Easy Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes: Pumpkin Donut Holes, Potatoes, Salads

PinSave

This post may contain affiliate links.

How’s this Holiday, and hopefully short, week been for you so far?  I just got back from sitting in on the yoga class I’m going to be teaching next week, like I mentioned before.  It was a great group of people and a lovely facility and I am so excited to get started teaching there! 

And, there are just a couple more days til Turkey Day Tofurkey Day.  Just kidding, there will be no Tofurkeys here. But, I’m actually making a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner for One:  My Husband.  Skylar and I are of the veggie persuasion, but Scott adores traditional Thanksgiving Day fare, and since we have no family in town that I could just send him to to mooch a meal from, yours truly is cooking.  I have to brush up on my turkey & stuffing making skills I’ve got the raw vegan desserts down pat, though!

Speaking of which, I’m glad you enjoyed my Thanksgiving Desserts & Grocery Finds post.  I had great comments from so many of you.  Thanks for your suggestions about which dessert I should make.  Lots of you said, Make Both Apple and PumpkinLove your thinkin’ on that!

My Vegan No-Bake Pumpkin Pie (Gluten & Soy Free, too!)  is really easy and in case you still have an extra can of pumpkin puree laying around, that recipe will help you use it right up, for sure.

Vegan No-Bake Pumpkin Pie in white dish with whipped cream

Side of Vegan No-Bake Pumpkin Pie topped with whipped cream

 And the Raw Vegan Apple Crumble.  Totally a fave of mine.  I love that dessert!

Raw Vegan Apple Crumble in clear container

Especially the slurpy cinnamon-infused agave juice that I love to drink sauceUhhh-huhhh, love it!

Side view of layers of Raw Vegan Apple Crumble in container

But moving along….  
In case you’re not interested in making a Vegan Pumpkin Pie or a Raw Vegan Apple Crumble, then maybe I can twist your holiday dessert arm with my…

Raw Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes – 5 Minute Recipe   It’s extremely fast & easy.  And, other than the cooked pumpkin puree, they’re raw.  Some people get very technical & uptight about verbiage so I wanted to clarify for the undies-in-a-raw-bunch-crowd.  They’re no-bake but rather than screwing up all my existing labels & tags, I am just sticking with the word Raw. 

Raw Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes on white plate

These little Vegan Pumpkin Donut Holes are light and airy because they are nut and date-free.
Up close of one Raw Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donut Hole

And they are pumpkin-ey and slightly sweet, without being over-powering in either of those departments.  Try a Raw Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donut Hole, you’ll like ’em! 

Options, Tweaks, & Tips:
Substitute canned sweet potato, fresh or canned squash puree you may have on hand, or something else that floats your boat instead of the Pumpkin Puree.  
Roll donuts in coconut flakes at the end
Roll donuts in cinnamon & sugar
Add Chocolate, Carob, or Raw Cocoa Nibs either in the mixture or dust over the top at the end
Add a Smear of Nut Butter or as a Dipper on the Side



Whatever you do, if you’re looking for a last minute dessert, these Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes are sooo fast & delish!

 Plate full of Raw Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes showing flax seed

But maybe you’re not in the need of any dessert recipes and you’d like to roast some potatoes as a lovely side dish…
Well, I roasted these potatoes.  Maybe these will float your tater boat.

Tri-colored Roasted Potatoes on foil lined baking pan
Close up of crispy skin on roasted potatoes

Or Sweet Potato Fries

Stacked Sweet Potato Fries on white plate
 White plate with Roasted Sweet Potato Fries layered on top of one another

Or maybe you’re a Curly Girly and the Curly Sweet Potato Fries are where it’s at for you.

Close up of Curly Sweet Potato Fries

You need Raw Veggie & Salad inspiration, you say?
Try a lovely massaged Kale Salad with Homemade Vegan Slaw Dressing

 Kale Salad with mixed vegetables in homemade sauce
Up close of Kale Salad and Vegetables with dressing

Or a Vegan “Cesar”-Dressing Inspired Salad

Salad with Vegan Cesar Inspired Dressing

Or just a lovely, simple, Green Salad with…

Simple green salad with diced vegetables white shallow dish
Close up of simple salad with vegetables

Averie’s Vegan Holiday-Spice Orange Vinaigrette
1/4 c Orange Juice
2 Tbsp EVOO
1 Tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp of Agave
Pinch of Ginger and/or Nutmeg and/or Cinnamon and/or Black Pepper

Whisk Until Combined

Drizzle and Enjoy!!!

Mixed Greens Salad with Vegetables topped with Holiday-Spice Orange Vinaigrette
Close up of Salad topped with Holiday-Spice Orange Vinaigrette

 

(or the Raw Vegan Apple Crumble or the Vegan No Bake Pumpkin Pie!) 
Up close of Vegan Pumpkin Donut holes on white plate

Yoga and Tip of the Day: Camel (Ustrasana).  Open your heart chakra, let the love in.  And give extra special thanks & gratitude to the Universe this week for all the lovely blessings you DO HAVE in your life.

Woman doing Camel yoga pose 

What’s your picture taking strategy on the holidays with Friends & Fam? Some families are very into getting that staged, perfect shot.  Other people roll with the impromptu & candid photos, but some people despise getting their picture taken, and nothing worse than an relative getting all bent out of shape over a “bad picture”.  Usually though, I think the candid shots are the best shots.  And for those of us with kids, we all know, that trying to plan or stage a photo op is like asking for trouble because it never pans out.  So I guess I lean more towards candid shots but I do enjoy getting a big massive, staged group photo, too.  What’s your strategy with holiday photos?

Stay Tuned For Holiday Food & Photos…

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

Get the latest recipes via email!

Leave a Comment

Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Comments

  1. I will be making these mint bars ASAP. Chocolate and mint are my fave combo ever (can you say junior mints??) Heck I'd make these tonight if it weren't 11:40p.m. I SUPPOSE I can wait until tomorrow. Thank you – these look divine!

  2. I have made vegan desserts before and my hubby shuns them after giving a polite taste. But I think he may have finished these off himself if I hadn't gotten my little paws on some! SOOO GOOOD! thank you!!

  3. those creme de menthe bars look so amazing!! and i'm wishing i had picked up those chocolate mint chips i saw last week…

  4. Your dessert recipes never cease to amaze me! I just wish I could eat them all:)

    Holidays can be hard, but being gluten and sugar free really narrows my choices. I have had family who didn't understand my food allergies trying to get me to eat cake etc. In a way, Celiac saves me from a lot of unhealthy eating! I try to always make sure I have some kind of treat for myself though–or else I will end up cheating.

  5. I truly believe there is not one single dessert out there that you can't make vegan and/or raw. You know those "Eat This, Not That" books? You could so easily do that with desserts only it could be like an "eat THIS (recipe provided) and not that." Ok probably overkill but I just think you're amazing.

    I love the last little bit you wrote about staying slim during the holiday season and that it's important we not deprive ourselves. I also completely agree that it's important to stay mindful and indulge in a taste, bite or piece of something rather than thinking you have to eat as much as you can because you'll never get it again. I get caught up in that mentality way too often and it's NEVER true!! I think that's why diets always fail. People always want a "last supper" to eat as much as they can because they don't think they'll ever get it again.

    You know the drama of my week with the in-laws here…let's just say that skydiving was a breeze compared to having 6 in-laws and a one-year old screaming baby in the house! :)

  6. gahhhh…those creme de menthe bars are ridiculous. seriously. you are a genius. i must bow down to you each and every time you make something because they always look that good!

    and yes, i think it is important to remember there will be more meals, more snacks, more times to eat healthy, more times to indulge – don't stress…it's just food!

  7. Oh my, those mint bars look scrumptious!

    Thank goodness there will always be more kale chips! : ) Yes, moderation is the key and when that doesn't work just get the flu over the weekend ; o

    I'm working on buff arms like yours, I'll let you know how it goes…..

  8. I have a question too. In the Creme de Menthe bar recipe you used oat or oat flour. Is that gluten free? The oats I have say it's not considered gluten free since it's processed in a factory that also processes wheat for wheat flour & since it gets into the air.. it can get mixed into the oats. Any amount of wheat drives my body crazy, I have to be really careful. Thanks, Heather :)

  9. What a wonderful holiday recap Averie! I'm so glad you enjoyed your Thanksgiving with your family. :)

    OMG, these bars look amazing! I'm truly amazed by your skills at adapting nearly any recipe to fit your needs. That's something to take pride in!

    xxoo
    Heather