40 Stunning Apple Desserts to Add to Your Fall Baking List

Applelicious Sheet Cake
Photo: Andy Lyons

These apple desserts begin with the mouthwatering aroma of tantalizing baked apples and cinnamon filling your kitchen. Each of these apple dessert recipes is delightfully sweet and perfect for celebrating fall. Go beyond apple pie with one of our stellar apple desserts including apple crisp, apple cake, candy apples, and more.

01 of 40

Big Apple Dumplings

Big Apple Dumplings
Karla Conrad

Think of these cinnamon sauce-topped dumplings like single-serving apple pies. In addition to a whole, cored apple, a sweet filling of walnuts, raisins, and honey is hiding inside the homemade flaky pastry pockets.

02 of 40

Caramel Apple Poke Cake

Caramel Apple Poke Cake
Blaine Moats

For a guaranteed moist cake, a poke cake like this apple cake recipe is the way to go. If you haven't made a poke cake before, holes are literally poked into a baked cake with the handle of a wooden spoon (or skewer) and a dreamy filling gets poured on/in to keep the cake tender. In this case, that filling is a super sweet and creamy dulce de leche!

03 of 40

Toffee Apple Cheesecake

Toffee Apple Cheesecake
Scott Little

This showstopping cheesecake is the perfect apple dessert idea for your fall produce. A walnut-infused crust serves as the base for the cream cheese filling and caramel apple-like topping.

04 of 40

Apple Pie Pops

Apple Pie Pops
Helen Norman

What's better than apple pie? Apple pie on a stick! These adorable single-serving apple desserts will win over the kids and adults at dessert time.

05 of 40

Apple Pie Tacos

Apple Pie Tacos
Hannah Bigot

A crispy, cinnamon-sugar dusted corn tortilla holds a caramel-apple filling for a fresh take on dessert tacos. Garnish with a scoop of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce to make these treats even more irresistible.

06 of 40

Apple Tart with Cheddar Cheese Crust

Apple Tart Cheddar Cheese Crust
Jason Donnelly

For the not-so-sweet tooth, indulge in a slice of this flaky apple dessert. It's baked with an assortment of your favorite apples and features two hits of cheddar-cheesy goodness (as a topper and in the crust). Hint: The crust comes together even faster if you shred the butter and cheese through your food processor.

07 of 40

Apple-Maple Spice Cake

Bundt Apple Maple Spice Cake drizzled with maple-caramel sauce
Blaine Moats

Fresh apples don't get much better than this. The dessert is already super moist, but the apple bundt cake gets even better when drizzled with a homemade maple sauce dotted with even more apple bits. Try serving a slice with a steamy cup of spiced pomegranate-apple cider.

08 of 40

Crumb-Topped Apple Slab Pie

Crumb-Topped Apple Slab Pie
Steven McDonald

Apple pie or apple crumble? No matter what you call it, this apple dessert is delicious. Start with homemade dough, then add apples and cinnamon. Finish with a crunchy pecan topping.

09 of 40

Apple Sheet Cake

Applelicious Sheet Cake
Andy Lyons

There's not just one, but three types of apples in this fall recipe. In addition to fresh apples, this show-stopping dessert features apple butter and dried apples as well. Topped with apple slices, this apple cake is a definite show-stopper.

10 of 40

Marbled Caramel Apples

Marbled Caramel Apples
Blaine Moats

Nothing says fall like caramel apples. Here we've taken the traditional treat and made a fun apple dessert. Instead of just caramel, the apples get a dip in chocolate and vanilla candy coating, creating a photo-worthy swirl effect.

Test Kitchen Tip: Pour the leftover marble coating onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and top with your favorite sweet treats and/or salty snacks. (It's also a great way to use up Halloween candy.)

11 of 40

Fried Churro Apple Rings

Fried Churro Apple Rings
Jason Donnelly

We used churro batter on fresh apples to make these Mexican-inspired desserts. Coated in cinnamon-sugar, they are the perfect easy apple dessert. Trying to cut out oil? Make these babies in your air fryer!

12 of 40

Dutch Apple Pudding Cake

Dutch Apple Pudding Cake
Jason Donnelly

One bite of this warm apple dessert, and you'll be in love. With just a little bit of prep, this easy apple recipe gets nice and hot in your slow cooker. To make this an extra special treat, make your own apple pie filling instead of buying a can.

13 of 40

Apple-Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

Apple-Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread
Andy Lyons

Don't be fooled by the creamy orange and brown sugar sauce drizzled on top of our to-die-for pull-apart bread recipe. The warm apple dessert is surprisingly lightened-up, thanks to the nutritional benefits of ground flaxseed, fresh apples, and reduced-fat cream cheese.

14 of 40

Apple Pie Egg Rolls

Apple Pie Egg Rolls
Matthew Clark

Your favorite Asian takeout appetizer turns into an indulgent treat in this innovative apple dessert recipe. The portable apple pie is served with fresh whipped cream sweetened with maple syrup for the ultimate dipper.

15 of 40

Apple-Cheese Danish

Apple-Cheese Danish
Blaine Moats

Make your own DIY Danish pastries with a filling of spiced apple slices and cream stuffed between sheets of light and flaky puff pastry.

Test Kitchen Tip: Save time when making this fall apple dessert by turning to canned apple pie filling in place of the spiced apple mixture.

16 of 40

Classic Apple Crisp

Classic Apple Crisp
Andy Lyons

A rich custard sauce sets this apple crisp recipe apart from all the rest. Drizzle the custard on top of each portion just before serving. It's even better than a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

17 of 40

Salted Caramel Apple Pie

Salted Caramel Apple Pie
Blaine Moats

The search is over: We've found the perfect apple pie recipe. With salted caramel sauce drizzled over the apple filling, plus an irresistible easy crust, this pretty pie will be the star of any gathering.

18 of 40

Walnut Apple Crisp

Walnut Apple Crisp
Karla Conrad

Put your slow cooker to work! This easy apple crisp recipe can be made ahead of time, then left to simmer in your slow cooker. Be sure to serve this crisp warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

19 of 40

Spiced Apple Tarte Tatin

Tart with large pieces of baked apples on black plate
Blaine Moats

This apple tart recipe calls for just five simple ingredients including apples, butter, and sugar. Cook the fall fruit with Chinese five-spice powder and top with frozen puff pastry. The result is a caramelized apple dessert dripping with buttery sauce.

20 of 40

Apple Strudel

apple strudel
Blaine Moats

Served as dessert or breakfast, expect this apple strudel recipe to fly right off the table. You can shorten the prep time for this strudel recipe by using purchased phyllo dough, or you can make your own for an extra-special treat.

21 of 40

Spiced Apple Drops

Spiced Apple Drops
Scott Little

This apple dessert gives you a double (or triple) dose of sweet apple flavor. Chopped apple and apple cider flavor the cookies, while the creamy frosting has a splash of apple juice.

22 of 40

Raspberry-Apple Kuchen with Warm Cream Sauce

Raspberry-Apple Kuchen with Warm Cream Sauce
Blaine Moats

Our delicious apple kuchen (the German word for cake) is a triple threat of warm and cozy goodness: Tart apples, cinnamon, and our homemade eggnog sauce. It's going to be an apple dessert you'll plan on making every holiday season (if not more frequently).

23 of 40

Frosted Apple Slab Pie

Frosted Apple Slab Pie
Blaine Moats

The tasty filling in this apple dessert features a secret ingredient everyone will want to know about: corn flakes! Cereal may seem like an unconventional addition to a pie, but the crunch makes this slab pie really special. Plus, it's full of fall flavor from cinnamon and nutmeg. How could you go wrong?

24 of 40

Dark Chocolate-Orange Walnut Caramel Apples

Dark Chocolate Orange Walnut Caramel Apples
Andy Lyons

These rich caramel apples are the perfect indulgence. Sweet caramel, chopped walnuts, orange peel, and dark chocolate cover fresh apples for a fun and slightly sophisticated apple dessert. To make these ahead, wrap them up tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

25 of 40

Danish Pastry Apple Bars

Danish Pastry Apple Bars
Andy Lyons

Almost like an apple strudel recipe, these Danish pastry apple bars can pull double duty for dessert and breakfast the morning after. One recipe makes a whopping 32 servings of the flaky pastry treat, so there will be plenty to go around.

26 of 40

Maple Brunch Cake with Apples and Cranberries

Maple Brunch Cake with Apples and Cranberries
Andy Lyons

These little slices of heaven are always a good idea at brunch or anytime. This apple cake is baked with a few of our other fall favorites: maple yogurt, apple pie spice, and cranberries.

27 of 40

Apple-Toffee Tartlets

Apple-Toffee Tartlets
Andy Lyons

Filled with a buttery blend of apples, toffee pieces, and brown sugar, these tartlets have all the flavor of classic toffee apples. Sprinkle the itty-bitty treats with powdered sugar using a fine-mesh sieve for a gorgeous finish.

28 of 40

Maple-Glazed Baked Apples

Maple-Glazed Baked Apples
Andy Lyons

Our baked apples dessert is a creative orchard-fresh recipe that's perfect for the season. It's also a winner with just five ingredients: Maple syrup, cider, and butter create the homemade glaze, and cinnamon sticks add warm and cozy flavor to the apples.

29 of 40

Apple Butter Cinnamon-Swirl Bread

Slices of Apple Butter Cinnamon-Swirl Bread on wood board
Brie Passano

Chopped fresh apples and homemade apple butter in the batter ensure this easy quick bread is loaded with fall flavor. Adding buttermilk to the batter results in a tender, moist cake. Use a sweet apple like Honeycrisp or Gala for a dessert-worthy bread.

30 of 40

Apple Toffee Cookies

Batch of apple toffee cookies laying on a red surface
Blaine Moats

It's a good thing this delicious cookie recipe makes 40 because you'll definitely be eating more than one. Toasted pecans or walnuts and toffee bits provide just the right amount of crunch in these apple cookies. Keep these cookies around even longer by freezing them for later.

31 of 40

Apple-Spiked Monkey Bread

Apple-Spiked Monkey Bread
Jenna VanGrowski

Monkey bread rises to a new level of delicious with tasty add-ins such as pecans, apples, and caramel-maple syrup. Form individual servings in a muffin pan or create a stunning loaf in a fluted tube pan. We won't blame you if you want to serve this apple dessert for breakfast.

32 of 40

Sweet and Spicy Apple Crisps

Sweet and Spicy Apple Crisps
Jacob Fox

Warning: These crisps are addicting! Make these three-ingredient crisps to grab as an apple dessert (or snack!) on the go. Sugar provides the sweetness, while ground chipotle chile pepper gives the apples a spicy kick.

33 of 40

Applesauce Donuts

Applesauce Doughnuts
Blaine Moats

Our cinnamon-applesauce donuts are an irresistible fall breakfast. Serve with a side of whipped cream for dipping to make them extra decadent. If you've got a lot of fresh apples on hand, you can easily make your own applesauce from scratch.

34 of 40

Apple and Browned Butter Tart

Apple Browned Butter Tart
Blaine Moats

"Look at how pretty that apple tart is!" That's what everyone's going to say once they get a look at this fresh apple dessert. The browned butter (combined with brown sugar) adds a rich caramel flavor to the apple wedges. It's simply the perfect fall recipe.

35 of 40

Caramel Apple Cookies

Caramel Apple Cookies
Blaine Moats

No sticky hands here. Introducing the new fall mash-up you'll wish you had thought of first: caramel apple cookies. Fold apple and raisins right into the batter, then smear with silky caramel frosting and crunchy walnuts for a truly irresistible apple dessert.

36 of 40

Caramel Apple-Cherry Pie

Caramel Apple-Cherry Pie
Con Poulos

This is for when you can't decide between apple and cherry. Oh, and did we mention there's caramel in this apple dessert? You can thank us later. The filling calls for vanilla bean paste, but you can easily substitute it with vanilla extract.

37 of 40

Apple Whoopie Pies

Apple Whoopie Pies
Blaine Moats

Billowy marshmallow creme gives applesauce-spiced whoopie pies a delightfully sweet filling. We love how portable (and fun to eat!) these apple cookies are.

38 of 40

Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie

Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
Hannah Bigot

This double-crusted apple pie looks fancy, but it's surprisingly easy to DIY! Start with refrigerated piecrusts: Use one as-is for the bottom crust, and dust the other with cinnamon sugar, roll, and slice to form the too-cute mini cinnamon roll topping.

39 of 40

Apple Pie Fries

Apple Pie Fries
Hannah Bigot

Here's proof that fries aren't just for appetizer time or as a savory side. This sweet, fruity version is made for after dinner. Just add a side of icing on the side for dunking.

40 of 40

Maple Bourbon Apple Pie

Maple Bourbon Apple Pie
Jacob Fox

This take on classic apple pie is topped with a sugary lattice crust. We'll walk you through how to make it and the tender bourbon-apple filling. This pie is best served after it has had a chance to cool for about an hour.

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