Do you really want to be the only person not to bring anything to Thanksgiving? Please don’t be that person. According to statistics, 25% of hosts say they might not invite an “empty-handed” guest the following year. Do you really want to be taken off the guest list for the second-best time of year? One study noted that while 98% of 5-year-olds are highly creative, only 2% of adults are, suggesting many adults lose creative habits rather than their capacity for creativity entirely. This is for adults who lack creativity. As you continue to read, you will see a mixture of games, cute and easy desserts, and even creative drinks. Get your pen and paper and get ready for this life-changing list. 

• Mini pumpkin pie bites

To make this delicious dessert, you need 1 pre-made pumpkin pie, either canned or fresh whipped cream, and ground cinnamon. Some optional toppings consist of pecans, salted caramel sauce, or a drizzle of chocolate. You’ll need a cookie cutter that is about 2-3 inches in diameter. You need the cookie cutter to be bite-sized. Along with a serving tray to arrange and present your dessert.

Now take the pumpkin pie out of its container and place it on a cutting board. Spray your cookie cutter with a little bit of non-stick cooking spray so it doesn’t stick. Push the cutter into the pie, twisting it as you pull it out so it’s a clean cut. Using a spoon, push the pie out of the cutter. You should be able to get at least 12-14 circles from one large pie. After this, place the mini pie bites onto your serving tray and top your mini bites with whipped cream and a little dash of cinnamon. If you decide to add more stuff, do as you wish.

• Acorn Donut Holes

These simple and delicious desserts require 1 package (about 13 oz) of plain or glazed donut holes, chocolate chips/chocolate melting wafers/Nutella, vegetable oil (if you’re using chocolate chips), autumn colored sprinkles/chopped nuts/toffee bits, and pretzel sticks.

Now line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips for 15-30 second intervals. Make sure you stir in between each set of microwave times. If necessary, add 1-2 teaspoons of vegetable oil to make the chocolate smooth. For Nutella or melting wafer, follow the package instructions. Take your autumn colored sprinkles, nuts, or toffee bits, whatever you decided to use, and put them into a separate bowl. Dip the top part of your donut hole into the melted chocolate. Right after, dip it into whatever topping you picked. This is the “acorn cap”. Then gently take a piece of the pretzel and put it into the center of the chocolate-covered part of the donut hole. That is the acorn’s stem. Place it on the baking sheet and repeat this process until all the donut holes are covered. After placing the donut holes into the fridge for 30 minutes, so the chocolate can harden. After 30 minutes, take out your acorn donut holes and serve your beautiful creation!

• Pumpkin rice krispie treats

To make these easy kid-friendly goodies, you’ll need Rice Crispy cereal, miniature marshmallows, butter, cream cheese icing, food coloring containing orange, black piping gel, and edible eyes.

For a serving size of 48, you’ll need ½ cup of butter, 8 cups of miniature marshmallows, and 10 cups of crispy rice cereal. Take your butter and put it into your pot on low heat. Mix it so the butter doesn’t burn. Add the marshmallows and mix until they’re melted and mixed completely. Allow it to cook for 2 minutes longer, consistently mixing. After 2 minutes have passed, remove it from the heat. Stir in crispy rice cereal until it’s completely mixed in. Take your creation and put it into a buttered square pan. Firmly pat it down into the pan using a buttered spatula. Make sure every corner of the pan is fully covered. Let it cool. Take your icing and put it into a bowl. Add orange food coloring. Add as much as you would like, depending on how dark you would like it. After this, grab your black piping gel and your edible eyes. Set it to the side and grab your Rice Crispies. Cut them into equal 2-inch squares and lay them out on a baking sheet. Make sure you let them fully cool before adding icing. Take your orange icing and equally coat it on each square. Add 2 eyes and draw a smile with your black piping gel. Or decorate it however you’d like. After this, take it to Thanksgiving and watch them disappear. 

• No-Bake Oreo Truffles

For this delicious and easy dessert, you’ll need 1 pack of Oreo cookies, softened cream cheese, and 12 oz of chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk, or white — your choice). If you have a food processor, take your crushed Oreos and put them in there. If not, put your Oreos into a plastic bag and crush them yourself with a rolling pin until fine crumbs form. Add in your 8 oz of softened cream cheese into your food processor. Though if you do not own one, pour your fine crushed Oreo crumbs into a bowl and add in your 8 oz of cream cheese. Hand mix it until it’s smooth and dough-like. Roll your mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pop them in the freezer for 15-20 minutes so they can harden. Melt your chocolate chips in your microwave-safe bowl and pop it into the microwave (30-second intervals, stirring between). Dip each ball into your melted chocolate coating completely and place it back on your parchment-lined baking sheet. Pop them in the fridge for 30 minutes. After taking them out, place them on a decorative plate and add a drizzle of chocolate if you would like. Serve your delicious Oreo truffles and see how they invite you to Thanksgiving next year.

• Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Cups

For this tasty no-bake dessert, you’ll need graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, cool whip, pie filling or fruit topping (strawberry, cherry, blueberry, etc.), and small tin foil cups. You’ll need to grab your bowl and pour in 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs and ½ cup of melted butter. Mix until crumbly. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the mixture into your small tin foil cups. Use a spoon to push the mixture into the tin to form the crust. Take a separate bowl and put 16 oz of softened cream cheese and 1 cup of powdered sugar. Use a whisk or fork to beat the mixture until smooth. Add in 2 cups of Cool Whip and fold it into the mixture until fluffy. Use a spoon and put even amounts into each tin cup. Top with a spoonful of fruit pie filling. Allow it to chill in the refrigerator for about an hour before serving. Put your mini cheesecakes on a decorative plate and take them to your Thanksgiving feast, and watch how everyone grabs one.

• Gratitude paper chain

This fun, kid-friendly activity can take the attention of the kids away from the adults, so both age groups can have fun. For this project, you’ll need colored paper (fall colors such as red, orange, yellow, or brown), scissors, markers or crayons, glue stick/tape/stapler.

To complete this fun activity, you will need to cut the paper into strips (about 1 inch wide, 8 inches long. Give each child at least 5 strips of paper and give them time to use the crayons or markers to write something they’re grateful for. After this, form one strip into a circle. Making it stick using either your glue stick, stapler, or tape. After this process, grab another one and loop it onto that one while forming a circle. Continue this process until you have a long chain. Hang it up somewhere in the living room and let the kids show their work to their parents.

• Thanksgiving Bingo

This simple, fun game for all ages consists of Printable Thanksgiving Bingo cards (you can make your own or find free ones online, Small candies, buttons, or corn kernels as markers, A bowl with Bingo call-outs (pictures or words that match the cards), and small prizes such as little cars, candy, or even money (optional). To make the call-outs bowl, take a piece of paper and cut equal rectangles. Using the bingo card you found online or maybe even your own, write out the words on the bingo sheet and fold them up. Throw them in the bowl, and you have a bingo call-out bowl. Give each player a bingo card of their own, along with either small candies, buttons, or even corn kernels to play as markers. Pick from the bowl and call out the word you get. They take the button or whatever you picked and put it over the option if they have it. First to get 5 in a row, either vertically, diagonally, or horizontally shouts gobble gobble. And if you decided to get the small prizes, then they’d win and get one. This game will keep the kids both entertained and occupied.

• Thankful turkey craft

This cute turkey project consists of 5 simple supplies. You’ll need construction paper (brown, orange, yellow, red), scissors, glue or tape, markers or crayons, and googly eyes. 

To complete this hand, all kids make a large circle and a smaller circle for the head and body. So beforehand, you’re obviously going to need to cut the circles out. Take a large circular container and press it on the brown paper. Use a pencil to trace around it. On a different corner of the paper, get a smaller circular object, such as a smaller container or even a cup, and follow the same instructions. After doing this, put the paper you drew the circles on top of the other papers and cut out the circles. After doing this, you should have plenty of large and mini circles for the kids. After this, get the colored paper and cut out a feather shape. Do the same as the circles and draw it first, and then cut it out so you have a large number of feathers. Put the circles and the feathers in 2 separate bags and take them along with the googly eyes, glue/tape, and markers/crayons to your Thanksgiving party. Show the kids how to glue the head on the body. After this, have the kids write out things they’re grateful for on the feathers and have them glue the feathers to the back of the turkey’s body. Allow the children to decorate how they would like using the googly eyes and markers/crayons. This activity grabs the children’s attention and allows them to enjoy Thanksgiving without causing problems or a mess.

• Thanksgiving scavenger hunt

This fun outdoor/indoor activity is a fun way of getting the children to enjoy the great outdoors. You’ll need to create a checklist of items for the children to find. You can find one online or use Google Docs to create one yourself. You can also use the following example: A leaf shaped like a heart, Something orange, A pinecone, A pumpkin or squash, Something that smells good, A turkey decoration, Someone laughing, and Something that starts with “T”. Along with this checklist, hand out pencils or crayons and baskets or small bags so they can put their findings in them. For this activity to work, you have to give each kid a checklist and a pencil/crayon. The kids will go looking around the house and or outside to collect each item. They check off what they’ve found, and after the game is finished, all the kids will come together and share what their favorite finding was.

• Who’s Most Likely To – Thanksgiving Edition

This fun and hilarious game entertains the older kids. You’ll need small pieces of paper, a pen, and a bowl. Using the pen, write out a bunch of different “Who’s Most Likely To” papers. For example, who’s most likely to fall asleep first after dinner, who’s most likely to eat dessert before dinner, who’s most likely to take the biggest plate of food, who’s most likely to take a photo of their food before eating, who’s most likely to show up late but still expect leftovers, etc. After creating a good number of cards, place them in your bowl. Go around the room picking a piece of paper and read it aloud. You then point at the person who’s most likely to do the thing on the paper. This activity is both fun and simple.

• Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

Starting with the drinks, this Pumpkin Pie Milkshake is a delight and kid-friendly. You’ll need vanilla ice cream, milk, pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, plastic cups, a large glass pitcher, and whipped cream. You’ll take this mixture in a large glass pitcher. If you would like to make more than double the amount you make and buy 2 large pitchers. Get your blender and add 2 cups of vanilla ice cream or 4 cups if you plan on doubling it, ½ cup of milk or 1 if you plan to double it, ½ a cup of pumpkin purée or 1 cup if you plan on making more, ½ tsp cinnamon or 1 tsp if your making double the serving size, and ½ tsp of pumpkin pie spice or 1 tsp if you plan to make double in size. Blend it all until smooth and put it into your glass pitcher. Grab your cups and whipped cream and put it all into a bag. Drive to your destination and serve your delicious milkshake.

• Caramel apple “dirty soda”

For this delicious and simply made drink, you’ll need chilled apple cider, chilled cream soda, caramel syrup, half-and-half or heavy cream, ice, clear plastic cups, a large glass pitcher, ground cinnamon for a garnish, and whipped cream. Firstly, take your large glass pitcher and pour in 12 cups of apple cider and 1 ½ cups of caramel syrup, and stir until the syrup is completely dissolved. Slowly pour in your 9 cups of cream soda and stir gently to mix it without losing too much carbonation. Pour in your 3 cups of half-and-half or heavy cream, depending on what you picked, and lightly mix it. Do not overmix it. Add a few cubes of ice before serving. Pack your large glass pitcher with your clear cups and your whipped cream, caramel syrup, and cinnamon. When you get there, pour an even amount in each cup and top it with whipped cream. Add a drizzle of caramel syrup and a dash of cinnamon. Serve your deliciously made drink and watch the taste buds of all your friends and family explode with delight.

• “Sham-pagne” mocktail

This sparkly, elegant kid-friendly mocktail is the perfect drink for Thanksgiving. You’ll need white grape juice, ginger ale or sparkling apple cider, pineapple juice, clear cups, a large glass pitcher, and fresh raspberries or gold sugar sprinkles for garnish. To make this drink, you’ll need to add 6 cups of white grape juice, 2 cups of pineapple juice, and 6 cups of ginger ale or sparkling apple cider, depending on what you picked into your glass pitcher. Stir gently so your drink stays fizzy. Leave it in the fridge for an hour so it gets cool. Pack your large glass pitcher into your bag along with your plastic cups and raspberries or gold sugar sprinkles for your garnish, of course. When you arrive, leave your glass pitcher unattended along with your cups and garnishes and watch your pitcher turn empty in the next 30 minutes. 

• Sparkling Cranberry Lemonade

For this refreshingly sweet-tart drink, you’ll need lemonade, cranberry juice, Sprite, 7UP, or sparkling water, 1 lemon, ice, fresh cranberries, plastic cups, and a glass pitcher. To accomplish this delicious creation, you’ll need to pour 6 cups of lemonade and 4 cups of cranberry juice into your glass pitcher. Cut up your lemon and drop that in there. Pour in your cup of fresh cranberries for color. Pop it in the refrigerator and allow it to chill for an hour. After an hour has passed, add your 4 cups of Sprite, 7UP, or sparkling water, depending on what you decided on, and mix gently. Pack your large pitcher in your bag along with your clear cups and your bag of ice. Leave it on the counter and watch it disappear!

•  Apple Cranberry Spritz

Ending this off with a bang, this delicious to die for drink, you’ll be sure to need chilled apple cider, cranberry juice, Sprite/7up/sparkling water, 1 orange, 1 apple, 1 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries, a glass pitcher, a bag of ice you’ll need for later, and clear plastic cups. In your large glass pitcher, pour in 6 cups of apple cider and 6 cups of cranberry juice. Stir completely to make sure the flavors are all over the pitcher. Take your apple, cranberries, and orange and cut them into thin slices. Then drop them into your pitcher. This gives it color and flavor. Let the mixture sit in the fridge for at least an hour. After, pour in your 6 cups of Sprite and gently mix it to keep the fizz. Pack your large glass pitcher in your bag along with your clear plastic cups and bag of ice. When you arrive, leave your glass pitcher on the table along with the cups and see how your tasty drink disappears. 

I hope this list was beneficial to you. Now get up off your butt and join the Thanksgiving spirit by recreating one of these ideas. Have a blessed day.