These Desserts Have a Secret (And Delicious!) Ingredient

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we're beginning to draft our lengthy shopping lists. There are the usual suspects: turkey, cranberries, mashed potatoes - but when it comes to your dessert list, it pays to change things up. These luscious desserts are transformed by a secret ingredient, one that will keep your guests guessing as they reach for seconds.

Chocolate Truffles

These dense, delectable truffles might be small in size, but they're big in flavor. A medley of Irish cream liqueur, semi-sweet chocolate, and pecans, and most noteworthy, mashed potatoes! A convenient ingredient for a Thanksgiving dessert, just steal a spoonful from the table for these delicious desserts. Get the recipe here.

Lavender Lemon Angel Food Cake

After a heavy meal, it can be a breath of fresh air to end the evening on a light note. The angel food texture is as light as air, with subtle notes of lemon... and lavender. This fluffy and whimsical cake texture is topped with a creamy icing. Bonus points: lavender makes an elegant cake topper. Get the recipe here.

Red Velvet Loaf Cake

Red velvet fans, rejoice. The flavorful cake and the crunchy walnut topping are so distracting, you won't even notice that this dessert is actually healthy! The surprise ingredient, beets, add an intense red hue but an understated flavor. Perfectly paired with a cappuccino at the end of the night. Get the recipe here.

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Amanda K By The Bay

These creamy, luscious bars are elevated with one little ingredient: balsamic vinegar. It's no secret that strawberries and balsamic have long since complimented each other, likewise with strawberry cheesecake and balsamic glaze. Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

This dessert has graced just about everything Thanksgiving table since the beginning of time. But they're usually dense, heavy, and also a little too rich. Enter: this healthier, lighter version that doesn't compromise on flavor. The secret ingredient? Tofu. Trust us, you won't notice the difference, and your pants will fit a little more comfortably than on Thanksgivings past. Get the recipe here.

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