Sometimes, life doesn’t stick to the script. I’ve been there. Standing in my kitchen, overwhelmed by the stress of a looming event, while it felt like things are falling apart. If that’s you this Thanksgiving, then I’ve got you covered. You can still pull off a terrific holiday meal and keep it as low-stress as possible.

I can’t fix the bigger picture. I wish I could. But, I can help with the meal. I developed this Last Minute Thanksgiving guide so that you can enjoy a wonderful dinner, even if you’re starting the day before. It even has a printable shopping list. You’ve got this.

Last Minute Thanksgiving

First, let’s agree that a last minute thanksgiving meal doesn’t try to do ALL the things. Focus on the most important sides. I asked around, and these are the ones that my community agreed were at the top of their “I want it homemade” list: mashed potatoes, creamed corn, green beans, and cranberry sauce.

You might want something else. Stuffing is one of the most popular side dishes, but it takes a bit more time to go through all the steps to make it homemade. And, I know a lot of us need rolls at the table (so buy them at the store this time). Maybe sweet potatoes are your family’s thing (swap for mashed potatoes or green bean casserole).

If you take the time to customize the list, it will probably looking a little different than mine. That’s ok. The structure of it still works with light adaptations. The point is that for a last minute Thanksgiving to work, it has to put the focus on the people first. It will be less stress, less cooking, and more connection.

There’s a full grocery list and a timeline at the bottom of this post outlining exactly how to get things done with a minimum of stress on Thanksgiving Day.

Turkey or Ham (or Chicken!)

The first decision will probably be your easiest. Will you make a turkey or a ham? My family LOVES this ham, so we make it every year. But, your family might need a bird for it to feel like Thanksgiving. If you don’

Waves of salty and sweet churn together in a luscious creamy base in this Sea Salt Ice Cream. Yeah, I’ll admit I could wax poetic on this one.

The salt and sugar enhance one another instead of competing for your attention. It’s exactly like one rolls in while the other rolls out, over and over again. This is one of those flavors that makes you pause mid-bite and wonder how is this so good?

Sea Salt Ice Cream

I first tried a salted ice cream while in Santa Fe with my sisters earlier this year. As soon as the first bite hit my tongue, I knew I’d be working on a sea salt ice cream to share with you.

I’ll tell you now that salt and ice cream isn’t a combination for everyone. I went crazy over it and my younger sister did as well. My older sister? She wants nothing to do with anything remotely salted with her desserts.

The salt in this ice cream is very subtle, verrrrrry subtle. It mostly enhances the sweetness and flavor. However, if you look closely at the photos, you’ll see that I generously sprinkled additional salt over the servings and am now a very happy convert to salting every scoop of ice cream. It’s transformative.

Salt and Ice Cream

Salt and ice cream may sound like a strange combination. I get it. But, let’s talk about salt for a second. See, I come from a long line of low sodium cooks. My mom and grandma each had their reasons for skimping on salt. Nevertheless, I grew up with very little first-hand experience for how salt actually works in cooking. So, I’m making up for lost time!

In a nutshell, salt increases our ability to taste four of the five primary flavor categories: salty, sweet, sour, and umami (savory). And, as an added bonus, salt actually decreases our ability to detect bitterness. This is why a teeny pinch of salt in your coffee can make even a basic brew taste noticeably better.

This dynamic is one reason why recipes like salted caramel sauce are all the rage. Yes, there is saltiness. And, if you’re not expecting it, that might be off-putting. But, that saltiness then gives way to an incredible, boosted e

There’s nothing quite like a classic pumpkin pie made completely from scratch. Forget the store-bought stuff—this homemade version has a creamy, spiced filling, a buttery crust, and that nostalgic Thanksgiving flavor we wait all year for. If you’ve ever felt nervous about making pumpkin pie from scratch, don’t worry…I’m walking you through every step so your pie bakes up smooth, creamy, and perfect every time.

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving or just craving a cozy fall dessert, this is the only pumpkin pie recipe you’ll need.

Oh, pumpkin pie, oh pumpkin pie, thy flavor is so lovely… Who needs the Christmas tree song when we could be singing about pie?

I know we have some haters out there (haters gonna hate, hate, hate. Thank you Taylor Swift.) I can’t even understand the hate, but it’s fine. It exists. I believe that every blog should share their favorite classic recipes and this one is one of my favorites. Well this, and Mom’s Lemon Meringue Pie. 

Thanksgiving For Me Growing Up

Thanksgiving was always one of my favorite holidays growing up. We’d pack into my grandpa’s house in Le Grande, Oregon—cousins, aunts, uncles, everyone—filling every corner with folding tables and chairs. There were always more people than the house could technically hold, and more than once we kids ended up on the floor with our plates.

If we stayed home in Vancouver, Washington, the house still filled with family, plus a few people from church who didn’t have anywhere to go. Dad always made sure no one spent Thanksgiving alone. The cousins played nonstop, the adults snacked and chatted, and we’d finally sit down for “dinner” in the middle of the afternoon. After cleanup (always paper plates because… sanity), the ladies and kids did Christmas crafts, the men watched football, and then—pie time!

Honestly though, my favorite part was the next day: lazing around with movies, leftovers, and turkey sandwiches on rolls. I loved those even more than the big meal.

Thanksgiving at Our House Now

As an adult, Thanksgiving looks a little different. Where we live now, most people have deep roots and big family gatherings of their own, so it can feel a bit lonely when you’re not traveling. It’s not the bustling holiday I grew up with, but it’s taught me something important—be like Dad and always look around to see who might need a place at the table.

Our traditions have changed, but we still have pie… and honestly, pie makes everything okay.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Pie

You’ll want to start by making my favorite pie crust recipe or Mom’s failproof magic crust. Both recipes make a double crust, so you’ll only need half the dough for this pumpkin pie.

These potato rolls don’t require any kneading, and honestly, they’re hands down the best rolls we’ve ever had. Soft, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, they’re our #1 most requested roll recipe.

These rolls are ridiculously easy to make — no fancy equipment, no complicated techniques — and perfect for any meal, holiday dinner, or special occasion. Once you try them, you’ll see why everyone keeps asking for this recipe.

These are seriously the best potato dinner rolls ever. They are so soft and seriously melt in your mouth. They are ridiculously buttery. 

Suggested Products

These are all affiliate links for amazon but you can go to a store to find a lot too. Amazon is just easiest.

• Potato Gems or Pearls – We use these dehydrated potatoes as they seem to give the best flavor and texture.
• Dough Scraper – Any ol’ scraper will do but we prefer a plastic scraper to scrape the dough and flour off our counter and out of bowls for 10x faster clean up.
• Silpat Baking Mat – We bake everything on a silpat; cookies, rolls and even loaf breads cook evenly and without sticking! No spray needed!
• Nordic Ware Cookie Sheet – The cookie sheet you use absolutely can make or break your recipe. If it’s too dark it will cause your food to look dark and over-bake. You want a cookie sheet that bakes evenly and won’t affect color.
• Stainless Mixing Bowls – I love glass mixing bowls, but the truth is, everyone should have good stainless bowls in all sizes and these are great ones.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Sugar: Feeds the yeast to help the dough rise and adds a touch of sweetness that enhances flavor. It also promotes browning, giving your rolls that beautiful golden color.
• Unsalted Butter: Butter adds richness, tenderness, and flavor to the rolls. The fat coats the flour proteins, which limits gluten development — that’s why your potato rolls turn out so soft and melt-in-your-mouth.
• Milk: Milk makes the dough tender and adds subtle sweetness and flavor. The natural sugars in milk also help with browning, while the proteins contribute to a soft, rich crumb.
• Potato Flakes: This is your secret weapon! Potato flakes (or mashed potatoes) make the rolls extra soft and moist by attracting and holding onto moisture.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness, enhances flavor, and strengthens the gluten structure so your rolls rise evenly and hold their shape.
  • PRO TIP: Always add salt after the yeast has been mixed in with other ingredients to avoid slowing yeast activity.
• Instant Yeast: The leavening agent that makes your rolls rise. Instant yeast works quickly and doesn’t require proofing in water first — just mix it right in with the dry ingredients.
• Eggs: Eggs add richness, flavor, and beautiful go

This Nutella and Dulce de Leche Puff Pastry Christmas Tree looks impressive, but it’s actually one of the easiest Christmas desserts you’ll ever make! Layers of rich Nutella and creamy dulce de leche sandwiched between flaky puff pastry! It tastes like pure holiday heaven.

A few years ago, puff pastry Christmas tree recipes started popping up everywhere, but I hadn’t seen one featuring Nutella and dulce de leche, so of course, I had to create my own!

Every Christmas Eve, my mom made homemade donuts. Honestly, I’ve never been a huge fan; they’re not quite sweet enough, yet somehow too rich at the same time. Don’t worry, she doesn’t love them either. Go figure.

Last Christmas, I wanted something that captured the nostalgia of those donuts without actually being one because deep frying is messy, smelly, and a bit of a hassle. That is how this adorable puff pastry Christmas tree was born!

Ingredients for This Recipe

This festive puff pastry tree comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients, and the result is the yummiest pull-apart Christmas Tree dessert. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 Sheets Puff Pastry, partially frozen: The base of the tree.
• Nutella: For rich chocolate flavor.
• Dulce de Leche: Adds creamy caramel sweetness.
• Egg Yolk: Used as an egg wash to brush on the pastry for a glossy, golden finish.
• Water: To mix with the egg yolk.
• Unsalted Butter: Optional, brushed for extra richness.
• Cinnamon Sugar: For sprinkling on top.

That’s it! Just a few ingredients for a dessert that looks impressive and tastes incredible. Now let’s get baking!

Other Fun Puff Pastry Christmas Tree Fillings To Try

This puff pastry tree is a versatile base for all kinds of delicious fillings! While we love the classic Nutella and Dulce de Leche version, you can easily swap in apricot jam, strawberry jam, raspberry jam, fig jam, or even chocolate sauce! Feeling savory? Try ham and cheese, pesto with chicken, or chicken and Parmesan for a flavor-packed alternative.

How to Make This Puff Pastry Christmas Tree?

These Christmas Trees look fancy but are surprisingly easy to make! Flaky puff pastry layered with rich Nutella and creamy dulce de leche makes a festive, show-stopping dessert everyone will love.

1. Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with a Silpat mat. (Parchment paper also works, but be warned: melted dulce de leche tends to stick more to parchment than to Silpat.)
2. Cut: Unfold the puff pastry sheets and stack them on top of each other. Using a sh