11 Effortless Fall Dessert Recipes You Need To Try

As the crisp autumn air rolls in, do you find yourself dreaming of warm, spiced desserts fresh from the oven? That craving for a cozy slice of pumpkin cake or a spoonful of bubbling apple crisp is one of the best parts of the season.

You picture yourself pulling a beautiful, fragrant creation from the oven, filling your home with the scents of cinnamon and maple. But then reality hits—complicated recipes, a mountain of dishes, and not nearly enough time in your busy schedule. The desire for a comforting homemade treat often gets pushed aside for something quicker, but less satisfying.

The best effortless fall dessert recipes use simple ingredients like pumpkin puree, fresh apples, and warm spices to create cozy treats. Options range from no-bake pumpkin mousse and quick apple crisps to simple dump cakes, ensuring a delicious autumn dessert without the stress. We’ve handpicked and tested these recipes to ensure they are perfect for home bakers of all skill levels, focusing on simple steps and incredible results.

Craving Cozy Fall Flavors Without the Fuss?

The truth is, you don’t need to be a pastry chef to enjoy the comforting flavors of fall baking. The secret lies in embracing smart shortcuts and focusing on recipes that deliver maximum flavor with minimum effort. Forget spending hours in the kitchen; this collection is all about getting to the good part—enjoying a delicious, homemade dessert—faster.

We’ve curated a list of the most delicious, foolproof fall desserts that are perfect for everything from a quiet weeknight treat to a festive holiday gathering. These recipes rely on pantry staples, clever techniques, and classic flavor combinations to create treats that taste like you spent all day on them. Get ready to embrace the coziest season of all, one simple dessert at a time.

11 Effortless Fall Dessert Recipes You Need To Try This October

This collection is your ultimate guide to simple and satisfying autumn baking. We’ve covered all the essential fall flavors, from rich pumpkin and warm spices to crisp apples and decadent caramel. Whether you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing sheet cake, a rustic skillet cobbler, or a genius no-bake bar that comes together in minutes, you’ll find a new favorite here. This collection is built on classic, time-tested flavor pairings, streamlined for the modern home baker. Each recipe includes tips to guarantee success.

1. The Ultimate Easy Pumpkin Spice Dump Cake

This ridiculously easy pumpkin spice dump cake is a viral fall dessert made by layering a simple pumpkin custard with dry cake mix, pecans, and melted butter, which bakes into a self-saucing, cobbler-like treat.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
  • 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice until smooth. Pour the mixture into the prepared dish.
  3. Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the pumpkin mixture.
  4. Scatter the chopped pecans over the cake mix.
  5. Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the top.
  6. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the center is set and the top is golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving.

Pro-Tip: For an extra rich flavor, use brown sugar instead of white sugar in the pumpkin mixture and toast the pecans for 5 minutes before adding them to the top.

Save this super simple dump cake recipe to your ‘Easy Fall Baking’ board!

2. 15-Minute No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

These no-bake pumpkin cheesecake bars are the perfect make-ahead fall dessert, featuring a creamy pumpkin spice filling folded with whipped topping set on a simple gingersnap cookie crust.

• Ingredients:
  • 2 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed
• Instructions:
  1. Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper. Mix gingersnap crumbs and melted butter, then press firmly into the bottom of the pan. Chill for 10 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the pumpkin puree, powdered sugar, and pumpkin pie spice.
  3. Gently fold in the whipped topping until just combined.
  4. Spread the filling evenly over the chilled crust.
  5. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until firm. Cut into bars and serve.

Lesson Learned: Ensure your cream cheese is fully at room temperature to avoid lumps in your filling. If you’re short on time, you can freeze the bars for 1 hour to help them set faster.

Pin this no-bake recipe for your next fall gathering!

3. Cozy Caramel Apple Cobbler

This cozy caramel apple cobbler is a comforting skillet dessert made with tender, spiced apples tossed in caramel sauce and topped with a simple, fluffy biscuit dough using a shortcut ingredient.

• Ingredients:
  • 6 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
  • 1/2 cup caramel sauce, plus more for drizzling
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 cups Bisquick mix
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 3 tbsp butter, melted
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or baking dish, toss the apple slices with caramel sauce, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix the Bisquick, milk, and sugar until a soft dough forms.
  4. Drop spoonfuls of the dough over the apple mixture.
  5. Drizzle the melted butter over the dough.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Serve warm.

Pro-Tip: Don’t overmix the biscuit dough! Mix it just until combined to ensure the topping stays light and fluffy, not tough.

Add this comforting cobbler to your ‘Must-Make Fall Desserts’ Pinterest board!

4. Quick Apple Cider Donut Muffins

These apple cider donut muffins give you all the flavor of the orchard classic without the fryer, featuring a moist, cider-infused muffin that’s dipped in melted butter and coated in cinnamon sugar.

• Ingredients:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup apple cider
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • For Topping: 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 cup sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together apple cider, milk, egg, and 1/4 cup melted butter.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake for 15-18 minutes.
  6. While muffins bake, prepare the topping. Mix 1 cup sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
  7. When muffins are done, let cool slightly, then dip the tops in the 1/2 cup melted butter and then into the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Pro-Tip: For a more intense apple flavor, reduce 1 cup of apple cider down to 1/2 cup on the stove before using it in the recipe. Let it cool completely first!

Your fall mornings need these muffins! Save this recipe now.

5. Effortless Cinnamon Sugar Blondies

These cinnamon sugar blondies are a one-bowl wonder, creating a chewy, buttery bar with a crackly, sweet cinnamon-sugar topping that comes together in minutes.

• Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • Topping: 2 tbsp granulated sugar mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar.
  3. Whisk in the egg and vanilla extract until combined.
  4. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon until just mixed.
  5. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
  6. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar topping evenly over the batter.
  7. Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden and a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Let cool completely before cutting.

Lesson Learned: The key to chewy blondies is to not overbake them. Pull them from the oven when the center still looks slightly underdone; they will continue to set as they cool.

Pin this one-bowl blondie recipe for a quick sweet treat!

6. 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Cookies

This is the easiest fall cookie you will ever make, requiring just three simple ingredients: a box of spice cake mix, a can of pumpkin puree, and optional chocolate chips.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 box Spice Cake Mix
  • 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup chocolate chips (optional)
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the spice cake mix and the pumpkin puree. Mix until well combined. The batter will be thick.
  3. If using, fold in the chocolate chips.
  4. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. These cookies will not spread much, so you can flatten them slightly with the back of a spoon if you wish.
  5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are set.
  6. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Pro-Tip: Because this batter is eggless, it’s safe to eat raw! But for the best baked cookie, use a cookie scoop for evenly sized portions to ensure they all bake at the same rate.

The easiest fall cookie ever! Save this 3-ingredient hack.

7. Irresistible Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

These decadent bars feature a buttery oat crust, a layer of tender cinnamon apples, a salted caramel drizzle, and a crunchy crumble topping, making them a perfect dessert for any fall occasion.

• Ingredients:
  • Crust & Topping: 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup rolled oats, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 cup cold butter, cubed.
  • Filling: 4 medium apples, diced; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 1/4 cup sugar; 1 tsp cinnamon.
  • 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9×13 inch pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Press half of the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
  4. While the crust bakes, toss the diced apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon.
  5. Spread the apple mixture over the hot crust. Drizzle with salted caramel sauce.
  6. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the top. Bake for another 25-30 minutes, until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbly. Let cool completely.

Lesson Learned: Cooling the bars completely is non-negotiable! This allows the caramel and apple juices to set, ensuring you can make clean, beautiful cuts.

Save this recipe to impress everyone this fall!

8. Classic Skillet Apple Crisp

This classic skillet apple crisp is the ultimate rustic dessert, with sweetly spiced apples baked until bubbly beneath a crunchy, buttery oat and brown sugar topping.

• Ingredients:
  • Filling: 6-8 medium baking apples, sliced; 1/4 cup maple syrup; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tsp cinnamon.
  • Topping: 1 cup old-fashioned oats; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 cup brown sugar; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, combine the sliced apples, maple syrup, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Stir to coat.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the topping.
  4. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture is crumbly.
  5. Sprinkle the topping mixture evenly over the apples in the skillet.
  6. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until the fruit is tender and the topping is golden brown and crisp. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Pro-Tip: Use a mix of apples for the best flavor and texture. Granny Smith provides tartness that holds its shape, while a softer apple like McIntosh will break down to create a lovely sauce.

The only apple crisp recipe you’ll need! Pin it now.

9. Fudgy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies

This recipe elevates a simple box of brownie mix into a stunning fall dessert by swirling a tangy, spiced pumpkin cream cheese mixture into the rich, fudgy brownie batter before baking.

• Ingredients:
  • Brownie Batter: 1 box of your favorite fudgy brownie mix (plus ingredients called for on the box).
  • Pumpkin Swirl: 4 oz cream cheese, softened; 1/3 cup pumpkin puree; 1 egg yolk; 3 tbsp sugar; 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven and prepare an 8×8 inch pan according to brownie mix directions.
  2. Prepare the brownie batter as instructed on the box and pour it into the prepared pan.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the pumpkin puree, egg yolk, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice until well combined.
  4. Drop spoonfuls of the pumpkin mixture over the brownie batter.
  5. Use a knife to gently swirl the pumpkin mixture into the brownie batter to create a marbled effect.
  6. Bake according to the brownie mix instructions, or until a toothpick inserted into the brownie part comes out with moist crumbs. Let cool completely.

Lesson Learned: To get those beautiful, distinct swirls, don’t over-mix! Just a few gentle figure-eight motions with the knife are all you need. The less you swirl, the more defined the pattern will be.

The ultimate fall brownie! Save this recipe for later.

10. Simple Maple Pecan Pie Bars

Get all the flavor of classic pecan pie without the fuss of a crust; these bars feature a simple shortbread base topped with a rich, gooey filling of maple syrup and toasted pecans.

• Ingredients:
  • Crust: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed.
  • Filling: 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, 1/4 cup melted butter, 2 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups chopped pecans.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9 inch pan with parchment paper.
  2. For the crust, combine flour and powdered sugar. Cut in the cold butter until crumbly. Press firmly into the bottom of the pan.
  3. Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes, until lightly golden.
  4. While the crust bakes, whisk together brown sugar, maple syrup, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla for the filling. Stir in the chopped pecans.
  5. Pour the filling over the hot crust.
  6. Bake for another 25-30 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.

Pro-Tip: For the best flavor, use pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup. The authentic maple flavor is the star of the show here and makes a huge difference.

All the flavor of pecan pie, but easier! Pin this bar recipe.

11. 4-Ingredient Baked Cinnamon Apples

This is a naturally healthy and simple fall dessert where whole apples are cored and filled with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then baked until perfectly tender.

• Ingredients:
  • 4 large baking apples (like Honeycrisp or Braeburn)
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 4 tbsp butter, cut into 4 pieces
  • Optional: 1/4 cup rolled oats or chopped nuts
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Wash and dry the apples. Use an apple corer or a small knife to remove the core, leaving the bottom 1/2 inch of the apple intact to create a well.
  3. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon (and oats/nuts, if using).
  4. Place the apples in a small baking dish. Pack the brown sugar mixture tightly into the core of each apple.
  5. Top each apple with a piece of butter.
  6. Pour about 1/2 inch of hot water into the bottom of the baking dish to prevent the apples from sticking and to create steam.
  7. Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until the apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Serve warm.

Lesson Learned: Coring the apple but leaving the bottom intact is the key to holding all the delicious filling inside as it bakes and melts.

The perfect healthy fall dessert! Save this easy idea.

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to Effortless Fall Desserts

• Embrace Shortcuts: Don’t be afraid to use helpers like boxed cake mix, brownie mix, or pre-made cookie crumbs to create impressive desserts like Dump Cakes and No-Bake Bars in a fraction of the time.
• One-Pan Wonders: Skillet desserts like Apple Cobbler or Crisp minimize cleanup and create a rustic, shareable presentation perfect for fall.
• No Oven, No Problem: No-bake recipes, especially those featuring pumpkin and cream cheese, are perfect make-ahead options for parties and gatherings.
• Focus on Core Flavors: The simplest recipes, like Baked Apples, can be the most satisfying by letting classic fall ingredients like apples, cinnamon, and maple truly shine.

49 of Our Best Fall Desserts

FAQs About fall dessert recipes

What is the most popular fall dessert?

While apple pie is arguably the most iconic and classic fall dessert, pumpkin-flavored treats run a very close second. Desserts like pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin spice-flavored cakes and cookies are incredibly popular throughout the autumn season, especially leading up to Thanksgiving. Apple crisp and apple cider donuts are also top contenders.

What are some good fall desserts for a crowd?

For a crowd, bar desserts and sheet cakes are excellent choices because they are easy to make in large batches and serve. Recipes like Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars, Pecan Pie Bars, and the Pumpkin Spice Dump Cake are perfect. A large skillet apple crisp is also a fantastic, low-effort option that easily serves many people.

How can I make fall desserts healthier?

To make fall desserts healthier, focus on whole foods. Use whole wheat flour, reduce sugar by using natural sweeteners like maple syrup or applesauce, and incorporate healthy fats from nuts. Simple recipes like Baked Apples are naturally light. You can also find many recipes that substitute pumpkin puree for oil or butter to reduce fat while keeping moisture.

Final Thoughts

We hope this list inspires you to get into the kitchen and embrace the cozy flavors of the season. Enjoying delicious, homemade fall desserts doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With these effortless recipes, you can create memorable treats that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Which one of these effortless treats are you most excited to try first? Let us know in the comments below