Looking for some Asian-inspired dessert recipes to add a twist to your Thanksgiving dinner spread? Or maybe you just need something that’s not your typical pie? Check out this round up of unique Asian American fall desserts.

1. Pumpkin Mochi Donuts

Ditch the fuss of homemade pumpkin pie. These pumpkin mochi donuts are easy to make (just mix the batter and dump in hot oil) but still with all the cozy fall flavor. And they are already portioned into individual servings for guests to put on their plates!

pumpkin mochi donuts closeup with a bite taken out the top donut

Pumpkin Mochi Donut Holes (Mochisadas)

This is the easiest way to make mochi donuts. The pumpkin flavor is perfect for fall and holidays.
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2. Pan Manju

So Pan Manju is like pie bars, but baked with all the layers at once. It derived from Japanese manju, which is a ball of pastry stuffed with filling. When layered and baked as has become popular in Hawaii, it becomes like a slab pie. Easy and delicious!

pan manju four slices cross section on cutting board

Pan Manju (Hawaii Style Japanese Baked Pastry)

Make Japanese baked manju in one pan in this easy local Hawaii style recipe. Use any filling you like – red bean paste, Okinawan sweet potato, or more.
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3. Yuzu Pie Bars

While we’re on the subject of yuzu pie, you might be interested in trying these yuzu pie bars. Pie bars are super easy to make in large quantities (think 9×13″ baking dishes), which make them perfect for large Thanksgiving feasts. This recipe is essentially the same as the creamy yuzu pie above, but even EASIER because you bake it in a casserole dish and then slice into squares for serving.

Easy Creamy Yuzu Pie Bars (Japanese Citrus Pie)

These easy yuzu pie bars have a graham cracker crust, creamy citrus filling, and fluffy whipped cream topping. The recipe can be doubled for a 9×13" pan.
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4. Japanese Sweet Potato Creme Brulee

This is a real showstopper that’s deceptively easy. Creme brulee gets made directly into a roasted Japanese sweet potato! It’s a fall dessert that really wows guests.

japanese roasted sweet potato creme brulee with golden spoon holding brulee piece

Japanese Sweet Potato Creme Brulee (Vegan Friendly)

Take your roasted Japanese sweet potatoes (yakiimo) to the next level by making a sweet potato brulee. This brulee is made right in the sweet potato and is naturally vegan. My recipe is inspired by the sweet potato brulee made popular by the shop Imo Pippi in Japan. Note: the cooking time in this recipe does not include roasting time.
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5. Okinawan Sweet Potato Haupia Pie Bars

I can’t talk about pie bars without mentioning these Okinawan sweet potato haupia pie squares. This is another Hawaiian-Asian fusion dessert. The star of the show is Okinawan sweet potato, which is a Japanese sweet potato with a gorgeous purple color all the way through. Topped with a layer of haupia, a classic Hawaiian coconut dessert, these pie bars are super refreshing after a heavy meal.

Okinawan Purple Sweet Potato Haupia Pie Bars

Sweet potato haupia pie is a classic local Hawaii style dessert. I like to make mine with a graham cracker crust, but traditionally it would use pie or shortbread crust (see notes). This recipe is meant for an 8×8" pan, but you can easily double it for a 9×13" dish.
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6. Pumpkin Butter Mochi

How could I talk about Asian desserts for Thanksgiving without mentioning this pumpkin mochi? This is what you get if pumpkin pie and butter mochi had a baby. It’s chewy and easy to make, just like the classic Hawaiian butter mochi dessert. The addition of pumpkin makes it extra creamy and perfect for Thanksgiving.

pumpkin butter mochi

Pumpkin Butter Mochi

If pumpkin pie and butter mochi had a baby, it'd be this pumpkin butter mochi! It's a dense, chewy, cake flavored with real pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spices.
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7. Apple Cider Mochi Donuts

Like the pumpkin mochi donuts above, these are a really easy fall treat. The chewy mochi texture and the apple cider flavor makes for a memorable sweet that screams Autumn holiday!

closeup of apple cider mochi donuts with bite taken out

The BEST Apple Cider Mochi Donuts

These easy mochi donuts are made with apple cider and applesauce for the perfect fall flavor.
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8. Persimmon Crisp

Easier than pie, this crisp features a popular fall fruit in Japan: the persimmon. With pie spices and a buttery oat streusel, you’ll get all the cozy feels from this easy recipe.

overhead shot of persimmon crisp in a Japanese ceramic bowl with vanilla ice cream

Persimmon Crisp

This easy persimmon crisp uses fuyu persimmons with a brown sugar oatmeal topping.
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More Asian Recipes for Fall

Are you a little bored of your typical holiday meals? Try some of these instead: