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30 Best Healthy Fall Dessert Recipes To Make This Season

Fall is a season that brings a wealth of delicious dessert possibilities, perfect for cozying up during crisp evenings and enjoying the vibrant foliage. It’s a time when fresh, seasonal ingredients like apples, pecans, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins are abundant at farmers’ markets, inspiring a variety of delightful treats.

This season, indulge in desserts featuring classic fall flavors such as spicy cinnamon, rich caramel, and decadent pecans. The cooler weather makes it the perfect time to enjoy baking, whether you’re making gooey coffee cakes, elegant holiday pies, or other delightful sweets. Our collection includes a wide range of fall favorites, from pound cake coated in praline sauce to bread pudding drizzled in caramel and apple pie with a buttery, flaky cornmeal crust. These recipes are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and bring warmth to your autumn days.

1. Apple Cider Whoopie Pies

apple cider whoopie pies with salted caramelPHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Imagine the taste of apple cider donuts, filled with cream cheese frosting and topped with salted caramel. These whoopie pies are delightful and straightforward to make.

Get the recipe.


2. Bizcochitos

bizcochitos cookies shaped like starsPHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

The official state cookie of New Mexico, these anise and cinnamon-scented cookies are traditionally made with lard or butter and shaped like flowers, stars, or moons. Anise seeds provide a subtle licorice flavor, complemented by a dusting of cinnamon-sugar.

Get the recipe here.


3. Brown Butter Pumpkin Blondies

brown butter pumpkin spice blondiesPHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

The rich, nutty flavor of browned butter enhances these pumpkin blondies, making them a perfect fall treat. They are moist, tender, and slightly chewy in the center.

Get the recipe here.


4. Peanut Butter Pretzel Butterscotch Blondies

peanut butter pretzel butterscotch blondies on a marble surfacePHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: RILEY WOFFORD

For those who love a salty-sweet combination, these blondies feature pretzels and butterscotch chips, creating a rich and satisfying dessert.

Get the recipe here.


5. Apple Butter Pie

apple butter pie with crumble toppingPHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: SIMON ANDREWS

This easy-to-make pie, a blend of pumpkin and Dutch apple pie, features a crunchy crumble topping. You can find apple butter at most grocery stores or make your own.

Get the recipe here.


6. Gingersnap Cookies

gingersnapsLucy schaeffer

These gingersnaps are large, gingery, and extra chewy, offering a comforting and spicy flavor.

Get the recipe here.


7. Mini Pumpkin Pies

mini pumpkin pies topped with whipped cream and shaved milk chocolatePHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Perfect for a crowd or for those who prefer more crust than filling, these mini pumpkin pies are a convenient and tasty twist on the classic dessert.

Get the recipe here.


8. Apple Spice Cake

apple spice cakeErik bernstein

Best made with robust apples like Pink Lady or Honeycrisp, this apple spice cake is sweet, tart, and crisp, making it a delightful treat.

Get the recipe here.


9. Alfajores

alfajoresLucy schaeffer

These soft shortbread cookies, filled with dulce de leche and often dusted with confectioners’ sugar or coconut flakes, are a popular treat in Argentina, with origins tracing back to the Middle East.

Get the recipe here.


10. Sweet Potato Pudding

sweet potato puddingPHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This creamy dessert is a simpler, lighter version of sweet potato casserole, offering the delicious filling of sweet potato pie without the crust. Optional toppings include whipped cream or marshmallow fluff.

Get the recipe here


11. Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

pumpkin cookies with a cheesecake fillingPHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDSERON

These cookies combine the rich flavors of pumpkin spice and cheesecake. Each cookie is filled with a cream cheese center, providing a delightful contrast between the spicy pumpkin and tangy cheesecake. They are a perfect treat for fall or any time you crave something comforting and sweet.

Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies recipe.


12. Cranberry Cake

cranberry cakeAndrew bui

This cranberry loaf cake perfectly balances sweet and tart flavors, making it a great way to use cranberries. A sugar topping adds a subtle crunch, making each bite delightful.

Get the Cranberry Cake recipe.


13. Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies

brownies with a chocolate layer and pumpkin cheesecake layerPHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

A decadent dessert, these brownies feature a fudgy brownie base topped with moist pumpkin cheesecake. This combination creates a rich, satisfying treat perfect for fall.

Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies recipe.


14. Apple Dumplings

crescent apple dumplings with ice creamPHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

These apple dumplings are poached in a lemon-lime soda, which creates a unique, sweet sauce. The dumplings come out doughy and gooey, similar to a fast and simple apple pie.

Get the Apple Dumplings recipe.


15. Caramel Apple Tart

caramel apple tart

Erik bernstein

This easy-to-make tart requires only four ingredients: puff pastry, cinnamon, caramel sauce, and apples. It’s an impressive and delicious dessert that doesn’t reveal how simple it is to prepare.

Get the Caramel Apple Tart recipe.


16. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

pumpkin chocolate chip cookiesParker feierbach

Pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice added to chocolate chip cookie dough create a soft, autumn-flavored treat. These cookies are perfect for anyone who loves the warm flavors of fall.

Get the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.


17. Honey Cake

honey cakeEmily Hlavac Green

Perfect for gatherings, including Rosh Hashanah, honey cake is a flavorful treat made with high-quality honey. The type of honey used, such as wildflower or orange blossom, can significantly influence the cake’s taste.

Get the Honey Cake recipe.


18. Keto Pumpkin Bread

keto pumpkin breadAndrew bui

This keto-friendly pumpkin bread is perfect for those on a low-carb diet. With cinnamon and chocolate chips, it’s a delicious and comforting treat from September to December.

Get the Keto Pumpkin Bread recipe.


19. Sweet Potato Pie

sweet potato pieEthan calabrese

Ideal for Thanksgiving or as an October treat, sweet potato pie can be made easier by using a store-bought crust. It’s a classic dessert that brings warmth and flavor to any meal.

Get the Sweet Potato Pie recipe.


20. Brownie Bottom Pumpkin Cheesecake

brownie bottom pumpkin cheesecake with a caramel saucePHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Combining the flavors of pumpkin and cheesecake, this dessert features a brownie base topped with pumpkin cheesecake, making it a crowd-pleaser for any fall occasion.

Get the Brownie Bottom Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe.


crustless apple piePark Feierbach

21

Crustless Apple Pie

You need to try this hasselback trick with apples ASAP. It tastes like a cross between a homemade apple pie and a warm apple crumble. The best part: You don’t need to deal with rolling out and chilling pie dough.

Get the Crustless Apple Pies recipe.

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sweet potato cookiesParker Feierbach

22

Sweet Potato Cookies

Forget sweet potato casserole. Forget pumpkin spice lattes. These sweet potato cookies are our new fall staple. Once you taste their maple glaze, you’ll understand why.

Get the Sweet Potato Cookies recipe.

pumpkin rollParker Feierbach

23

Pumpkin Cheesecake Roll

Ready to kick off pumpkin season with the most impressive (but not intimidating!) fall dessert there is?! Luckily, there’s no fret with this pumpkin cake roll. With a few simple tips, you’ll have perfect swirls of cake and cream cheese filling that will have everyone oohing and aahing when you slice into it.

Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake Roll recipe.

copycat starbucks cranberry bliss barsAndrew bui

24

Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars

These chewy blondies are studded with white chocolate chips and cranberries and then get a sweet orange cream cheese frosting and an extra drizzle of white chocolate just for fun. Be sure to cut them into triangles just like Starbucks would and serve it alongside a copycat Frappuccino.

Get the Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars recipe.

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sweet potato cakeParker feierbach

25

Sweet Potato Cake

What makes this sweet potato cake so completely irresistible? We think it’s the frosting. It’s got a super fun secret ingredient—marshmallow fluff! Sweet potato casserole lovers will FLIP.

Get the Sweet Potato Cake recipe.

biscochitosLucy schaeffer

26

Biscochitos

Did you know? These anise and cinnamon scented cookies are the official state cookie of New Mexico! Though these cookies vary a bit in style depending where you are in the state, typically they’re made with lard or butter, and cut into flower, star, or moon shapes. The anise seeds are crucial for that delicate floral licorice-y flavor, as is a dusting of cinnamon-sugar for added sweetness.

Get the Biscochitos recipe.

pumpkin spice blondies with cheesecake swirl recipeLindsay Hunt

27

Pumpkin Spice Blondies with Cheesecake Swirl

Don’t panic if you’ve never baked a cheesecake before. These bars are the perfect place to start. Worried about wasting that leftover pumpkin? We’ve got you covered with this pumpkin cheesecake roll recipe.

Get the Pumpkin Spice Blondies with Cheesecake Swirl recipe.

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pumpkin sticky bunsPHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLIST: JASON SCHREIBER

28

Pumpkin Sticky Buns

We know there’s no shortage of amazing pumpkin recipes out there, but these pillowy soft buns are filled with chopped pecans and baked in a caramel sauce for the most decadent fall treat any time of day.

Get the Pumpkin Sticky Buns recipe.

tiramisu cakeANDREW BUI

29

Tiramisu Cake

It’s hard not to love a creamy, light slice of tiramisu. We enjoy the flavor combo of bitter coffee and dark cocoa paired with sweet and cold mascarpone cream so much we’ve added it to everything. We think you should consider eating a slice of this approachable cake with our tiramisu White Russian, TBH.

Get the Tiramisu Cake recipe.

apple pie  delishcomEthan Calabrese

30

Apple Pie

A homemade apple pie that will even impress your grandma. We like to fill our homemade flaky, buttery, lattice crust with a combination of apples for an irresistibly sweet-tart filling. You’ll know the pie is ready to come out of the oven when the filling bubbles and the crust is golden.

Get the Classic Apple Pie recipe.

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sweet potato breadANDREW BUI

31

Sweet Potato Bread

When the temperature drops, the days are short, and a cozy vibe is on order, one autumnal treat is better than the rest: sweet potato bread. It’s proof that sweet potato can bump pumpkin right off the sweets table come fall. Need more convincing? Try our sweet potato pie, sweet potato cake, and sweet potato cookies!

Get the Sweet Potato Bread recipe.

maple butter blondiesyossy arefi

32

Maple Butter Blondies

Inspired by the cream cheese-maple sauce drizzled on the butter pecan blondies at Applebee’s, these easy white chocolate chip blondies highlight a very underutilized baking ingredient: maple syrup. We replaced the pecans with walnuts, but you can use an equal amount of pecans if you’d prefer.

Get the Maple Butter Blondies recipe.

homemade mooncakesJune xie

33

Homemade Mooncakes

Mooncakes are popular (often) sweet treats consumed during the mid-autumn festival in Chinese culture to celebrate the harvest season. Many fillings for mooncakes exist, though most tend to be sweet pastes made of either red bean, lotus seed, black sesame, or a mixture of fruits and nuts.

Get the Homemade Mooncakes recipe.

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walnut and pistachio baklavaJoel goldberg

34

Walnut and Pistachio Baklava

Sticky and rich, baklava is a dessert made of layered sheets of phyllo dough, nuts, spices, sugar and/or honey. It’s served all over the Middle East, Turkey, and Greece and is perfect for riffing with flavors. This version uses walnuts and pistachios, but feel free to use whichever nuts you like the most.

Get the Walnut and Pistachio Baklava recipe.

no bake pumpkin cheesecakeParker Feierbach

35

No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

Figuring out how to make all of the pumpkin desserts during Thanksgiving while the turkey is in the oven can be a nightmare. That’s why you need this no-bake cheesecake. It’s a major time saver and while we love our classic pumpkin cheesecake, we go crazy for the no-bake option.

Get the No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe.

Ann Spencer’s Sweet Potato Pudding
Sweet Potato Pudding is a smooth and creamy dessert, similar to the filling of a sweet potato pie but without a crust or topping. It offers a simpler alternative to traditional sweet potato casserole, perfect for those who prefer a lighter option. You can top it with whipped cream or marshmallow fluff if desired.

Get the Sweet Potato Pudding recipe.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
These cookies combine the rich flavors of pumpkin spice and cheesecake. Each cookie is filled with a cream cheese center, providing a delightful contrast between the spicy pumpkin and tangy cheesecake. They are a perfect treat for fall or any time you crave something comforting and sweet.

Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies recipe.

Cranberry Cake
This cranberry loaf cake perfectly balances sweet and tart flavors, making it a great way to use cranberries. A sugar topping adds a subtle crunch, making each bite delightful.

Get the Cranberry Cake recipe.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies
A decadent dessert, these brownies feature a fudgy brownie base topped with moist pumpkin cheesecake. This combination creates a rich, satisfying treat perfect for fall.

Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies recipe.

Apple Dumplings
These apple dumplings are poached in a lemon-lime soda, which creates a unique, sweet sauce. The dumplings come out doughy and gooey, similar to a fast and simple apple pie.

Get the Apple Dumplings recipe.

Caramel Apple Tart
This easy-to-make tart requires only four ingredients: puff pastry, cinnamon, caramel sauce, and apples. It’s an impressive and delicious dessert that doesn’t reveal how simple it is to prepare.

Get the Caramel Apple Tart recipe.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice added to chocolate chip cookie dough create a soft, autumn-flavored treat. These cookies are perfect for anyone who loves the warm flavors of fall.

Get the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

Honey Cake
Perfect for gatherings, including Rosh Hashanah, honey cake is a flavorful treat made with high-quality honey. The type of honey used, such as wildflower or orange blossom, can significantly influence the cake’s taste.

Get the Honey Cake recipe.

Keto Pumpkin Bread
This keto-friendly pumpkin bread is perfect for those on a low-carb diet. With cinnamon and chocolate chips, it’s a delicious and comforting treat from September to December.

Get the Keto Pumpkin Bread recipe.

Sweet Potato Pie
Ideal for Thanksgiving or as an October treat, sweet potato pie can be made easier by using a store-bought crust. It’s a classic dessert that brings warmth and flavor to any meal.

Get the Sweet Potato Pie recipe.

Brownie Bottom Pumpkin Cheesecake
Combining the flavors of pumpkin and cheesecake, this dessert features a brownie base topped with pumpkin cheesecake, making it a crowd-pleaser for any fall occasion.

Get the Brownie Bottom Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe.

Crustless Apple Pie
This dessert uses a hasselback technique with apples, creating a dish that tastes like a cross between apple pie and apple crumble. It’s perfect for those who prefer a crustless option.

Get the Crustless Apple Pie recipe.

Sweet Potato Cookies
A new fall favorite, these cookies are flavored with sweet potatoes and topped with a maple glaze. They offer a delicious alternative to traditional fall desserts.

Get the Sweet Potato Cookies recipe.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Roll
This impressive pumpkin cake roll with cream cheese filling is perfect for kicking off pumpkin season. With simple tips, you can achieve beautiful swirls and a delicious dessert.

Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake Roll recipe.

Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
These blondies are filled with white chocolate chips and cranberries, topped with orange cream cheese frosting and a drizzle of white chocolate. Cut them into triangles for a classic Starbucks look.

Get the Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars recipe.

Sweet Potato Cake
This cake, featuring a marshmallow fluff frosting, is irresistible for sweet potato casserole lovers. The frosting adds a unique and fun twist to the traditional cake.

Get the Sweet Potato Cake recipe.

Biscochitos
These anise and cinnamon-scented cookies are the official state cookie of New Mexico. Typically made with lard or butter and shaped into flowers, stars, or moons, they are dusted with cinnamon-sugar for added sweetness.

Get the Biscochitos recipe.

Pumpkin Spice Blondies with Cheesecake Swirl
These bars combine the flavors of pumpkin spice and cheesecake, perfect for beginners in cheesecake baking. They’re a great way to use leftover pumpkin.

Get the Pumpkin Spice Blondies with Cheesecake Swirl recipe.

Pumpkin Sticky Buns
Filled with chopped pecans and baked in caramel sauce, these pumpkin sticky buns are a decadent fall treat, perfect for any time of the day.

Get the Pumpkin Sticky Buns recipe.

Tiramisu Cake
This cake offers the classic flavors of tiramisu, combining bitter coffee and dark cocoa with sweet mascarpone cream. It’s an approachable way to enjoy this favorite dessert.

Get the Tiramisu Cake recipe.

Apple Pie
This homemade apple pie features a flaky, buttery crust filled with a mix of sweet and tart apples. It’s a timeless dessert that impresses with its classic flavor.

Get the Apple Pie recipe.

Sweet Potato Bread
This sweet potato bread is a cozy autumn treat, perfect for cooler weather. It’s a versatile dessert that can compete with traditional pumpkin treats.

Get the Sweet Potato Bread recipe.

Maple Butter Blondies
Inspired by Applebee’s butter pecan blondies, these blondies use white chocolate chips and highlight the flavor of maple syrup. Walnuts are used instead of pecans, but either nut works well.

Get the Maple Butter Blondies recipe.

Homemade Mooncakes
Popular during the mid-autumn festival in Chinese culture, mooncakes come with various fillings, including sweet pastes made of red bean, lotus seed, black sesame, or a mix of fruits and nuts.

Get the Homemade Mooncakes recipe.

Walnut and Pistachio Baklava
This rich dessert is made of layered sheets of phyllo dough, nuts, and a sweet syrup. It’s versatile and can be made with your favorite nuts.

Get the Walnut and Pistachio Baklava recipe.

No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
This no-bake cheesecake is a time-saver during Thanksgiving. It’s an easy and delicious alternative to traditional pumpkin cheesecake.

Get the No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe.