41 Fall Desserts Full of Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice
Is it the maple syrup that makes fall desserts so comforting? The pumpkin purée? The pumpkin pie spice? The brown sugar? The caramel apples? It’s hard to pinpoint the answer, so maybe you (and we) should bake through the full list of our best fall desserts. Yes, that’s it: Let’s all consume each and every one of these sweet fall treats (starting now, of course), and by the end of the season, we’ll feel more confident, assured—and full.
Speaking of confidence: If you need a pastry chef and former competitive barista to tell you that it’s not “basic” to love a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. Please hear out Nicole Rucker, who learned to embrace the very extra beverage after years of self-imposed coffee austerity; heck, maybe drink a PSL while baking an autumnal spice cake to really get in the spirit. That’s so extra, we don’t even know the word for it.
Ready for the recipes? On to our favorite fall desserts:
Photograph by Rana Duzyol, Food Styling by Jesse Szewczyk, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua1/41Easy-Fancy Pear Galette
Are you in need of a fall dessert recipe that’s both easy and fancy? What’s in a name? (Those two things, it turns out.) This galette leans on store-bought puff pastry and canned fruit for one of the easiest pear recipes we know. Determined to make your own dough? Go for our fall fruit galette that uses fresh apples, pears, or a combination.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser2/41Brown Sugar and Espresso Panna Cotta
This large-format panna cotta has a glossy finish that’s a thing of real beauty. Serve it with biscotti or amaretti cookies at your next dinner party, and prepare yourself to hear lots of “oohs” and “aahs” from your guests.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni3/41Hot Buttered Rum Pie
Photograph by Victoria Jane, Food Styling by Mallory Lance, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon5/41Chewy Molasses Cookies
Molasses keeps these fall-favorite cookies fresh and chewy for days. Also in the chewy camp: cinnamon-crusted snickerdoodles, also in the autumn cookie camp.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Suzie Myers6/41Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake
With a near-equal ratio of crumb-to-cake, this pumpkin cake is as satisfying to look at as it is to eat. Like many of our favorite pumpkin desserts, it has just the right amount of warm spices. As one reviewer wrote, “This is one of the top ten recipes I’ve ever made,” while another quipped, “It’s perfection with a cup of coffee.” Thanks, y’all.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards7/41Cinnamon Apple Crumb Pie
Boy, do we have apple pie recipes: There’s this one, with a golden brown crumble topping. Then there’s what we call BA’s Best Apple Pie, which we tested enough times to make us a little loopy. (That means a lot of times.) Dutch Apple Pie, made with a tender cream cheese crust. And then there’s the Apple-Cheddar Pie, which brings together sweet and salty elements.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie8/41Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats With Brown Butter
You will win Halloween if you serve trick-or-treaters these sweet, salty, toasty, malty, nutty homemade treats instead of Laffy Taffy or Hershey chocolate bars.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni9/41Simply Brilliant Banoffee Pie
Many recipes for this British classic call for canned dulce de leche, but our filling relies on a chewy homemade caramel sauce. It adds a smoky allure and intensity that you won’t get otherwise. (We’re just speaking the truth!)
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Carla Gonzalez-Hart11/41Coconut-Cardamom Doughnuts
Whether you think of them as doughnuts or donuts doesn’t really matter; just be sure to make yourself these fall treats, which taste of cardamom, nutmeg, vanilla, and coconut. Need options? These apple cider doughnuts never disappoint.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kat Boytsova, prop styling by Gerri Williams12/41Sick Day Spice Cake
You can’t fight it: While the season may bring back the cool weather, it also ushers in the sniffles and sneezes. Luckily, we’ve covered the bases in advance with this easy fall dessert for when rolling out of bed in the morning is too much, but by the afternoon, you’re feeling a little peckish.
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio13/41Pecan Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies are nice. Add some brown butter and toffee, and you can’t go wrong. Make them chipless, and you’ll inspire a movement. Make one giant one in a skillet, and you’ll want to throw a party. But perhaps no version is as cozy as these pumpkin cookies, bespeckled with toasted nuts, gilded with chocolate chips and chunks, and spiced with all the fall flavors you love.
Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski14/41Banana Cream Pie
Photograph by Breanne Furlong, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht15/41Pear Snacking Cake With Chocolate and Rosemary
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Jesse Szewczyk, prop styling by Hazel Zavala and Caroline Newton16/41S’mores Sandwich Cookies
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio17/41Sweet Potato Cake With Salted Cream Cheese Frosting
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Jessie YuChen18/41Salted Caramel Apple Cookies
If a caramel apple and a snickerdoodle got together and created some mouthwatering magic, you’d end up with these soft and chewy cookies that taste like a mug of hot spiced cider on a crisp fall day.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua19/41Extra-Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Frosting
Cinnamon rolls aren’t technically for dessert, we know, but remember: Fall is the season of hygge. And also, we can do whatever we want in our own homes. If you’re still not convinced, slice the buns in half and use them to sandwich a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski20/41Cranberry Linzer Tart
A Linzer tart calls for fluted tart pan with removable bottom. Good thing we found the best one: Here are the best baking pans for all of your baking dreams, in fact.
Photograph by Christopher Testani, Food styling by Victoria Granof, prop styling by Alex Brannian21/41Sweet Potato Loaf Cake With Dark Chocolate Ganache
Fall is indubitably sweet potato season, and this aromatic cake is an ideal cozy-weather snack. Not to leave you wanting more, here’s a classic Southern Sweet Potato Pie (this time with marshmallow whipped cream).
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio22/41Flaky Cranberry Hand Pies
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Suzie Myers23/41Caramel Apple Snacking Cake
We reimagined caramel apples as a cake, complete with a glossy top and a soft custardy interior. And don’t forget that flaky sea salt on top—desserts need salt too.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski24/41Pecan-Rye Pumpkin Pie
We’re not paid to say this, but Libby’s canned pumpkin is reliably consistent with an ideal water content and few variations in flavor. In other words, use it for this perfect fall pie. Rather jump on the Sweet Potato Pecan Pie timeline? Go for it.
Photo by Laura Murray25/41Camouflage Chocolate Fudge Brownies
Did you imagine that a brownie could ever look so chic? Excuse us for tooting our own horns, but the very ’70s pattern achieved here with a tangy layer of cream cheese is pretty groovy. If you’re more of a blondie person, try these Gooey Brown Butter Blondies With Pecans.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich27/41Kaju Katli
It takes just five ingredients—and one of them is optional—to make this Indian treat, which is sometimes called kaju ki barfi: cashews, sugar, cardamom, ghee, and edible silver leaf.
Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich29/41Chai Cake With Brown-Butter-Ghee Streusel
Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio30/41Milk and Honey Pie
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski31/41Butternut Squash Tarte Tatin
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski33/41Glazed and Flaky Apple Tart
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens35/41Pumpkin Bread With Salted Maple Butter
Why is this called pumpkin bread when it’s so similar to this Spiced Chocolate-Pumpkin Cake With Pumpkin Glaze? Honestly, we’re not prepared for these kinds of tough questions right now; only for eating loaf cakes (and/or quick breads; we don’t discriminate).
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Frances Boswell36/41Apple-Hazelnut Rye Cake
If you wait all year for apple-picking and then spend the season baking every apple dessert known to man, this earthy, nutty apple cake has your name all over it.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens37/41Rye Shortbread Cookies
The flavor of these shortbread cookies deepens with time. If you’re a fan of rye flour’s nutty, malty notes, try these Chewy Ginger-Rye Cookies too.
Alex Lau39/41Sesame Oat Apple Crisp
Adrianna Adarme of A Cozy Kitchen developed this recipe using Swerve, which she calls her go-to alternative sweetener when she wants to add flavor without the carbs and calories.
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by D'mytrek Brown40/41Pumpkin-Tahini Mousse Pie
This airy pumpkin pie uses earthy tahini for nutty flavor. Traditionalist? BA’s Best Pumpkin Pie is the one for you.
