My Go-To 3-Ingredient, No-Bake Thanksgiving Starter

At first glance, you might wonder why appetizers are necessary on Thanksgiving. After all, you're about to indulge in a massive meal. Yet, before the feast begins, you find yourself nibbling on a charcuterie board, dipping chips into pumpkin hummus, and grabbing cranberry Brie bites like the grand dinner isn't coming. Plus, there's always dessert waiting for you!

But let’s not overthink it—appetizers are a beloved part of this indulgent day. Guests need something to snack on while sipping drinks, waiting for that delayed ‘3 p.m.’ dinner that actually won’t be served until closer to 4:30 p.m. (Or is that just my household?)

When it comes to hosting Thanksgiving, there's one appetizer I always serve that’s a hit every time—and it’s as simple as can be. With everything else on your plate, like turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and green bean casserole, having a no-fuss option like this 3-ingredient, no-bake appetizer is a lifesaver.

A Starter That Could Double as Dessert

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

I first came across this delicious combination at a farmers market, where a vendor was offering samples of pumpkin spread alongside pieces of ginger snaps for dipping. The pairing was irresistible.

Curious about the pumpkin spread, I asked how to recreate it, and the vendor handed me a jar of pumpkin butter with simple instructions: just mix it with cream cheese. That’s all! Needless to say, I grabbed a jar, and just like that, my Thanksgiving appetizer 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. Using a mixer, blend pumpkin butter and cream cheese until smooth and well combined. Transfer the mixture to a serving dish, cover, and chill in the fridge until you're ready to serve.
2. Before serving, take the dip out of the fridge about 30 minutes to let it soften.
3. Pair with crunchy ginger snaps for dipping.

That's all there is to it! You can prepare the pumpkin butter and cream cheese mixture up to 2 days in advance, making this an excellent make-ahead appetizer option.

This appetizer was such a crowd-pleaser the first time I made it that it has become a Thanksgiving tradition. It's perfect for any holiday gathering, though I recommend stocking up on the crispy ginger snaps ahead of time—they tend to fly off the shelves once Thanksgiving hits.