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Ah, fall. The best season of the year, right? It’s known for apple cider, pumpkin spice, rich gooey caramel, warm spices, and cozy flavors. Let’s snuggle into fall with these tried and true very best fall desserts!

70 cozy fall desserts 2020

Only the best fall desserts made from scratch!

I only recommend recipes that are homemade – no boxed mixes here! The best recipes are ones you can make from your pantry. Many of these can be made with the flour, sugar, and baking powders you already have on hand to make your fall baking easy!

Love baking from scratch or wish you did more? Come join us at From Scratch Living!

Classic Fall Flavors

Get ready to be inspired with the flavors of pumpkin, apple, caramel, maple, ginger, and more. This is the place to go for the best fall dessert ideas!

Fall Apple Recipes

Apple Pies, Tarts, and Galettes

caramel apple galette

Caramel Apple Galette – Milk Glass Home

This decadent caramel sauce completely engulfs the tart, flavorful apples. The flaky pastry crust crunches before it breaks down into buttery layers. Serve this warm with your favorite vanilla ice cream! It will not last, I promise you!

Crustless Apple Pie – The Food Hussy

This recipe is kinda like the fanciest baked apple ever smothered in a oatmeal crumble and topped with melting ice cream.

Pumpkin Spiced Apple Galette – Tasting with Tina

Pumpkin Spiced Apple Galette – Tasting with Tina

Blend the best flavors of fall: pumpkin pie spice, maple, honey, and fresh apples all on a flaky pastry crust!

Dutch Apple Pie – Cooking Classy

Crispy crust, sweet cinnamon apples, and a delicious crunchy crumble. This is a must-try!

Slab Apple Pie – Cookaholic Wife

If you’re a crust lover, you’ll love a slice of this slab apple pie! It’s got a rustic look and classic flavor.

Apple and Cheddar Crumble Pie – White Kitchen Red Wine

Apple and Cheddar Crumble Pie – White Kitchen Red Wine

I used to work at a restaurant and sometimes my customers would ask for cheddar cheese for their apple pie. I love the flavor combo and literally anything “crumble” is my favorite ever!

Apple Cakes, Muffins, and Breads

Simple Apple Cake – Simply Rooted Farmhouse

Simple Apple Cake – Simply Rooted Farmhouse

This stunning apple cake is an easy way to use up a bunch of your favorite apples! You alternate between adding layers of apples and pouring batter to ensure a nice mouthful of apple in each bite. Perfect!

French Apple Cake Recipe – Masala Herb

This family recipe will transport you! With the added Calvados for flavor and a sprinkle of sugar on top, you’ll want to eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

best fall apple recipes

Apple Sheet Cake – Five Heart Home

Do you love Texas Sheet Cake? It’s one of my husband’s favorites. This one has a crackly layer of caramel on top and pick chunks of delicious baked apple in between. Seriously delicious!

Applesauce Cake – Kickass Baker

This cake is mostly sweetened with applesauce! It’s a great way to use up your homemade applesauce and reduce sugar. Plus, it’s gorgeous!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake – Well If She Can Do It

Graham crackers + cheesecake + apples + caramel = fall in one bite.

apple cider scones on a milk glass plate

Apple Cider Scones – Milk Glass Home

Thanks to some apple pie spice, fresh apples, and a tangy glaze with a secret ingredient, these apple scones taste like the best of fall in one neat little triangle.

Apple Cider Baked Doughnuts – Cookaholic Wife

This recipe starts with you reducing apple cider until it’s reduced down. The concentrated apple cider flavor paired with the apple pie spice/sugar topping is peak fall flavor!

Cinnamon Apple Pie Bread Pudding – Flavor Mosaic

Challah bread is the soft, sweet base for this perfect fall dish. Paired with walnuts and apple pie filling, this will be a family favorite!

apple cinnamon bread recipe
Vegan Cinnamon Apple Bread – Milk and Pop

Vegan Apple Cinnamon Bread – Milk and Pop

This apple loaf has whole wheat flour, apple sauce, and maple syrup. I can imagine a thick, toasted slice with a cup of coffee for breakfast!

Apple Crisps, Crumbles, Bars, and more

gravenstein apple crisp
My Husband’s Special Wedding Day Apple Crisp – Milk Glass Home

Gravenstein Apple Crisp – Milk Glass Home

This apple crisp is so special to us (and so stinkin’ tasty) we served it at our wedding! You’ll love this recipe! It’s also our MOST POPULAR recipe to date!

blackberry and apple crumble

Blackberry and Apple Crumble – Milk Glass Home

Full of delicious baked apples and tart blackberries, this beautiful crumble is extra special!

Apple Berry Crumble with Irish Whiskey Cream – Cooking with Curls

This blend of apple, raspberry, and blueberry served on a shortbread crust with a crumble topping…and then served with Irish whiskey whipped cream…is everything you’ve ever wanted. Eat it for breakfast.

Caramel Apple Bars – The House on Silverado

These caramel apple bars have a pastry crust, delicious sliced apples, a streusel topping, AND caramel sauce on top! These would be perfect for a potluck or big family gathering!

Easy Apple Blondies – Feast for a Fraction

The first time I had a blondie as a kid, I fell in love. That rich flavor of brown sugar is heavenly! The apple in this recipe pairs perfectly with brown sugar.

caramel apple recipe
Gourmet Homemade Caramel Apples – House of Nash Eats

Gourmet Homemade Caramel Apples – House of Nash Eats

Learn how to host your own caramel apple bar with this recipe! These cute and customizable caramel apples will delight everyone!

Don’t run out of brown sugar! Make your own with these two ingredients.

Baked Apple Recipes

Stuffed Baked Apples with Walnuts – Masala Herb

Grab your favorite heirloom apples and add this blend of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts! They’d be perfect served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

baked cream cheese apples
Cheesecake Baked Apples – Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Cheesecake Baked Apples – Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Seriously, cheesecake IN a baked apple. I just want to float away in a boat of baked apple in a sea of caramel sauce.

Caramel Crumb Baked Apples – Swirls of Flavor

These baked apples are filled with cashews and dried cherries and topped with a crumb topping and caramel drizzle. Heavenly!

Easy Baked Cinnamon Apple Slices – Delightful Adventures

Baked spiced apple slices are a perfect, healthy way to get a bite of sweetness after dinner without the crazy calories.

Fall Pumpkin Recipes

Pumpkin Pies, Custards, and Puddings

Pumpkin Pie Pudding Cups

Pumpkin Pie Pudding Cups – Milk Glass Home

Jam-packed with pumpkin puree, these pudding cups taste just like pie without the fuss of baking or making crust!

The Best Pumpkin Pie Custard – Sizzlin’ Eats

What’s the difference between pudding and custard? Well, there can be a few differences, but custards generally include eggs and are baked. Because of this, these pumpkin pie custards really taste like mini pies in a cup! Delicious!

Butternut Custard – The Self-Sufficient Homeacre

Looking for a great way to use up your butternut squash? This recipe is sweetened with maple and will be a perfect way to warm up on a cool fall day!

The Best Pumpkin Pie – Modern Honey

I love this recipe – she uses cream cheese instead of sweetened condensed milk or evaporated milk. I love baking with cream cheese to cut the sweetness!

Smoked Pumpkin Pie – The Ealy Homestead

Want something totally different? Try smoking your pumpkin before baking! I can’t wait to try this on my Traeger!

Pumpkin Cakes, Muffins, and Breads

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting – Small Farm Big Life

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting – Small Farm Big Life

This gorgeous cake has all the rich pumpkin-y flavor you crave but without the gluten! This will be a hit for any crowd!

One Bowl Healthy Pumpkin Cake – Don’t Waste the Crumbs

I love how this blogger tries to reduce refined sweeteners in her recipes! This healthy pumpkin cake comes together quickly, has whole wheat flour, and is sweetened with maple syrup! Yum!

Classic Pumpkin Roll – Cookaholic Wife

Who doesn’t love a roll cake? This gorgeous pumpkin roll is filled with a cream cheese frosting, so each slice of this swirl cake will be perfectly balanced.

gluten-free pumpkin bundt cake
Pumpkin Bundt Cake – Tjoelker Family Farm

Pumpkin Bundt Cake – Tjoelker Family Farm

In this gluten-free pumpkin cake, Ally sandwiches cream cheese inside and on top of the cake! With some chopped pecans on top, this cake is a winner!

Best Pumpkin Spice Muffins – Champagne and Coffee Stains

Reduce the amount of sugar you eat while still enjoy the best flavors of fall! These beautiful pumpkin spice muffins feature coconut sugar and applesauce to keep the muffins moist and flavorful.

pumpkin chocolate chip muffins
The Best Pumpkin Muffins – Simply Rooted Farmhouse

The Best Pumpkin Muffins – Simply Rooted Farmhouse

Megan makes her own pumpkin puree to make these muffins extra special. I love the added chocolate chips!

Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts – Debra Klein

These healthier doughnuts include nutritional powerhouses like chia seeds, maple syrup, and tahini! They’re gluten-free and beautiful, too. Definitely try these out!

Keto Pumpkin Doughnuts with Pumpkin Spice Glaze – Keto Focus

Craving all the flavors of fall, but watching your carbs? Try these keto pumpkin doughnuts! They are kid-friendly and have 4.2g net carbs per serving!

My Mother’s Pumpkin Bread – Oak Hill Homestead

My Mother’s Pumpkin Bread – Oak Hill Homestead

I love the story Kathi shares about growing up with her mother baking this bread! She explains that it was a “luxury” dessert for them because it included eggs. This classic, moist, flavorful bread will be a perfect breakfast bread or dessert to share at a special occasion!

Air Fryer Pumpkin Bread – Fork to Spoon

Who doesn’t love a multi-purpose tool? This air fryer pumpkin bread comes together extremely easily in the air fryer. Just be sure to use mini loaf pans for best results!

Marbled Chocolate Pumpkin Bread – This Healthy Table

This marbled bread is BEAUTIFUL! I love the flavors of pumpkin and chocolate together, so this one is a special favorite!

Pumpkin Bread Pudding – Three Olives Branch

Did you try one of the other pumpkin breads and have some extra? Make this bread pudding! It’s rich and filling with flavors of bourbon, spices, pecans, and heavy cream. Gorgeous!

Make sure you have all the baking supplies you need!

Pumpkin Crisps, Crumbles, and Bars

Amazing Pumpkin Cobbler – Margin Making Mom

Definitely read this recipe! This self-saucing dessert creates a beautiful sauce for the cobbler at the bottom of the pan while the top bakes. It’s stunning and you know all those spices and brown sugar will be beautiful together!

best fall desserts pumpkin crisp
Pumpkin Crisp – Dance Around the Kitchen

Pumpkin Crisp – Dance Around the Kitchen

This pumpkin crisp has gingersnap cookie flour in the topping. You read that right – gingersnap cookie flour! You’ve got to try this!

Pumpkin Swirl Black Bean Brownie – Don’t Waste the Crumbs

This unusual recipe pairs pumpkin and black beans in a sweet brownie! This would be a great way to convince your family to take another serving of vegetables any night…

Salted Caramel Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Bars – Swirls of Flavor

I love the flavor of salted caramel with pumpkin spice! The caramel balances the earthy, rustic flavor of pumpkin so well. Add a graham cracker crust and slice into bars for a great dish for a gathering!

Pumpkin Fudge and Other Treats

best fall desserts sourdough pumpkin pancake cereal
Sourdough Pumpkin Pancake Cereal – Milk and Pop

Sourdough Pumpkin Pancake Cereal – Milk and Pop

Basically, this recipe results in a giant pile of mini sourdough pumpkin pancakes. The author recommends you grab a big scoop of them and top them with your favorite add-ons like nuts, berries, and syrup. The kids would love this one!

5-Ingredient Pumpkin Fudge – Don’t Waste the Crumbs

You probably already have everything you need for this recipe on hand! The only sweetness comes from maple syrup and the almond butter, which go so well with pumpkin spice! Definitely try this one out!

Salted Caramel Pumpkin Spice Fudge – Three Olives Branch

This rich, flavorful fudge has a salty crunch from the salted caramel drizzle on top. With a white chocolate base and delicious pumpkin spice, you’ll keep taking piece after piece. Great for the holidays!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple Marshmallow Cream Cheese Filling – Margin Making Mom

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple Marshmallow Cream Cheese Filling – Margin Making Mom

I love the idea of a maple marshmallow cream cheese filling! I can only imagine how well it pairs with the whoopie pie. Definitely going to try!

Homemade Pumpkin Puree – Simply Happy Foodie

Everyone should know how to make pumpkin puree! It’s so straightforward and stores well in the freezer. Keep some on hand year-round for a Pumpkin Spice in July moment!

best fall desserts pumpkin pie hummus
Pumpkin Pie Hummus – Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Pumpkin Pie Hummus – Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Sweet hummus? I’m in! This pumpkin pie hummus is dairy-free and naturally sweetened. I can imagine eating with shortbread crisps, gingersnaps, or even apple chips!

Fall Cookie Recipes

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies – Kickass Baker

These stunning cookies pair perfectly with dark chocolate for a really nice grown-up treat. I can just imagine crunching into one of these and getting that flavor of pumpkin with the sharpness of dark chocolate…So good!

Soft and Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies – Margin Making Mom

I love chewy cookies especially, and these look heavenly! I keep thinking about biting into a chewy corner only to find a soft, gooey inside. How is it that cookies are the BEST food in the world??

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies – Alternative Dish

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten-free and Vegan) – Alternative Dish

These cookies are vegan and gluten-free, meaning they’re perfect for anyone you invite for the holidays! They also have a whole can of pumpkin and oat flour, so you know they’ll be moist and flavorful.

Fall Magic Bars – Books N’ Cooks

What’s a magic bar? Only a delicious blend of chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, coconut shreds and more! This fall recipe also includes cranberries, graham cracker crumbs, and pecans.

Healthier Pumpkin Spice Cookies – This Healthy Table

These pumpkin, oatmeal, and spice cookies will be a welcome addition to your favorite cookie jar!

best fall desserts

Cranberry Oatmeal Crumb Bars (Vegan) – Veggie Inspired

Any recipe that has an oatmeal base and a crumb topping is good with me! Add in a tart layer of cranberry to balance out all the sweetness, and you’re guaranteed a good time!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars – Veggie Inspired

The natural sweetness and denisty of pumpkin puree matched with chocolate chips makes these vegan pumpkin bars a perfect mouthful!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars – Return to the Kitchen

These bars are like a cross between baked oatmeal, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. They’d be perfect with a scoop of ice cream!

Pumpkin Cookies with Naturally Sweetened Cream Cheese Frosting

I’m a big believer that cream cheese always belongs with pumpkin. Sometimes, I think pumpkin can taste too much like a vegetable in sweet applications, and cream cheese cleans up the flavor so much. These cookies would be perfect for the Thanksgiving dessert bar!

Cinnamon, Spice, and Everything Nice

Delicious Fall Pies

Butterscotch Pudding Pie with Oatmeal Cookie Crust – Milk Glass Home

Butterscotch Pudding Pie – Milk Glass Home

I created this oatmeal pie crust to make it taste like a crispy oatmeal cookie! This sweet and smooth pudding goes perfectly with the tangy cream cheese whipped topping. This pie is well-balanced, easy to make, and delicious!

Sweet Potato Pie – The Buttered Home

Which is your favorite – pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie? Growing up, my favorite was sweet potato and this recipes brings back those childhood memories!

Grandma’s Best Oatmeal Pie – The Country Cook

This recipe stopped me dead in my tracks! It’s kind of like a pecan pie, except with oatmeal instead – ooey, gooey, sweet, and flavorful. It comes together quickly and is beautiful. I cannot wait to try this! Make your pie crust from scratch to make this completely homemade!

Pear Ginger Pie – Cookaholic Wife

I often think of pear as a winter flavor because we usually buy a case of fresh pears to last us through the winter. We’ve been using lots of pears this fall already to make pear butter, and I’m saving some to try this lovely pear ginger pie!

Bourbon Pear Pie – Cooking with Curls

You can add bourbon to any recipe, and I’m in! Bourbon pairs so well with that fragrant, delicate-but-strong flavor pears have. This one would be a huge hit on the Thanksgiving table!

Cinnamon Carrot Pie – The Gifted Gabber

Cinnamon Carrot Pie – The Gifted Gabber

Carrot Pie? I’d never heard of such a thing until I saw this recipe! It has an earthy blend of carrots, and is a great alternative to pumpkin or sweet potato pie! The carrot’s natural sweetness goes perfectly with cinnamon!

Fall Cakes & Cupcakes

Smells Like Fall Spice Cake with Maple Brown Butter Glaze – Lakes and Lattes

“Smells Like Fall” Spice Cake with Maple Brown Butter Glaze – Lakes and Lattes

I adore spice cakes. Growing up, my favorite cakes were all spice cakes! I recognize my spice cake love was unusual for a kid, but they always, always tasted like the holidays. This one has a maple brown butter glaze, which plays perfectly off all the spices in the cake! Plus, isn’t it gorgeous?

Easy Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes – Well If She Can Do It

Can you believe these mini cinnamon rolls are completely from scratch and only require a 30 minute rising time?? Whip these together before brunch or a big family gathering! Don’t forget to serve with a hot pot of coffee!

Fall Breads, Bars, and Sweet Treats

Cranberry Spice Bread – Your Everyday Heirlooms

Do you know about Your Everyday Heirlooms? Blogger Tera finds vintage recipe from her family and other sources to share with you! Tera found this cranberry spice bread recipe in her grandmother-in-law’s recipe box!

Maple Pecan Blondies – Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Maple Pecan Blondies – Don’t Waste the Crumbs

You won’t believe that these Maple Pecan Blondies have beans in them! I love that they’ll add moisture and flavor, allowing you to reduce the sugar and oil you find in most blondies. I can’t wait to try them!

Buñuelos Mexicanos – Spanglish Spoon

These buñuelos are essentially tortillas coated in oil and toasted. After they’ve been toasted, you coat them with a blend of cinnamon, sugar, and anise. After living in New Mexico for 6 years where the state dessert is biscochitos, I LOVE anise in desserts! I can’t wait to try these!

These will be from scratch if you make your own tortillas!

Snickerdoodle Hummus – Don’t Waste the Crumbs

I love these healthier dessert recipes from Don’t Waste the Crumbs! I love the idea of making lightly sweetened dessert hummus and adding fresh or dried apple slices, graham crackers, or more. You still get that creamy, sweet, spiced flavor you crave but with way fewer calories!

fall desserts

The best fall dessert recipes to make from scratch

That’s a wrap! These gorgeous recipes are all unique and wonderful in their own way. I also love that they’re entirely from scratch. Which dessert was your favorite? Do you have a favorite category?

Tell me below in the comments!

We love to share with other bloggers! This post was shared at one of these great linky parties!

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19 Comments

  1. There is nothing that screams “fall” more than this! Yum! I cannot wait to try out a bunch (or all!) of these! Thank you for compiling this awesome list!

  2. What an amazing collection of desserts! I kept scrolling back and forth making a mental note of which ones I’d like to try! Using pumpkin as in sweet dishes is not something I do very often so I’d definitely to try some of those. Even the easy spiced pumpkin muffins for my daughter to take to school would be great!

  3. There’s a lot of deliciousness going on here! I was caught up by the sauce you are pouring in the apples but then again as I scroll down I was almost eating everything with my eyes.

  4. My head is spinning! So many choices!

    You really took some time to put all of this together!

    Thank you for sharing at the Homestead Blog Hop!

    Which recipe is YOUR favorite? Don’t eat too many desserts!

    Blessings!
    Laurie

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