Save A playful and festive dessert featuring crisp cinnamon-sugar tortilla chips, spiced roasted sweet potatoes, cranberries, and a drizzle of maple-chili chocolate sauce—perfect for adding a little heat to your holiday table.
I first created these spicy Thanksgiving dessert nachos as a way to bring something unexpected and colorful to our family’s fall feast. Everyone loved piling up their own nachos with all the different toppings and warm sauce &mdash it quickly became a new tradition for us.
Ingredients
- Flour tortillas: 8 small, for the cinnamon-sugar chips
- Melted unsalted butter: 3 tbsp, to brush on the tortillas
- Granulated sugar: 1/4 cup, for the cinnamon-sugar mix
- Ground cinnamon: 1 1/2 tsp, in the chips and with sweet potatoes
- Sweet potato: 1 medium, peeled and diced small for roasting
- Vegetable oil: 1 tbsp, to coat sweet potatoes
- Ground cayenne pepper: 1/4 tsp, for a little heat on the sweet potatoes
- Salt: Pinch, in both potatoes and sauce
- Dried cranberries: 1/2 cup, adds tartness
- Chopped toasted pecans: 1/4 cup, for crunch
- Mini marshmallows: 1/4 cup, for gooey bites
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: 1/2 cup, for the sauce
- Pure maple syrup: 2 tbsp, for sweetness in the sauce
- Milk (dairy or non-dairy): 1 tbsp, for the chocolate sauce
- Chili powder: 1/8 tsp, in the chocolate sauce
- Whipped cream (optional): For topping
- Orange zest (optional): For garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare Tortilla Chips:
- Brush both sides of tortillas with melted butter. Mix sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle over tortillas. Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges and arrange on a baking sheet.
- Bake Chips:
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping once halfway, until crisp and golden. Cool completely.
- Roast Sweet Potatoes:
- Toss diced sweet potato with oil, cinnamon, cayenne, and salt. Spread on a lined baking sheet and roast for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until tender and slightly caramelized.
- Make Chocolate Sauce:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, maple syrup, and milk. Microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring each time, until smooth. Stir in chili powder and salt.
- Assemble Nachos:
- Arrange cinnamon chips on a large platter. Scatter roasted sweet potatoes, cranberries, pecans, and marshmallows over the top.
- Finish and Serve:
- Drizzle generously with warm maple-chili chocolate sauce. Garnish with whipped cream and orange zest if desired. Serve immediately.
Save Making these nachos is one of our favorite holiday kitchen traditions! My kids love helping sprinkle the cinnamon sugar and everyone gathers around to top their own plate &mdash it’s sweet, silly, and guaranteed to bring a little laughter to Thanksgiving dessert.
Allergen & Nutritional Information
These nachos contain wheat, milk, and tree nuts, and may contain soy, eggs, and gluten depending on your specific ingredients. Each serving is about 320 calories with 13 g fat, 50 g carbs, and 4 g protein. Always verify ingredient labels for allergens.
Making Ahead & Storing
All components can be prepped a day ahead: store chips and roasted potatoes in airtight containers at room temperature, and reheat potatoes and sauce before serving. Assemble nachos just before enjoying for the best texture.
Flavor Variations
Try swapping pecans for walnuts, omitting nuts for a nut-free version, or adding dried cherries for a fruity twist. If you want even more spice, double up the chili powder in your chocolate sauce!
Save Pile on your favorite toppings and dig in while the nachos are still fresh and gooey. Happy spicy Thanksgiving snacking!
Recipe FAQ Section
- → How do I make cinnamon-sugar chips crispy?
Brush tortillas with melted butter, sprinkle evenly with cinnamon-sugar, then bake until golden and crisp. Cool fully before assembling for best texture.
- → Can I adjust the spiciness level?
Add more cayenne to the sweet potatoes or chili powder to the chocolate sauce for extra heat, or reduce for a milder flavor.
- → Is there a substitute for sweet potatoes?
Try using pumpkin cubes for a seasonal variation, or swap in other roasted root vegetables to suit your preference.
- → Are these dessert nachos vegetarian-friendly?
Yes, all ingredients are vegetarian. Check marshmallow and chocolate labels for any potential non-vegetarian additives.
- → What can I use for nut allergies?
Omit pecans or replace with your favorite nut-free crunchy topping, such as toasted seeds or extra marshmallows.
- → How should leftovers be stored?
Store chips and toppings separately in airtight containers at room temperature; assemble fresh for best results.