Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this year on a shoestring budget was a high priority of mine. It was a small gathering of just our immediate family, food that I had in the freezer with a slight Thanksgiving theme ( carrots are appropriate right)? and one dessert.
We had Sweet Potato Pie for dessert this year. It was easy to make, and cost less than ten dollars. In addition to having Sweet Potato Pie for dessert part of our menu included cooked cranberries with a pecan topping. It tasted like dessert it was so good!
Finally, my mother-in -law made some delicious orange cremesicle cupcakes that were devoured in a few minutes. Somehow over the years’ simplicity has been replaced with stressful dinner prep. The first Thanksgiving was a pitch in.
I didn’t want to put that burden of stress on myself so our desserts were very low key and no one even noticed. Here are a few of my shoestring budget dessert ideas for Thanksgiving:
Popular Family Desserts
As a kid, I always remember pumpkin pie and pecan pie for our Thanksgiving Desserts. In with those memories are many other delicious items like cranberries that were cooked with pecans roasted on the top. Pumpkin pie, pecan pie and cranberries are fairly affordable desserts to add to the menu.
This year we added the cooked cranberries and pecans to our dessert list. Likewise, we included pumpkin cookies and a sweet potato pie. All turned out to be great choices.
Healthy Desserts on a Shoestring Budget
Cooked cranberries with pecans are a healthy addition to the Thanksgiving dessert menu. I am not personally a big cranberries fan, but with the addition of a small amount of sugar they tasted much better for me.
Another healthy option to the oldies but goodies is to make a sugar free pumpkin pie. If you are like me and prefer a sweet taste, but not to sweet try using sugar cane and a smaller amount. I go lesser with sugar because I don’t like a super sweet taste.
Affordable Dessert Menu for Thanksgiving
No bake pumpkin pie is one of the most affordable recipes to make for a family meal. I like to keep choices to a minimum because one it is easier to make three pies of the same kind than several different kinds, and also it saves money.
Apple Dumplings are another delicious Thanksgiving dessert on a shoestring budget. We made some earlier this year after a trip to the apple orchard. No doubt they were all gone. The ingredients are literally spices, sugar, a refrigerated pie crust and an apple. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
Try something new this year and make one dessert option, just more of it. Simplicity is a time saver as well as a stress reliever.
Grocery Saving Tips for Thanksgiving Desserts
At last, the part you have been waiting for, tips to save on all of these delicious desserts!
First, keep the dinner menu simple and the dessert menu more simple. No need to break the bank at the grocery story. Second, have others’ bring a dessert. Saving on time and money allows for a more relaxed meal. Finally, instead of making several different pies keep the choices of desserts to two. Then, make three or four of the same pies, depending on the amount of guests.
Grocery store savings are easy once you learn the tricks. For more tips on frugal living, saving, homeschooling on a dime, and life on a suburban homestead sign up for my newsletter!
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