19 Savory and Sweet Fall Baking Recipes for Either Kind of Craving

Pear Tarts with Caramelized Pastry Cream
Photo: Blaine Moats

Baked goods just taste more warm and cozy when the temperature starts to drop, which makes fall baking one of the most comforting culinary pursuits. Whether you're whipping up some savory baked goods or a few sweet treats, baking spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger add depth of flavor that's even more enjoyable in the fall. We've rounded up our favorite fall baking recipes to get you started.

01 of 19

Easy Apple-Cranberry Slab Pie

Easy Apple-Cranberry Slab Pie
Scott Little

Slab pie is much like regular pie, only bigger and better, which makes it one of the best fall baking recipes. Two sheets of frozen puff pastry form the perfect crust-to-filling ratio, while sweet cooking apples and tart cranberries fill the pie with a fruity layer of goodness. Finish the fall treat with a drizzle of homemade icing.

02 of 19

Orange-Almond Cake with Cranberry Curd

Orange-Almond Cake with Cranberry Curd
Carson Downing

Fall baking recipes should make us feel warm and cozy inside, just like this one does. The cranberry and orange flavors make this a great fall or winter cake and the extra almond flavor makes sure it's not too sweet.

03 of 19

Pear Tarts with Caramelized Pastry Cream

Pear Tarts with Caramelized Pastry Cream
Blaine Moats

Tender spiced pastry crust meets creamy pudding and fresh pears drizzled with a buttery sauce for a fall baking idea you might not have thought of before. The real showstopper in this dish is the homemade caramelized pastry cream. One taste and you'll be swooning.

04 of 19

Five-Spice Pear Pie Bars

Five-Spice Pear Pie Bars
Kritsada Panichgul

Though five-spice powder is most often used in savory baking projects, here the zippy spice blend adds complex flavor to one of our favorite fall baking recipes. It pairs perfectly with pears and gives depth of flavor to these easy bars.

05 of 19

Apple Pumpkin Sunflower Bread

Apple Pumpkin Sunflower Bread
Waterbury Publications

Sure you've made plenty of fall quick breads, but have you tried the combination of pumpkin, apples, and sunflower seeds? If not, now's your chance to try one of the best fall baking recipes. This bread recipe celebrates the best of fall baking flavors.

06 of 19

Nutty Honey Mini Rolls

Nutty Honey Mini Rolls
Andy Lyons

Refrigerated crescent rolls get a cozy (and quick) makeover, thanks to a cinnamon-almond filling and sweet honey icing in this fall baking recipe. The muffin tin minis can also be stuffed with your favorite fall fruit and are ready in just 35 minutes!

07 of 19

Rustic Blood Orange Tart with Salted Pecan Crust

Rustic Blood Orange Tart with Salted Pecan Crust
Andy Lyons

Why choose between sweet and savory when you can have both wrapped into one dazzling display of seasonal fruit? Savory baked goods are their own type of delicious, and this gorgeous tart proves that not all fall baking needs to be extra sweet. This tart features a homemade salted pecan crust that plays off the sweet-tart flavor of blood oranges and sweetened whipped cream.

08 of 19

Lemon Olive Oil Cake

Lemon Olive Oil Cake
Karla Conrad

Some of the best fall baking recipes are savory baked goods, and this lightly sweet, pleasantly savory cake is no different. This crumbly cast-iron cake gets its delicate fruity flavor from extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice. Top the elegant but easy dessert with oranges, plums, or any other seasonal fruit.

09 of 19

Caramelized Onion and Apple Tart

Caramelized Onion And Apple Tart
Andy Lyons

Marry the sweet crunch of caramelized onions with salty ham and tart apples in this fabulous fall flatbread. The savory topping turns pizza crust into an easy dinner or appetizer.

10 of 19

Gluten-Free Pumpkin-Walnut Streusel Muffins

Gluten Free Pumpkin-Walnut Streusel Muffins
Jason Donnelly

Looking for a gluten-free fall baking recipe? Look no further—you'd never guess these pumpkin-packed muffins are gluten-free. Brown rice flour and flaxseed meal make the tasty treats extra filling, while a brown sugar-walnut streusel and cream cheese icing are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth.

11 of 19

Sweet Potato Waffles

overhead view of sweet potato waffles with syrup, cream, and pecans
Jacob Fox

Looking for some fall baking ideas to enjoy for breakfast? Go beyond the syrup and butter with this delicious sweet potato waffle recipe. Top your sweet potato waffles with peanut butter and jam, ricotta and fresh berries, or pears with honey and pistachios.

12 of 19

Curried Squash Muffins

Curried Squash Muffins
Scott Little

Muffins spiced with cinnamon, ginger, cayenne pepper, and curry powder get a boost of fall flavor from mashed butternut squash. The harvest vegetable helps keep the savory baking recipe light and nutritious.

13 of 19

Marbelous Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Glaze

Marbleous Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Glaze
Andy Lyons

Cinnamon is ripe for fall baked goods, and this cinnamon-spiced marble cake is one of our best fall baking recipes. A salty, sticky caramel glaze tops the marble cake while swirls of dark chocolate and peanut butter combine for an irresistibly moist treat the entire family will love.

14 of 19

Pumpkin Gingerbread with Seedy Streusel

Pumpkin Gingerbread with Seedy Streusel
Carson Downing

Three kinds of ginger fill this pumpkin cake with bold, spicy flavor. Top the cake with a spiced streusel made with sesame seeds, ginger, pepitas, and cinnamon. Add warm flavors to the batter with grated nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom.

15 of 19

Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie
Andy Lyons

For a lightly spiced, lemon-twist version of an autumn classic, try one of our best fall baking ideas: this irresistible sweet potato pie recipe. Use any leftover pie scraps to create the easy checkerboard squares that line the harvest dessert.

16 of 19

Figgy Brie Rolls

Figgy Brie Rolls
Peter Krumhardt

Savory baked goods are perfect for fall because they're warm, comforting, and hearty. Wheat bread rolls filled with dried figs, fresh sage, honey, and Brie cheese showcase these qualities, and that's what makes this one of our favorite fall baking recipes. Sea salt and sage leaves complete the bite-size delights.

17 of 19

Sweet Potato Cupcakes

Sweet Potato Cupcakes
Andy Lyons

A luscious cream cheese frosting tops these cinnamon-spiced cupcakes flavored with fall's favorite root vegetable. Shredded orange peel makes a gorgeous garnish for this and so many other fall baking projects.

18 of 19

Sweet Potato Spice Loaf

Sweet Potato Spice Loaf
Andy Lyons

Sweet potato keeps this cinnamon and nutmeg-spiced fall baking recipe extra moist. Clementine peel curls soaked in honey make a tasty and festive topper.

19 of 19

Peppered Pear Scones with Pear Conserve

Brandy-Soaked Currant, Thyme, and Parmesan Scones

A buttery mixture of fresh pear, cinnamon, and toasted pecans makes these savory peppered scones some of our favorite savory baked goods. Freeze the pastries for up to 3 months to prolong the flavors of fall.

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