As the weather turns colder and the pumpkins come out, autumn is the perfect time to crank up the oven and bake delectable treats inspired by the season. When I think about fall dessert recipes, I picture maple and cinnamon flavors, crumbly textures (thank you, brown sugar and oats), and crunchy nutty toppings. But mostly, I crave that tart burst of baked apples or the moist, comforting consistency of pumpkin.
September, October, and November are chock-full of opportunities for baking fall desserts, from attending football tailgates to hosting dinner parties. To help you get started, I rounded up 20 of the coziest fall dessert recipes, including easy options, both apple- and pumpkin-centered picks, and Thanksgiving treats that will have your family demanding you make them every year. From cookies and bars to pies and cupcakes, these fall desserts taste like the best parts of the season.
Easy fall dessert recipes
For the days when you’re craving a sweet seasonal treat, but you don’t have the time or energy to pull out all the stops, give these easy fall dessert recipes a whirl. With flavors like chai, fig, and maple, these simple treats hit the spot without requiring too much effort.
1. Maple Pecan Snickerdoodles
Any fall dessert with maple in it is an immediate “yes” for me, and these maple pecan snickerdoodles are no exception. With pecans in the dough and on top, these cookies don’t hold back on flavor or crunch.
2. Oatmeal Fig Bars
If you’re not big on pumpkin or apple, but still want to whip up a cozy fall treat, these oatmeal fig bars are a tasty solution. They’re similar to Fig Newtons but homemade and way more delicious. Pro tip: If you don’t want to make the fig filling from scratch, grab a jar of Fig Butter from Trader Joe’s to spread over the crust instead.
3. Cinnamon Chai Coffee Cake
This cinnamon chai coffee cake is guaranteed to make your house smell amazing all day long. It’s the perfect recipe to whip up on a slow Sunday morning for brunch or as a dessert to enjoy anytime during the day.
4. S’mores Cookie Bars
You might associate s’mores with summer nights around the campfire, but with these cookie bars, you can bring this classic dessert into fall, no flames required. With a graham cracker cookie crust and gooey marshmallow creme filling, these might even be better than the real thing.
5. White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies
If you prefer fruity flavors over cozy spices, these cranberry cookies are an ideal treat for fall. Add in creamy white chocolate chips to these thick and chewy cookies, and you’ve got a fan favorite on your hands. Plus, the pop of red makes these cookies especially pretty on a dessert tray.
Pumpkin dessert recipes
When it comes to fall flavors, pumpkin will always be the star of the season. But with extra flourishes like cream cheese frosting, espresso glazes, and caramel drizzles, these crowd-pleasing pumpkin dessert recipes are above average.
6. Pumpkin Cookies
If you prefer your cookies soft and fluffy over crisp and chewy, this is the recipe for you. These pumpkin cookies come out melt-in-your-mouth soft, with plenty of yummy fall spices and a rich cream cheese frosting.
READ: 20 Products to Help You Get Your Pumpkin Spice Fix This Season
7. Maple Pumpkin Butter Bars
These bars are essentially a Pumpkin Spice Latte in dessert form. They’re made with spiced pumpkin butter, white chocolate chips, and an espresso glaze for a soft, gooey dessert that tastes like the best parts of fall.
8. Pumpkin Dump Cake
Save this recipe for when you’re craving something cozy and sweet but don’t want to put in too much effort. It requires just a handful of ingredients, all of which get dumped into the same dish and then baked. The cake will come out gooey, moist, and just begging for a scoop of ice cream.
9. Pumpkin Bars
The secret to this recipe is an extra little sprinkling of pumpkin pie spice in the cream cheese frosting. It makes this already decadent fall dessert even more special.
10. Pumpkin Fudge
If you’re craving something truly decadent, whip up a batch of this pumpkin fudge. It’s easy to make on the stovetop (no candy thermometer required), and after a few hours in the fridge, you’ll have soft, creamy, deliciously spiced fudge to snack on.
Apple dessert recipes
Got a peck of apples from the orchard or farmers market to use up? Whether you whip up impressive apple cider donuts or go for the traditional apple crisp that reminds you of home, you can’t go wrong with these apple dessert recipes for fall.
11. Caramel Apple Crumb Bars
These bars are essentially apple crisp but with more “crisp.” Thinly sliced apples are layered between a shortbread crust and a crumbly oat topping, then the whole pan gets drizzled with salted caramel sauce at the end. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a deliciously indulgent fall dessert.
12. Apple Crisp
Apple crisp is a must-bake every fall. This recipe is sweetened with dark brown sugar and maple syrup instead of white sugar, which gives it a more complex, slightly less sweet taste. The addition of chopped pecans and a dash of bourbon just makes it that much better.
13. Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts
Apple cider doughnuts are one of my favorite fall treats, and with this recipe, they’re surprisingly easy to make at home. To get the shape right, you’ll need a doughnut pan, but you could also use a standard muffin pan if that’s all you have on hand.
14. Vegan Caramel Apple Slices
If you’re looking for a fall treat that’s a little lighter in the calorie department, these chocolate-coated caramel apple slices are super satisfying. Load them up with whatever toppings you like for a treat that’s just as fun to make as they are to eat.
15. Glazed Honeycrisp Apple Fritter Cake
After you hit the apple orchard this season, put your bounty to good use with this apple cake recipe. It packs all the deliciousness of an apple fritter with far less effort.
Thanksgiving dessert recipes
Spice things up at the dessert table this Thanksgiving with one of these unexpected recipes. From mini pecan pies to chai latte cupcakes, you’ll definitely want to save some room for these decadent fall desserts.
16. Mini Pecan Pies
Pumpkin pie is fine and all, but pecan is really where it’s at. This recipe uses store-bought pie crust and a muffin pan to turn this classic fall dessert into miniature portions. They’re so cute and surprisingly simple to make.
17. Sticky Toffee Pudding
Sticky toffee pudding may be more popular across the pond, but this sponge cake drenched in warm toffee sauce is worth bringing stateside. Let everyone’s stomachs settle after Thanksgiving dinner and then serve this impressive dessert fresh out of the oven.
18. Salted Maple Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie
Sweet potato pie is a Southern classic, and this recipe kicks it up a notch with a splash of bourbon and maple syrup for sweetener. Making your own pie crust from scratch is worth the extra effort (but I won’t tell if you use store-bought to save time).
READ: 70 of the Best Thanksgiving Recipes to Make This Year
19. Brown Sugar Maple Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
Chocolate, pecan, brown sugar, and maple flavors in one bar? We’re sold. These ooey-gooey fall dessert bars are bound to be a crowd pleaser at Thanksgiving and beyond.
20. Chai Latte Cupcakes with Crème Brûlée Frosting
Cupcakes might not be the most obvious choice for a Thanksgiving dessert, but these are teeming with fall vibes, from the chai and caramel flavors to the cinnamon stick garnish. Plus, they’re a great size for the guests who have stuffed themself silly at dinner.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.
