So long, ice cream sundaes, see you next year! As the leaves begin to change, our attention turns to all the cozy fall desserts we love. It’s the season of everything apple and plenty of pears, but those aren’t the only fall fruits we’re crazy about—cue the persimmons and don’t overlook cranberries—there’s so much more to them than sauce! And of course, we’re excited about comforting spiced desserts, cinnamon everything, maple too, and plenty of pumpkin spice. Speaking of pumpkin, you won’t find any pie here, but the giant squash features in recipes from cheesecake to whoopie pies, even brownies. The hardest part is deciding which recipe to make first—or holding back and not making more than one!
Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake
Better than the ubiquitous drink, this easy cake is a fall must-make. It’s simple to put together, no mixer needed, and the finished cake is fragrant, moist, and dinner-party worthy—especially when topped with sweetened whipped cream and a dusting of instant espresso powder.
Caramel Apple Steamed Pudding
Steamed puddings are a British tradition that’s too delicious not to adopt stateside. Our recipe is a caramel-topped, apple-forward take with a light, delicate cake-like pudding underneath. It’s served warm, and a daub of custard or whipped cream with each portion would be dandy.
Cranberry Poached Pears
A jewel-like dessert that features one of our favorite fruit pairings, pear and cranberry is a combination that deserves more love. Here, pears are poached with lemon juice, sugar, spices, and the cranberries that give them the gorgeous color.
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
They’re sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike at any autumn gathering because no one can resist these tender, fluffy pumpkin cookies sandwiched with cream cheese frosting. Even better, they’re easy to make—no mixer needed.
Chocolate Pecan-Pie Bars
Because fall isn’t only about fruit, there are these decadent bites packed with toasty pecans and rich chocolate. See if you can eat just one.
Maple Flan
Rich and comforting—and packed with maple flavor, this luscious flan proves that fall desserts don’t have to be served hot.
Apple Pie Bread Pudding
Jacob Fox
The best of both worlds, this marvellous hybrid dessert is as easy to make as bread pudding but has all the satisfying flavors of a classic apple pie. Sweet-tart apples are the perfect contrast to buttery brioche, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream takes the whole thing over the top.
Squash and Chocolate Spice Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Murray Hall
This fall-forward dessert feeds a crowd. It’s similar to a carrot cake because it uses grated winter squash rather than cooked squash puree, which is the usual for baking. Chunks of semisweet chocolate and five-spice powder bring sweetness and a kick, and contrast deliciously with the rich, tangy cream cheese frosting.
Cranberry Cobbler
Ruby-colored berries stud the top of this old-fashioned cake-like dessert. It takes just 10 minutes to put together, then it needs 30 minutes to bake.
Caramelized Pears
Jason Donnelly
Much as we love simple poached pears, we rate this easy recipe even more. It takes just 15 minutes to make, and the result is a tender, sweet, and caramelly fruit dessert that we always serve with ice cream.
Snickerdoodle Cupcakes
Martha Stewart
Sugar, spice, and everything nice in cupcake form. These moist, cinnamon-scented treats are finished with a kiss of fluffy frosting.
Best Apple Pie
Nico Schinco
The name says it all; this is our best classic apple pie recipe. It uses a mixture of different apples for the filling and produces a pie with a bold, aromatic apple flavor inside a golden-brown double crust.
Butter Pecan Cookies
When you need a small sweet treat, turn to these classic butter pecan cookies. They’re rich, crumbly, nutty, and just so good. They practically melt in the mouth.
Chocolate Bread Pudding
Made with cinnamon raisin bread, this chocolatey take on the classic comfort dessert has all the fall feels.
Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake
With a firm, delicately flavored pumpkin filling and a deliciously intense chocolate crust, this fall dessert is a showstopper. Serve it as is, or pour a stove-top chocolate-caramel glaze on top for a glossy, glamorous finish.
Persimmon Compote
Easy to make and perfect for making ahead, this persimmon compote is our favorite simple way to enjoy the vibrant orange fruit. They’re poached in spiced syrup and are so good spooned over vanilla ice cream.
Pear Upside Down Cake
With a layer of caramelized, buttery pears atop an unbelievably tender cake, this showstopping dessert tastes as good as it looks. Enjoy it warm or at room temperature with a dollop of whipped cream.
Apple Pandowdy
This traditional American dessert is as delicious as it is intriguing. Easier to make than pie, a pandowdy has the pastry crust on top. It’s “dowdied” or cut up, so it soaks up some of the spiced apple filling as it bakes.
Pumpkin Swirl Brownies
Irresistibly rich, moist, and delicious, these layered treats combine canned pumpkin puree and bittersweet chocolate with warming spices and hazelnuts—or your favorite fall nut.
Apple-Cider Donut Cake
Grant Webster
A standout fall treat, our apple-cider donut cake tastes like a giant, cinnamon-sugar-dusted donut. Its apple flavor comes from a mix of applesauce and apple cider, which also keeps it nice and moist.
