remove the dessert from the baking dish.
- Allow ample time to soften the cream cheese. This is helpful for two reasons: It makes the cream cheese much easier to whip until it’s light and fluffy, and makes it easier to evenly fold in the whipped cream without totally deflating it.
- Use pumpkin purée. You want purée, not pumpkin pie filling (which is much looser) for this recipe.
- Clean the knife between slices. The beauty of this dessert is how impressive those layers look. Wipe the knife between each slice to keep those lines clean for a perfect-looking dessert.
Get the recipe: No-Bake Pumpkin Delight