14 Things to Bring to Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving Dinner

If you've been invited to a Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving dinner, you'll want to make sure you contribute something to the soiree. Mom always told us to never arrive at someone's house empty-handed. Since this is the season of gratitude and giving, we've gathered 14 ideas just for you. Whether it's a food item or a gift for the host or guests, they're perfect for when you want to share in the abundance of this holiday.

This easy-to-make cranberry-organge monkey bread is both a beautiful centerpiece ‌and‌ a delicious dessert. Topped with seasonal herbs such as rosemary and thyme, along with a chocolate-orange dip, it's a perfect communal treat for all.

Tell them you'll bring the pies (like this delicious pecan pie or this whiskey pumpkin pie), and then surprise the host by leaving them with a charming DIY pie carrier as a thank you gift.

We love this idea for a Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving dinner because everyone gets their own mini blooming flower apple pie. It's quite adorable. Don't forget to bring a bowl of whipped cream or some vanilla ice cream — or why not both?!

Just like with the mini apple pies, we love individual portions for serving a crowd. It makes everything more manageable and makes portioning a snap. These sausage stuffing muffins are soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, and all-around savory. Be sure to make extra because these will go fast!

Cranberry sauce at a meal like this is ‌important‌. It gives that final flavor boost to an overflowing plate. Skip the canned sauce and make this classic condiment from scratch. All it takes are five simple ingredients and 10 minutes of your time to make a side of orange-cranberry sauce. If you want to go the extra mile, make enough to fill up mini Mason jars and gift them to friends and family.

Paint rocks with turkeys and words like "love," "hope," and "thankful" to give to each person joining in on the festivities. You can even include their name on the rock as well and use them as place settings. It's a sweet keepsake for everyone to take home with them.

When you have ideas on fun seating arrangements (to encourage new connections and conversations), use place cards. These sustainable Thanksgiving place cards use natural materials such as pine cones, herb bouquets, and mini rosemary wreaths. So simple, so chic.

If you're in charge of lighting, give the table a festive feel with candle holders made from mini gourds and pumpkins. Since this DIY is so budget-friendly, make a bunch of these to scatter across the whole table for a festive and seasonal vibe.

Popovers should be a classic Thanksgiving side, but people shy away from them because they seem hard to make and are traditionally made in a special popover tin. But with this simple popover recipe, you can make the deliciously delicate, hollow rolls easily with a standard muffin tin. Include some high-quality salted butter to serve on the side.

For a cute and tasty twist on plain, old dinner rolls, make these adorable pumpkin-shaped dinner rolls made with pumpkin spice. While the popovers are more savory, these darling rolls have a touch of sweetness to them.

Sign up to bring the mashed potatoes, but make them three different ways to appeal to all different palates. This recipe features mashed potatoes flavored with roasted garlic and herbs, a horseradish garnish, and also a parmesan and crispy shallot flavoring. If you want to go the extra mile, offer to make the gravy as well. Trust us, you'll be invited back next year.

Green bean casserole is a classic Thanksgiving dish that's been served for decades. This updated version skips the canned mushroom soup and fried onions and uses fresh ingredient instead. The fried shallot topping will get guests asking for seconds.

Place one of these turkey cupcakes at the top of each place setting at the kids' table. They will delight in these cute cupcakes! And hey, if they need to nibble on them while they wait for the main meal to be served, we can't fault them for that.

Everyone loves a little something sweet to enjoy right after dinner. Maybe while waiting for the pies to be served? These truffles celebrate a favorite flavor of the season: gingersnap. They are decadent, delicious, and look quite fancy. (But they're super easy to make.)