Cooler weather means cinnamon, apples, pumpkin and warm spices take over the kitchen. Whether the plan is a holiday gathering or just a quiet weekend at home, the right dessert can set the tone for the whole table. These 14 fall desserts cover cookies, cakes, pies and everything in between, so there's something here for every gathering this season.
Cinnamon-sugar apples get wrapped in individual puff pastry packages, then topped with a buttery pecan streusel. Store-bought puff pastry keeps the process simple, but the result looks like it took all afternoon.
Moist pumpkin cupcakes get topped with a maple cream cheese frosting that's smooth enough to pipe. They come together in one bowl and bake in about 30 minutes, making them one of the easier options on this list.
A ribbon of cinnamony apples runs through this sour cream cake, and a thick brown sugar crumb topping sits right on top. It bakes up in a 9x13 dish, so there's plenty to pass around at a potluck or football game.
This apple crisp skips the oats entirely, giving the topping a streusel-like texture that's buttery and crumbly instead of chewy. Tart apples like Granny Smith or Braeburn hold their shape underneath, so every bite still has some bite to it.
Unlike a traditional cheesecake, this Basque-style version is light and airy with no crust at all, and it gets its signature dark top from baking at high heat. Chai tea bags steep right in the cream, giving the whole cheesecake a warm, spiced flavor.
Refrigerated biscuit dough gets coated in a homemade pumpkin spice blend, baked into a pull-apart loaf, then drizzled with cream cheese frosting. It's easy enough for kids to help assemble, which makes it a good pick for a weekend morning.
This dense, moist cake is layered with fresh apple slices and plenty of cinnamon sugar, and a splash of orange juice keeps it from drying out. Made with vegetable oil instead of butter, it's naturally dairy free and travels well for the holidays.
A graham cracker crust holds a no-churn cinnamon ice cream filling, and syrupy cooked apples get spread on top just before serving. It's a twist on apple pie a la mode that can be made ahead and kept in the freezer.
This from-scratch sheet cake gets its moisture from buttermilk and is studded with golden raisins and pecans throughout. The cream cheese frosting on top keeps things classic, and a 9x13 pan means there's enough for a crowd.
These jumbo muffins are loaded with pumpkin puree and big chocolate chunks, then finished with a chocolate drizzle on top. A gluten free flour swap works just as well as all-purpose, so nobody has to miss out.
Apple butter and extra brown sugar give these oversized cookies a soft, cakey texture that holds up for days. The cinnamon vanilla frosting stays soft and spreadable, made with real vanilla bean for extra flavor.
This classic French custard gets a fall upgrade from chai tea bags steeped right in the cream. Just five ingredients and a kitchen torch are all it takes to get that signature crackly, caramelized top.
Tart apples get cooked down with butter and cinnamon, then wrapped in a rustic, free-form pastry crust. There's no need to worry about perfect edges here, since the whole point of a crostata is to look effortlessly imperfect.
Right out of the oven, this Southern classic gets soaked with a caramel butter sauce that seeps into every bite. Buttermilk keeps the crumb moist, and a finishing touch of flaky sea salt gives it that sweet-and-salty balance.