27 Fall Dessert Recipes

Fall is the best season for desserts with all the apples, pumpkins, and warm spices everywhere. These recipes capture everything good about autumn – from classic apple pie to fancy stuff like pumpkin tiramisu. Most of these use ingredients that are cheap and easy to find this time of year. Your kitchen will smell amazing and you’ll have plenty of options whether you want something simple or impressive for company.

Classic Apple Pie

This is the dessert that defines fall for most people. Getting the crust right takes practice but the filling is just apples, sugar, and spices. Use a mix of apple varieties for the best flavor – some that hold their shape and some that break down. The key is not making the filling too wet or your bottom crust gets soggy. Nothing beats this served warm with vanilla ice cream. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake

Regular cheesecake but with pumpkin and all those warm spices mixed in. The pumpkin makes it extra creamy and gives it that beautiful orange color. A gingersnap crust works better than regular graham crackers with the pumpkin flavor. This needs to chill overnight so plan ahead. Way better than those pumpkin spice lattes everyone goes crazy for. Find the recipe here.

Caramel Apple Crisp

Like regular apple crisp but with homemade caramel sauce mixed in with the apples. The caramel gets all gooey and amazing when it bakes. You can use store-bought caramel if you don’t want to make your own but homemade tastes way better. The oat topping gets crispy and contrasts with the soft apples underneath. Serve with ice cream that starts melting into the warm crisp. Find the recipe here.

Pecan Pie Bars

All the flavor of pecan pie but way easier since you don’t have to deal with pie crust. The shortbread bottom holds everything together and the pecan filling on top gets perfectly gooey. These are great for parties because you can cut them into squares and people can eat them with their hands. They keep well too so you can make them a day ahead. Find the recipe here.

Maple Walnut Cookies

These soft cookies taste like fall in cookie form. Real maple syrup makes a huge difference over fake stuff. The walnuts add crunch and go perfectly with the maple flavor. These stay soft for days if you store them right. Perfect for packing in lunches or having with coffee on cold mornings. The dough freezes good so you can bake just a few at a time. Find the recipe here.

Sweet Potato Pie

This is like pumpkin pie’s cousin but with a different flavor that’s more earthy and less spicy. You gotta roast the sweet potatoes first which takes time but makes the flavor way better than using canned. The filling is smoother than pumpkin pie and has this gorgeous orange color. Some people think this is better than pumpkin pie but I won’t get into that argument. Find the recipe here.

Cinnamon Apple Bundt Cake

Bundt cakes look fancy but are actually pretty simple to make. This one has apples mixed right into the batter plus a cinnamon sugar swirl running through it. The cake stays moist for days because of the apples. You can dust it with powdered sugar or make a simple glaze. Perfect for when you want something that looks impressive but isn’t too much work. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling

This looks really professional but isn’t as hard as people think. You bake a thin pumpkin cake, roll it up with a towel while it’s warm, then unroll and spread with cream cheese filling. The trick is rolling it while it’s still warm so it doesn’t crack. These freeze really well wrapped tight. Great for Thanksgiving when you want something different from regular pie. Find the recipe here.

Apple Cider Donuts

These taste like fall mornings at the apple orchard. They’re cake donuts, not yeast ones, so they’re way easier to make at home. The apple cider gets reduced down to concentrate the flavor. Roll them in cinnamon sugar while they’re still warm. Best eaten the same day you make them with a cup of hot coffee or more apple cider. Find the recipe here.

Cranberry Orange Bread

The tart cranberries and bright orange zest make this less sweet than most quick breads. You can use fresh or dried cranberries depending what you got. This keeps well and actually tastes better the next day when the flavors have time to blend. Great for breakfast or afternoon snack with tea. The orange glaze on top makes it look extra nice. Find the recipe here.

Spiced Pear Galette

A galette is just a rustic tart that’s supposed to look imperfect, which takes all the pressure off. Pears get sweet and soft when they bake and the spices make your kitchen smell incredible. The pastry gets flaky and golden around the edges. Way easier than a proper tart and just as delicious. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

The pumpkin makes these incredibly moist and the spices go surprisingly well with chocolate chips. These are less sweet than regular chocolate chip muffins which makes them better for breakfast. The pumpkin also adds fiber and vitamins so you can pretend they’re healthy. They freeze well and are perfect for grab-and-go breakfasts during busy fall mornings. Find the recipe here.

Apple Butter Snickerdoodles

Regular snickerdoodles are great but adding apple butter makes them extra soft and gives them fall flavor. The apple butter keeps them from getting dry like some snickerdoodles do. Rolling them in cinnamon sugar before baking gives them that classic crinkly top. These smell amazing while they bake and taste even better. Perfect with a glass of milk or cup of tea. Find the recipe here.

Maple Pecan Tart

This is like pecan pie but more elegant and less sweet. The maple flavor is more subtle than corn syrup and lets the pecans be the star. The pastry shell can be tricky but you can use store-bought if you want. This keeps well and actually tastes better after sitting overnight. Perfect for when you want something that looks fancy but isn’t too complicated. Find the recipe here.

Chai Spiced Pumpkin Bread

Instead of regular pumpkin spice, this uses chai spices like cardamom and ginger which makes it taste more interesting. The bread is super moist from the pumpkin and keeps well for days. You can make mini loaves to give as gifts or one big loaf to keep for yourself. A simple glaze on top makes it look professional but isn’t necessary. Find the recipe here.

Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake

This has layers of cinnamon sugar and apples running through it plus a crumb topping that gets all golden and crunchy. Perfect for weekend breakfast or afternoon coffee break. The apples keep it moist and add texture. This looks impressive when you cut into it and see all the layers. Great for when you have people over for brunch. Find the recipe here.

Bourbon Pecan Pie

Adding bourbon to pecan pie makes it taste more grown-up and complex. The alcohol cooks out so it’s safe for everyone but leaves behind this amazing flavor. Use good bourbon – the cheap stuff will make your pie taste harsh. This is perfect for Thanksgiving when you want something traditional but with a twist. The bourbon also helps cut through the sweetness. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Tiramisu

This is regular tiramisu but with pumpkin and fall spices instead of coffee. It sounds weird but totally works. The ladyfingers get soaked with spiced syrup and the mascarpone layer has pumpkin mixed in. This needs to sit overnight to set up properly so plan ahead. Way more impressive than regular pumpkin desserts and perfect for dinner parties. Find the recipe here.

Caramelized Apple Tarte Tatin

This French upside-down tart looks super fancy but is actually pretty straightforward once you get the technique down. You caramelize apples in a cast iron pan, top with pastry, then flip it over when done. The apples get all golden and the caramel soaks into the pastry. Definitely practice this one before making it for company since the flipping part can be tricky. Find the recipe here.

Gingerbread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This is moist spice cake, not the hard cookies most people think of. The molasses gives it deep flavor and dark color. The cream cheese frosting balances out the spices perfectly. This cake actually gets better after a day when the flavors meld together. Perfect for fall parties or just because you want something that tastes like the holidays are coming. Find the recipe here.

Honey Roasted Pear Crumble

Roasting the pears with honey first concentrates their flavor and makes them extra sweet. The crumble topping has oats and nuts for texture. This is less common than apple crisp but just as good. Pears get really soft and jammy when they bake. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream. Great way to use up pears that are getting too ripe. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Spice Macarons

These are definitely for advanced bakers since macarons are tricky to get right. But they look so pretty with their orange color and fall flavor. The filling can be buttercream or ganache flavored with pumpkin spice. These are more about the presentation than ease of making. Perfect for impressing people who know how hard macarons are to make properly. Find the recipe here.

Apple Cider Caramel Sauce

This isn’t really a dessert by itself but makes everything else better. You reduce apple cider down until it’s syrupy then make caramel with it. Great over ice cream, apple pie, or just about anything. The apple flavor is really concentrated and delicious. This keeps in the fridge for weeks so make a big batch. Way better than store-bought caramel sauce. Find the recipe here.

Maple Cream Pie

Like banana cream pie but with maple flavor instead. The maple custard filling is rich and smooth with real maple syrup. Graham cracker crust works fine but a pastry crust is more traditional. Top with whipped cream and maybe some chopped pecans. This needs to chill for several hours to set up properly. Perfect for when you want something creamy but with fall flavors. Find the recipe here.

Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Bread

Simple pumpkin bread with a cinnamon sugar topping that gets crispy when it bakes. The bread itself is moist and not too sweet. The topping adds texture and extra flavor. This is probably the easiest pumpkin dessert to make and always turns out good. Great for breakfast or snack time. You can make mini loaves or one big one depending what you prefer. Find the recipe here.

Apple Cider Cake

This cake uses both apple cider and applesauce which gives it incredible apple flavor and keeps it moist. A simple brown butter glaze on top makes it extra special. This is perfect for potluck dinners or when you want something that travels well. The cake gets more flavorful after sitting overnight. Find the recipe here.

Pecan Praline Cheesecake

This is one of those desserts that looks way harder than it actually is. The praline topping makes it taste like fancy restaurant dessert but you can totally make it at home. The pecans get all caramelized and crunchy on top of the smooth cheesecake. It’s perfect for fall when pecans are in season and you want something that feels special for Thanksgiving or just because.

This dessert actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge overnight so it’s perfect for making ahead when you got company coming. One slice goes a long way cause it’s pretty rich.Retry