25 Easy Fall Desserts

Fall is the best time for baking with all the apples, pumpkins, and warm spices everywhere. These desserts capture all those cozy autumn flavors without being too complicated to make. Most use ingredients you can find at any grocery store and don’t require fancy techniques. Perfect for when the weather gets cold and you want your house to smell like cinnamon and nutmeg.

Apple Crisp

This is probably the easiest fall dessert and it always turns out good. Just slice apples, toss with sugar and cinnamon, then top with oats and butter. The apples get soft and sweet while the topping gets crunchy. You can use whatever apples you have – even the ones getting soft work fine. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for the perfect fall comfort dessert. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Pie

The classic Thanksgiving dessert that everyone expects. Using canned pumpkin makes this way easier than people think. The filling is just pumpkin, eggs, cream, and spices mixed together. Store-bought pie crust saves time and tastes fine. The key is not overbaking it – the center should still jiggle slightly when you take it out. Find the recipe here.

Caramel Apple Bars

These taste like caramel apples but in bar form which makes them easier to eat. The shortbread crust holds everything together and the caramel layer gets all gooey. Diced apples add texture and keep them from being too sweet. These travel well for potlucks and cut into neat squares. Way less messy than actual caramel apples. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Regular chocolate chip cookies but with pumpkin puree added to make them soft and cakey. The pumpkin keeps them moist for days and adds that fall flavor without being overwhelming. Kids who don’t like pumpkin stuff usually still eat these because the chocolate chips are the main attraction. These freeze really well if you want to make a big batch. Find the recipe here.

Apple Cinnamon Bread

This quick bread is super moist from the diced apples and smells amazing while baking. The cinnamon sugar swirl through the middle makes every slice special. You can make mini loaves for gifts or one big one for your family. It’s good for breakfast too, not just dessert. The apples keep it from getting dry even after a few days. Find the recipe here.

Pecan Pie Bars

All the flavor of pecan pie but way easier to make and serve. The shortbread crust is simpler than pie pastry and the filling is just corn syrup, eggs, and pecans. These cut into neat squares which makes them perfect for parties. The pecans on top get all toasty and crunchy. These are rich so you can cut them pretty small. Find the recipe here.

Maple Walnut Fudge

This fudge tastes like fall in candy form with real maple syrup and toasted walnuts. It’s easier than regular fudge because you don’t have to worry about temperature as much. The maple flavor is subtle but definitely there. Toast the walnuts first for better flavor – it only takes a few minutes. Great for gift giving during the holidays. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Cheesecake sounds fancy but it’s actually pretty simple to make. Adding pumpkin puree and fall spices turns regular cheesecake into something special for autumn. The graham cracker crust is easy and the filling is just cream cheese, pumpkin, and eggs. Bake in a water bath to prevent cracks. This needs to chill overnight so plan ahead. Find the recipe here.

Apple Pie

The ultimate fall dessert but it does take some time with the crust and everything. The filling is just apples, sugar, and spices but getting the right apple mixture is key. Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for best flavor. Store-bought crust works fine if you don’t want to make your own. Serve with vanilla ice cream or sharp cheddar if you’re feeling traditional. Find the recipe here.

Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

These baked donuts are way easier than fried ones and just as good. The cinnamon sugar coating makes them taste like the ones from apple orchards. You need a donut pan but they’re cheap and worth having. These are best eaten warm right after you coat them in the cinnamon sugar. Perfect with coffee or apple cider. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake

This cake tastes like your favorite coffee shop drink but in dessert form. The coffee flavor isn’t too strong – just enough to complement the pumpkin and spices. The cream cheese frosting on top makes it extra special. You can make this as a sheet cake or layer cake depending how fancy you want to get. Great for fall birthdays or just because. Find the recipe here.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake

This combines two fall favorites – caramel apples and cheesecake. The cheesecake base is simple and the caramel apple topping makes it look fancy. You can use store-bought caramel sauce to save time. The apples get soft and sweet when you cook them with the caramel. This is a showstopper dessert that’s not as hard as it looks. Find the recipe here.

Sweet Potato Pie

This is like pumpkin pie’s cousin but with a richer, more complex flavor. Sweet potatoes have to be cooked and mashed first which takes extra time but it’s worth it. The filling is similar to pumpkin pie but the sweet potato flavor is deeper. Some people prefer this to pumpkin pie because it’s less common. Serve with whipped cream. Find the recipe here.

Apple Butter Cookies

These soft cookies get their flavor from apple butter which you can buy at most stores. They’re like snickerdoodles but with apple flavor instead of just cinnamon. The apple butter keeps them moist and adds natural sweetness. Roll them in cinnamon sugar before baking for extra flavor. These are perfect for lunch boxes or afternoon snacks. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Roll

This looks really impressive but isn’t as hard as it seems. The key is rolling the warm cake up in a towel while it cools so it doesn’t crack. The cream cheese filling is simple and the pumpkin cake is moist and flavorful. You unroll it, add filling, then roll it back up. Dust with powdered sugar and slice to serve. Great for Thanksgiving dessert that’s different from pie. Find the recipe here.

Maple Glazed Acorn Squash

This is more like a healthy dessert – roasted squash with maple syrup and butter. The squash gets caramelized and sweet from the maple glaze. You can add nuts or dried cranberries if you want more texture. It’s naturally gluten-free and feels lighter than most fall desserts. Good for when you want something sweet but not too heavy. Find the recipe here.

Apple Cider Cake

This cake captures the flavor of hot apple cider in dessert form. The reduced cider adds intense apple flavor and the spices make it smell amazing while baking. The glaze on top soaks in a little and makes it extra moist. This cake actually gets better after a day when the flavors have time to develop. Perfect with a cup of coffee on a cool morning. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

This takes regular bread pudding and adds pumpkin and fall spices. Use any bread you have lying around – even stale bread works great. The custard soaks into the bread and makes it creamy inside. Serve warm with caramel sauce or whipped cream. You can make this ahead and just reheat when you want it. Comfort food at its best. Find the recipe here.

Caramel Pear Tart

Pears don’t get as much attention as apples but they’re perfect for fall desserts. This tart has a simple pastry crust filled with sliced pears and caramel. The pears get soft and sweet while baking. You can use store-bought puff pastry to make it even easier. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. The presentation looks fancy but it’s actually pretty simple. Find the recipe here.

Spiced Apple Turnovers

These are like individual apple pies made with puff pastry. The apple filling is just diced apples with sugar and cinnamon. Puff pastry makes them flaky and buttery without any work from you. Brush with egg wash before baking for a golden color. These are perfect for breakfast or dessert and you can eat them with your hands. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Tiramisu

This puts a fall twist on the classic Italian dessert. Instead of coffee, you use pumpkin and spices in the mascarpone mixture. Ladyfinger cookies get soaked in spiced coffee or apple cider. Layer everything up like regular tiramisu and chill overnight. It’s different enough to be interesting but familiar enough that people will try it. Perfect for dinner parties. Find the recipe here.

Maple Pecan Scones

These scones have real maple syrup in the dough and chopped pecans for crunch. They’re not too sweet which makes them good for breakfast or afternoon tea. The maple glaze on top adds extra flavor and makes them look professional. Scones are easier to make than most people think – just don’t overwork the dough. Best served warm from the oven. Find the recipe here.

Apple Fritter Bread

This quick bread tastes like apple fritters but in loaf form. Diced apples throughout the bread add moisture and flavor. The cinnamon sugar swirl makes every slice special. The glaze on top soaks in a little and adds sweetness. This is good for breakfast or dessert and makes great gifts. The apples keep it moist for several days. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Regular snickerdoodles but with pumpkin puree added to make them soft and cakey. The pumpkin flavor is subtle – mostly you taste the cinnamon sugar coating. These stay soft longer than regular cookies because of the pumpkin. They’re not orange colored like some pumpkin cookies which makes them more appealing to picky eaters. Perfect fall cookie that everyone will love. Find the recipe here.

Cranberry Orange Muffins

These aren’t as heavy on the fall spices but cranberries scream autumn to me. The orange zest brightens up the tart cranberries and makes the whole muffin taste fresh. You can use fresh or dried cranberries depending what you have. These are great for breakfast or snacks and freeze well. The combination of tart and sweet flavors makes them interesting without being weird. Find the recipe here.