A 3-Ingredient, No-Bake Thanksgiving Appetizer That Doubles as a Dessert Favorite

At first glance, appetizers at Thanksgiving might seem unnecessary. After all, you’re about to enjoy a hearty feast that will fill you up. But somehow, before diving into the main course, you find yourself nibbling on charcuterie, dunking chips into pumpkin hummus, and grabbing cranberry Brie bites, all while anticipating the table of food—and the dessert—that’s coming later.

Let’s not overthink it, though—appetizers are a cherished part of the overindulgent holiday. Guests need something to snack on while sipping their drinks and waiting for the “3 p.m.” dinner that inevitably gets pushed to 4:30 p.m. (Or maybe that’s just how it goes at my house?)

When I’m hosting Thanksgiving, there’s always one go-to appetizer that’s loved by all. It’s almost too simple, but with all the chaos of prepping turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and green bean casserole, a quick and easy dish like this one is a lifesaver. This 3-ingredient, no-bake appetizer is the perfect solution.

An Appetizer That Tastes Just Like Dessert

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to serve something sweet as an appetizer, a side dish (hello, sweet potato casserole!), or even dessert. This easy 3-ingredient appetizer falls into the sweet-and-savory appetizer category.

I stumbled upon this amazing flavor combination at a farmers market when an orchard vendor offered samples of pumpkin spread alongside ginger snap cookies for dipping. The pairing was absolutely delicious.

When I asked how to recreate the pumpkin spread, the vendor handed me a jar of pumpkin butter and suggested mixing it with a block of cream cheese. Simple and easy. I bought the jar right away, and just like that, one of my Thanksgiving appetizers was ready to go.

How to Prepare My Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dip

Ingredients

• 4 ounces pumpkin butter
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 box ginger snaps (such as Sweetzels Spiced Wafers)

Instructions

1. Mix pumpkin butter and cream cheese using a mixer until fully blended. Transfer the dip to a serving dish, cover it, and chill in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve.
2. Take the dip out of the fridge 30 minutes before serving to let it soften.
3. Pair with crunchy ginger snap cookies for dipping.

That’s all! You can prepare the pumpkin butter and cream cheese mix up to 2 days in advance, making this a perfect make-ahead appetizer.

This appetizer was such a hit the first time I made it that it’s now a must-have whenever I host Thanksgiving. While it’s perfect for any holiday gathering, be sure to grab the crispy ginger snaps before Thanksgiving, as they tend to vanish from store shelves once the holiday season kicks off.