Do you feel like pumpkin and autumnal spices all the time are the extent to which dessert can go? Think again. From apple pie to cheesecake, and gingersnap to gingerbread, so many different flavors of dessert have been given a seasonal makeover in recent years that it’s almost impossible to avoid them. But what if you’ve grown tired of the same old thing?
Here are some ideas for desserts that go beyond pumpkin pie this fall!
Pumpkin Cake
This cake is both easy and tasty, and it’s perfect for young bakers. With only six ingredients, it’s easy to make, and it’s also a great recipe for when you want to serve something that looks very pretty. The lovely, vibrant orange color of this cake makes it a fantastic choice for a fall party or dinner.
What you need:
2 cups of all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon of baking soda 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves 2 cups of pumpkin puree 1 cup of brown sugar 2 large eggs 2/3 cup of melted butter
What you do: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. In another bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the pumpkin, brown sugar, eggs, and butter until well-combined. Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Pour the batter into a greased 9-inch round cake pan.
Bake for around 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Apple Caramel Rolls
A healthier take on the caramel roll, these apple caramel rolls are a great dessert for a fall dinner or party. They are super easy to make and have a really delicious and unique flavor. They are made with apples, which are a great autumnal ingredient, and topped with a delicious caramel cream cheese frosting. This recipe is great for feeding a crowd, so keep it in mind if you’re planning a dinner or party.
What you need: For the rolls: 8 slices of white bread 1/2 cup of brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon 2 tablespoons of butter, melted 6 apples, peeled and thinly sliced For the filling: 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoons of brown sugar 2 tablespoons of caramel syrup 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract A dash of salt A splash of milk
What you do: For the rolls: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper. Place 4 slices of bread on a clean work surface. Top each with a second slice of bread to make a sandwich, then place a third slice of bread on top. Using a rolling pin, flatten the sandwich until it is around 1/2-inch thick. Repeat with the other 4 sandwiches. Place the 8 flattened sandwiches into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon of melted butter over each of the bread sandwiches. Bake the bread for 10 to 12 minutes, until they are lightly golden. Remove the baking dish from the oven and set aside to cool.
For the filling: In a bowl, beat together the cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, caramel syrup, vanilla, a dash of salt, and a splash of milk until well-combined and smooth. Spoon the cream cheese frosting into a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe the frosting over each slice of bread in the baking dish. Top each slice with slices of apple.
Apple Rose Tart
This attractive tart is easy to make and great for a dinner party or potluck. It’s perfect for serving alongside a salad, and it can be made well in advance, so you don’t have to stress about finishing it on time. This dessert is made with puff pastry, apples, and a caramel cream cheese filling. It’s beautiful to look at, and it’s also really tasty!
What you need: 1 sheet of puff pastry 2 apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced 1/4 cup of brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon 1/4 cup of caramel sauce 1/2 cup of cream cheese, softened
What you do: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Unroll the puff pastry sheet and place it onto the prepared baking sheet. Use a knife to cut the pastry sheet into a rectangular shape. Place the apples in a bowl and mix them with 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon of water.
Place the apple slices on top of the pastry rectangle in an overlapping pattern to create a rose shape. Bake the tart for 15 minutes. While the tart is baking, whip together the caramel sauce and cream cheese until well-combined. Once the tart is finished baking, spoon the caramel cream cheese onto the tart.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
These pumpkin cream cheese muffins are a great dessert for a fall brunch or breakfast. They can be made ahead of time, so you don’t have to stress about getting them done in time for your event. If you have guests coming over, these are an easy and cute dessert that is sure to please everyone. You can make them in mini muffin tins for an adorable party treat or for kids’ lunches.
What you need: 2 cups of all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons of baking powder 1 teaspoon of baking soda 1 teaspoon of salt 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon 1/2 cup of vegetable oil 2 cups of sugar 2 large eggs 1 cup of pumpkin puree 1 cup of sour cream 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
What you do: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In another bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the oil, sugar, eggs, pumpkin puree, sour cream, and vanilla extract until well-combined.
Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tins. Bake the muffins for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove the muffin tin from the oven and let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire racks to cool completely before serving.
Caramel Apple Bark
If you’re looking for a sweet, gooey, and sticky treat to warm up with this fall, caramel apple bark is just the ticket. A super simple recipe, you can bake apples with cinnamon, then drizzle them with a classic caramel recipe. Once they’re set, you’re good to go!
You can serve it as a snack, or even use it as an easy dessert to bring to a potluck. You can even customize the recipe to include whatever spices you like best, but cinnamon is always the first place to start!
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
If you’re a cheesecake fan, these pumpkin cheesecake bars are an absolute must-try this fall. The pumpkin puree gives these bars a decadent rich consistency, as does a generous amount of cream cheese. These are not for the dieter, but for pumpkin and cheesecake lovers, they’re a real treat.
These bars are a great option for potlucks or parties, and are simple to prep and make. You can even make the crust the day before, to make things even easier!
Vegan Apple Pie Cookies
If you’re looking for a fall dessert to please vegans and non-vegans alike, these vegan apple pie cookies are a great option. You’ll start with a buttery, flaky, crumbly crust and a gooey apple filling, then top it all off with a crumbly topping of cinnamon and sugar. They’re the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and gooey, and are sure to be a hit with everyone at your next fall gathering.
They’re best served warm, so you can make them ahead of time and just pop them in the microwave before serving!
Pumpkin Bread
If you’re a quick bread fan, this pumpkin bread is a great choice for quick fall baking that’s simple enough for weeknights. Pumpkin puree is the main ingredient, and it’s flavored with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, as well as brown sugar. You can make this into muffins, or even loaves to give as gifts!
It’s a basic recipe that’s flexible enough to be easily adaptable to different spices, so go ahead and experiment!
Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Bread
If you’re looking for something a little more decadent, this pumpkin cinnamon bun bread is a must-try. You can use a simple pumpkin bread recipe as a base and add a few more ingredients to transform it into a sticky, gooey, cinnamon roll-esque treat.
It’s a great option for a weekend brunch or even dessert. It’s easy to make and will feed a lot of people, so it’s great for larger groups. Just be sure to keep some ice cream on hand for the end!
Iced Pumpkin Cookies
If you’re looking for a simple, classic dessert that’s still full of the season’s flavors, these iced pumpkin cookies are a perfect choice. They’re easy to make, there’s nothing complicated about them, but they’re sure to please everyone. You can even use any other type of cookie dough you prefer, or even make them into bars.
These are a great option for potlucks or work gatherings and are easy to transport. All you need to do is add a few sprinkles and you’re good to go!
Mini Apple Pies
If you’re a baker, there’s nothing that says fall like apples. And what better way to bring in the season with some apple pie? Mini apple pies are a fun take on the classic and are sure to delight. They’re easy to make, and you can even use store-bought pie crust, which makes them a great option for last-minute baking. You can even make these with kids since there’s no rolling of dough or pie-filling-spilling that can happen. And that’s it for our list of desserts that go beyond pumpkin pie this fall!
We hope that you’re inspired to try something new this season and that these recipes help you do just that! And don’t forget to share your creations with us on social media using the hashtag #DailyDessert. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
