When the weather changes, the season changes too. The stone fruit and tomatoes we’ve enjoyed all summer give way to fall favorites like apples, pumpkins, grapes, figs, cranberries, and more. There’s nothing like a trip to the local farmers market to usher in a new season. To celebrate, we’ve put together some of our favorite fall dessert recipes to help you discover this cornucopia of new products.
Apple pies are all well and good (and you will surely see apple-based desserts on this list), but there is a whole world of fall dessert recipes to enjoy. It’s the perfect time to sit down by the fire with a chunky-knit blanket while you enjoy rustic desserts that are as delicious as they are filling – not to mention making you feel warm and fluffy inside. Few things feel more calming than a really great dessert.
Of course, we’ve also found vegan and gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions. There really is something for everyone, because no one should go without a delicious dessert (or three) this season. No matter what your preferences are, it’s time to bake some delicious, seasonal goodies. Keep scrolling for some of our favorites!
Pampering dessert recipes for autumn
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Why we love it: If you are a Snickerdoodle lover then these are the cookies for you. They are the perfect fall treat full of seasonal flavors like browned butter, pumpkin butter, pumpkin spice and lots of chocolate. Crunchy on the edges but soft and sticky in the middle, what’s not to love?
Hero Ingredient: Cinnamon sugar gives them a familiar, cozy, delicious taste.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: Since it doesn’t take any baking time, this cake couldn’t be more convenient to prepare. All you need are some handy, popular ingredients that can be tossed together quickly and in advance. The trickiest part is whistling your spider web in a spiral and no one will really care about your whistling skills once they’ve tried this beauty.
Hero Ingredient: The oreo cookie crust steals the show.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: This cake looks impressive and intricate, but the frills couldn’t be simpler – you just knead the fillo together. It’s a soothing, beautiful cake full of amazing flavor. You can even prep it and put it in the freezer before baking. It couldn’t be easier.
Hero Ingredient: The spice mix is everything.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: Did you know September is one of the best months for Key Limes? We take every excuse for a delicious lime cake, and this recipe is yummy. It’s a particularly chalky variant of this popular, timeless cake. It’s sure to be a crowd puller, though you definitely want to hoard everything for yourself.
Hero Ingredient: The addition of coconut oil in the crust makes it downright tropical and extra tasty.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: You really can’t screw up this delicious dish, it is perhaps the easiest cheesecake recipe ever. It’s an untraditional, crustless version of a popular dessert – rich, creamy, and pumpkin-flavored. It’s completely unique and unexpected. What more do we want?
Hero Ingredient: Cover each slice with a dollop of cream.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: Chocolate bourbon or salted caramel. Why choose when you can have both? These bars have a “barrier” crust that separates the chocolate bourbon side from the salted caramel side. Brilliant! Just don’t be surprised if both sides quickly disappear. They are absolutely delicious.
Hero Ingredient: The shortcrust pastry crust is a real gift.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: Loaded with macadamia nuts, white chocolate chips, and dried cranberries, these oatmeal batter-based cookies are good enough for breakfast and dessert! They’re delicious, chewy, and incredibly easy to make. Yum!
Hero Ingredient: Old fashioned oats are a must with this hearty biscuit.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: Concord grapes are nature’s sweetness, and there’s no better way to highlight them than in a gorgeous galette. Rustic, cozy, warming and yet elegant, this delicious dessert is an eye-catcher. It is absolutely heavenly.
Hero Ingredient: Concord grapes are only available for a small window of time each year, so jump on them the next time you spot them in the market.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: Bundt cakes are so delicious and pretty that you hardly need to do anything to make them look impressive. So when you add beautiful dripping glaze and crushed pistachios it becomes absolutely stunning. Perfectly sweet, not too pumpkin-like, this cake is the perfect treat for any pumpkin lover.
Hero Ingredient: Pistachios give the glaze a subtle nutty flavor and a delicious crunchy textured garnish.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: If you’ve never had a Dutch baby before, then this utterly luscious, fluffy pancake will surprise you. It tastes like a sweet potato cake, full of rich flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg and of course sweet potato. It’s topped with maple whipped cream, candied pecans, and both maple syrup and brown butter. Decadent!
Hero Ingredient: Maple whipped cream provides a very special flavor note.
Get the recipe here.
Healthy dessert recipes for fall
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Why we love it: A diet-friendly dessert? Don’t say anything anymore! Raw, vegan and gluten-free, and extremely tasty. It’s the ultimate guilt-free masterpiece. As if that weren’t enough, you don’t need to bake it to save the oven for other dishes.
Hero Ingredient: Fresh dates add sweetness without sugar.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: These cookies are packed with delicious ingredients and are actually pretty healthy! Not an easy task. It’s a simple one-bowl biscuit recipe – just mix, bake, and dip in huge amounts of dark chocolate. Roasted salty pepitas give it the flavor of the season and you’re good to go.
Hero Ingredient: Pepitas, peeled pumpkin seeds, are one of our favorite seasonal ingredients.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: It’s a super easy sticky, warm apple crumble that tastes like fall. When cooked, the juicy apples mix with cinnamon and sugar to create a warm cinnamon-apple flavor. Same thing with the sprinkles. The butter holds it together and adds some flavor, but ultimately, the cinnamon and sugar do all the work. All you need are six ingredients and you’re good to go.
Hero Ingredient: Coconut sugar is a healthier alternative to your usual cane sugar and is just as sweet.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: This simple recipe has the ideal texture with some bounce, the right amount of moisture, and isn’t too heavy. It also works without an electric mixer and can be spiced up with nuts or chocolate chips, but it also tastes just as good on its own.
Hero Ingredient: The perfect balance of cinnamon / nutmeg / clove spice.
Get the recipe here.
Vegan dessert recipes for fall
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Why we love it: You won’t believe these droolable cheesecake bars are vegan. Thanks to the dates-sweetened apple butter, they’re delicious, flavorful, and sweet, and they happen to be gluten-free too. Yum!
Hero Ingredient: The maple oat crumble is optional, but you don’t want to skip it.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: This beautiful cake is not only vegan, but also fat-free and free of refined sugar. It’s moist, full of spice, sweetness, absolutely delicious. Maple syrup replaces refined sugar, so it’s still sweet without being obtrusive. The pears add a fun and unexpected touch of crispness to the texture.
Hero Ingredient: Pears!
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: You can’t make it through fall without baking pumpkin pie, and this vegan option is an absolute treat. Simple and tasty, all you need is a food processor and a baking pan. It’s also gluten-free and naturally sweetened so everyone can enjoy these robust seasonal flavors.
Hero Ingredient: The salted cashew oat crust is hard to believe.
Get the recipe here.
Gluten-free dessert recipes for autumn
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Why we love it: You won’t want to wait until Thanksgiving to try these simple and decadent gluten-free goodies. Get ready to fall head over heels in love with this rich, slightly sweet cheesecake with a perfectly sour cranberry topping and buttery cranberry crust.
Hero Ingredient: Cranberries are more aromatic and versatile than you might have thought.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: This super fudgy, natural, sweetened, healthier whole grain brownie is made with just 10 ingredients. Cocoa powder adds a rich chocolatey flavor, and oatmeal makes it gluten-free. You won’t believe how creamy and smooth the addition of sweet potatoes gets to this nutrient-dense dessert.
Hero Ingredient: These brownies are delicious on their own, but topped off with a scoop of vegan ice cream, so why not?
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: This recipe is super versatile as the figs can be replaced with anything that’s in season, like apples or even cranberries. It’s a beautiful, light, and unexpectedly elegant dessert.
Hero Ingredient: Rose water increases the aroma and taste.
Get the recipe here.
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Why we love it: It is the bubbly, cheeky, tart-sweet, crispy dessert of our dreams. It’s assembled in less than an hour with just 10 ingredients, so there’s no excuse to skip this delicious treat. The flavors and textures are out of this world.
Hero Ingredient: Orange peel and juice naturally sweeten and add a touch of citrus to this delicious crunch.
Get the recipe here.
