When the weather starts to turn chilly, it’s a sign to turn on the oven (finally!) and bake up something delicious using the season’s bounty. Apples, pumpkin, and pears are some of our favorite fall ingredients to work with—especially when they’re enhanced with pantry staples like warm spices and maple syrup—but other picks like bananas and cranberries are just as versatile and cozy. Before holiday cookies take center stage, hunker down with these autumnal treats that are perfect for breakfast, an afternoon pick-me-up, dessert, and everything in between. You’ll find muffins, quick breads, jammy pies, and dinner party-ready cakes, including some one-bowl recipes when you need something sweet and simple with minimal effort. With so many crave-worthy options, you’re bound to fall for them all!
Chocolate-Swirled Pumpkin Muffins
These two-toned treats couldn’t be easier to make: Simply stir cocoa powder into some of the pumpkin mixture to make a chocolate batter, then layer and swirl the two flavors for the best of both worlds. Make these chocolatey pumpkin muffins in advance and enjoy them all week long, or pop them in the freezer for an on-the-go breakfast or treat.
Get the recipe: Chocolate-Swirled Pumpkin Muffins
Salted Maple Chai Pull-Apart Bread
In this brunch-worthy recipe, a brown sugar and maple filling is amped up with cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger, which infuses each bite with peak fall coziness. Arranging the folded dough pieces in a loaf pan accordion-style makes assembly easy and creates layers of sweet, pillowy bread that’s hard to stop snacking on.
Get the recipe: Salted Maple Chai Pull-Apart Bread
Mini Pumpkin Donut Muffins
Dunking these warm muffins into melted butter and coating them with pumpkin-spiced sugar instantly takes the bite-sized treats into autumnal territory. If you need any more reason to make them, the recipe is one-bowl and uses an entire can of pumpkin puree—aka, no waste!
Get the recipe: Mini Pumpkin Donut Muffins
Cranberry-Apple Pie
Take the classic apple pie up a notch with the addition of fresh cranberries, which impart a welcome tartness that balances the jammy sweetness of Golden Delicious apples. Use ready-to-bake crusts to keep prep time to a minimum—just be sure to wait until the pie sets and cools before digging in.
Get the recipe: Cranberry-Apple Pie
Apple Pudding Cake
A layer of spiced apple chunks creates a lovely custardy texture in this fall-forward loaf bread. Drizzled with lemon glaze, the cake works as well for an indulgent weeknight breakfast as it does for weekend entertaining.
Get the recipe: Apple Pudding Cake
One-Bowl Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chunks
This moist loaf bread is laden with melty chocolate and topped with a crunchy, pumpkin-spiced sugar crust. It’s a classic crowd-pleaser for fall—you’ll win the after-school snack game—and the clean-up is minimal, too.
Get the recipe: One-Bowl Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chunks
Easy Apple Galette
This rustic, five-ingredient tart is easier than pie: It’s as simple as topping a store-bought pie crust with an apple filling and baking to golden brown perfection. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you have a delicious fall dessert that’s sure to impress.
Get the recipe: Easy Apple Galette
Pumpkin-Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Who says autumnal treats can’t be better-for-you, too? These cute cookies are made with whole wheat flour and ground flaxseed for a boost of fiber, but also boast plenty of fall flair with the duo of pumpkin puree and pie spice. Be sure to chill the dough to make it easier to scoop.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin-Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Double-Chocolate Banana Bread
This chocoholic (and gluten-free!) twist on banana bread is extra tender and slightly nutty, thanks to almond flour and nut butter. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and ripe bananas, this is a treat you won’t be able to resist eating for breakfast.
Get the recipe: Double-Chocolate Banana Bread
Snickerdoodle Apple Scones
Tender chunks of apples stud these buttery delights, and the tops are sprinkled with cinnamon sugar for the coziest fall mash-up ever. Requiring only 10 minutes of active prep time, the scones are easy to whip up for brunch or tea time.
Get the recipe: Snickerdoodle Apple Scones
Classic Apple Crisp
If you have an excess of apples from the store, this foolproof recipe is the perfect way to use up a few pounds of your bounty. A buttery brown sugar and oat streusel blankets tender, cinnamon-spiked apples, and a scoop of ice cream and drizzle of caramel sauce takes it over the top.
Get the recipe: Classic Apple Crisp
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread
This fragrant, earthy loaf bread comes together in an hour and uses gluten-free flour for an allergy-friendly treat. The creamy glaze adds just the right amount of sweetness to each hearty slice of the fall-favorite flavor.
Get the recipe: The Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread
Baked Apple Cider Donuts
A warm, sugar-coated cider donut is a hallmark of fall outings—now you can bring the orchard experience to your own kitchen. These baked donuts are made with reduced cider for maximum apple flavor and dusted with spiced sugar for the perfect finishing touch.
Get the recipe: Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Pear Upside-Down Cake
Give pears—another seasonal star—some love with this delicious fall dessert. Slices of pear caramelize with butter and brown sugar while the cake bakes, then transform into a sweet, tender topping when you flip it over for the great reveal.
Get the recipe: Pear Upside-Down Cake
Cranberry Bars
This large-format treat works as well for a potluck dessert as it does for a soccer team snack. A tangy cream cheese dough does double duty as both the crust and the topping, and canned cranberry sauce makes for the easiest filling.
Get the recipe: Cranberry Bars
