There are dozens of things to love about autumn, including the changing leaves, an excuse to drink pumpkin spice lattes, and—arguably the most important—the myriad of fall desserts you can enjoy as the days get shorter and cooler. While apple pie is a given, and a great way to put your apple-picking haul to good use, there are a plethora of other desserts that shine from September to November. Whether you’re in the mood for a warming pie or a quick handheld sweet treat covered in seasonal spices, this roundup of fall desserts has it all—no apple pie included.
Orange and Clove Basque Cheesecake
Credit: Jennifer Causey
Wow your autumn dinner guests with this photo-worthy dessert. This crustless cheesecake originates from the Basque region of Spain, and as its cloud-like appearance suggests, it has a lighter texture than your typical American cheesecake. For a gluten-free take on this dessert, just swap in an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend.
Chocolate-Hazelnut Swirl Cake
Credit:
Antonis Achilleos
This swirl cake boasts an eye-catching marble pattern that’s bound to impress. To get the marbled look, you’ll use the zebra cake method, which creates more intricate, thinner stripes. Once the dessert sets in the oven, a crunchy streusel made with hazelnuts adorns the top, resulting in an irresistible crunchy contrast to the tender confection.
Cherry-Vanilla Bundt Cake
Credit:
Antonis Achilleos
While this might look like a classic bundt cake from the outside, this treat has a major wow factor—a cascade of cherries hidden inside the sweet, tender crumb. To create this showstopper, you’ll add a cake batter enhanced with yogurt to the pan in two batches, with a store-bought cherry pie filling sandwiched between. If you need a make-ahead dessert, prepare this cake a day in advance and dust it with confectioners’ sugar just before putting it on the table.
Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars
Credit: Greg DuPree
Pumpkin is the star of many fall desserts, including this sweet and savory number. Here, spiced pumpkin puree mingles with a tangy cheesecake mixture, as well as a delicious Speculoos cookie crust, to create some visually appealing cheesecake bars.
Cinnamon Maple Twists
Credit:
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Emily Hall
Transform your favorite store-bought crescent dough into beautiful golden twists with a spiced walnut filling and sweet maple glaze. These pastries bring all the cozy vibes of cinnamon rolls with just a fraction of the effort and preparation.
Sheet-Pan Apple Crisp
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
While this dessert might be similar to apple pie, it’s crispy in a way that a pie could never be. To get those perfectly golden corners, use a sheet pan instead of the typical glass baking dish to bake this treat. And while this recipe calls for Gala apples, feel free to use Braeburns, Honeycrisps, or Pink Ladies. It’s time to put all of those fresh apples to work!
Pumpkin Bread Trifle With Pepita Streusel
Credit:
Antonis Achilleos
A cream cheese-spiked trifle with a pumpkin spice streusel? Yes, please. You’ll start by baking a simple loaf of pumpkin bread. Then, bake a crumbly and sweet streusel made with flour, sugar, butter, pumpkin pie spice, and pepitas for some delightful crunch, and don’t forget the sweetened cream cheese, which is the glue that holds this fall confection together.
3-Layer Magic Cake
Credit: Bahareh Niati
This magic cake is a hit no matter what time of year it is. The “magic” happens when the cake batter separates into three distinct layers in the oven—a thick, fudgy bottom layer, a custard center, and a top layer of delicate sponge cake. Wanna make this treat more fall-like? Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin purée to the batter for an unmistakably autumnal take.
Ginger Apple Tarte Tatin
A standard tarte tatin is a French upside-down apple tart, but this take is a tad different. In this recipe, you’ll infuse caramel with fresh ginger. Then, you’ll drape thawed puff pastry on top and let it turn flaky and golden in the oven. Flip the entire thing over for the big reveal table-side, and expect your guests to be impressed.
Malted Chocolate Brownies
Credit:
Victor Protasio
Chocolate is delicious no matter what season it is, and these brownies are wonderfully chocolatey. Chocolate or vanilla malted milk powder is mixed with cocoa powder to add another layer of flavor, and before the brownies bake, a generous handful of chopped malted milk balls (we like Whoppers!) and a pinch of flaky sea salt get sprinkled on top. The result is brownies with a caramelized crunchy topping that’s equal parts malty, salty, and sweet. Yum!
Hazelnut Swirl Blondies
Credit: Greg DuPree
Blondies never disappoint, and what makes these blondies particularly outstanding are the dollops of Nutella-like, chocolate-hazelnut spread that you’ll swirl into the batter before baking. For a nice, crunchy texture, feel free to add chopped hazelnuts to the batter and sprinkle the finished dessert with flaky sea salt. You won’t regret it.
Apple Rugelach
Credit:
Victor Protasio
While these little crescent-shaped pastries make for a great Hanukkah treat, they can totally be enjoyed all year round. The filling is a simple mixture of apple butter, honey, cinnamon, and a sprinkle of slivered almonds, but feel free to experiment with other fillings, such as chocolate hazelnut spread, strawberry jam, apricot preserves, and more.
Pistachio-Walnut Cheesecake
Credit:
Greg DuPree
The combo of Biscoff cookies, nuts, and honey makes this cheesecake an all-star dessert, especially in the fall. The finishing touch is a sweet-and-tangy sour cream topping that balances out the dessert’s other flavors. To ensure a lump-free cheesecake, start with room-temperature cream cheese.
Heavenly Coconut Pound Cake
Credit: Kelsey Hansen
Sure, the shredded coconut in this cake brings tropical vibes, but we assure you that this treat is just as delicious in the fall. The glaze (topped with shredded coconut, of course) kicks things up a notch. Enjoy a slice with a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider and you’re ready for autumn!
Red Velvet Brownie Torte
Credit:
Victor Protasio
What happens when red velvet cake and brownies join forces? The answer is this rich and decadent multi-layered treat. The brownie batter is spiked with red food coloring, and the chocolatey result is almost fudgy. A tangy cream cheese frosting officially takes the dessert over the top, while sprinkles add plenty of color and texture.
Gingerbread Pretzel Popcorn
If you love fall but are already itching for winter, give this festive popcorn a whirl. Each kernel is slathered with a vanilla caramel sauce made with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg for a flavor that’s reminiscent of freshly baked gingerbread cookies. When you head to Thanksgiving dinner or a holiday potluck, bring this popcorn as a delicious gift.
Pumpkin Spice Bread
Credit: Victor Protasio
What’s more festive than serving pumpkin spice bread in the fall? Not much. This recipe actually calls for real pumpkin puree, so you know the pumpkin flavor will deliver. Plus, since the sweet streusel is made with real pumpkin seeds, this loaf is also a looker. Slather some butter or cream cheese on a slice and dig in.
Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti With White Chocolate
Credit:
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Emily Hall
This recipe calls for crunchy almonds, tart cranberries, and sweet drizzled chocolate for that just-right flavor profile. And while biscotti has a reputation for being tough to chew, these pieces are soft enough to take a gentle bite while holding firm for a quick dip in coffee or tea. Plus, starting with a boxed cake mix will save you so much time.
Potato Chip Crispy Treats
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
Let’s be honest, crispy treats transcend all seasons. In this recipe, the classic kids’ treat boasts a white chocolate drizzle and pieces of crushed wavy potato chips in each bite. The chips, which are a welcome addition, keep this easy dessert from being cloyingly sweet like the crispy treats you devoured as a child.
Mini Pumpkin Pies With Speculoos Crust and Whipped Cream
Credit: Jennifer Causey
If you’re having a small fall dinner party, or just don’t feel like whipping up an entire pumpkin pie, try these mini desserts. Here, each small pie features a press-in crust made with Speculoos cookies, as well as spicy sweet pumpkin filling. The pies also get a kick from grated fresh ginger, but it mellows under a pillowy dollop of whipped cream.
No-Bake Pumpkin Pie
Credit: Greg DuPree
A pie that doesn’t require an oven? Consider us intrigued. This no-bake dessert boasts a press-in graham cracker crust, which encases a pumpkin puree filling with white chocolate, warm spices, and cream cheese.
Make sure the cream cheese is truly at room temperature and the chocolate is cooled before whisking it into the pumpkin puree. That way, the ingredients will come together easily.
Apple Cider Doughnut Tower
Credit: Jennifer Causey
Why have just one apple cider doughnut when you can make an apple cider doughnut tower? To assemble this masterpiece, you’ll procure some doughnuts (perhaps from your favorite orchard or farmer’s market) and whip together some cream with cream cheese and maple syrup. That combo acts as the glue that holds the tower together, while store-bought caramel sauce and chopped pecans top the whole thing.
Pumpkin Pecan Crisps
Credit: Max Kelly
A creamy warmly-spiced custard hides beneath a nutty crunchy streusel topping to create a dessert that’s ready in about an hour. Before you serve each crisp, we suggest that you top it with a dollop of whipped cream. Crème fraiche also works, as does Greek yogurt if you want to eat this treat for breakfast.
Chocolate-Almond Cake
Credit:
Greg DuPree
The beauty of this chocolate almond cake is that it isn’t too sweet, and it comes together simply, thanks in large part to a food processor. Here, bittersweet chocolate combines with finely ground almonds, sugar, vanilla, and egg whites. Once baked, the mixture becomes a decadent, naturally gluten-free treat that’s best enjoyed with a dollop of whipped cream.
Apple Spice Donut Pudding
Credit:
Fred Hardy
This apple spice donut pudding is the best excuse to stop by your favorite donut shop this week. Replace the bread in bread pudding with a dozen finger-licking glazed donuts, and you get this sweet and warm spiced pudding mix. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
Winter Citrus Pavlova
Credit:
Greg DuPree
This pavlova recipe is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. It tastes just like a creamsicle with its meringue base—filled with lime curd and topped with whipped cream and a touch of citrus. You can use a store-bought curd or make your own from scratch like the Australians do (this recipe hails from Australia).
Maple Pumpkin Pie
Credit: David Prince
With just 10 minutes of hands-on work required, this delicious pie comes together in a breeze. Though we recommend making your pie crust homemade for the flakiest result, store-bought will save you lots of time. Everyone will love this pie for its classic autumnal flavors.
If you have extra pie dough, cut out leaves using cookie cutters and top the pie with them for a festive presentation.
Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls
Credit: Betty Gold
There’s nearly an endless amount of delicious ways to utilize store-bought puff pastry, but this has to be one of our favorites. Usually, cinnamon rolls take lots of work: making the dough, kneading it, filling it, rolling it up, letting it rise… you know the drill. But this easy recipe takes out all the fuss. In fact, you’ll end up with 16 of the flakiest cinnamon rolls you’ve ever eaten in just half an hour.
Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
Credit: John Kernick
To make this recipe as simple as can be, we start with a box of yellow cake mix. Then, it’s really just as easy as mixing pumpkin pie spice and a can of pumpkin puree with it and pouring it into the lined muffin tins. While it’s baking, you’ll make a quick cream cheese frosting with just two ingredients. The result? Two dozen cupcakes that everyone will enjoy.
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Credit: Jennifer Causey
These cinnamon sugar cookies are almost too good to be true. You’ll simply fill an egg-brushed frozen puff pastry sheet with a cinnamon-sugar-pecan mixture and roll it up, quickly freeze it, then cut it into slices and bake. They’re uber-flaky, irresistibly warming, and pair perfectly with a cup of coffee on a crisp fall afternoon.
Dining and Cooking