Incredible Pumpkin Dessert Ideas for Fall

By Southern Living
Photo: Southern Living

There’s nothing a little pumpkin spice can’t cure on a crisp, chilly autumn day. Fall’s go-to gourd makes for a delicate yet satisfying ingredient to enhance desserts. Not to mention, it helps keep cakes and baked goods fresh and moist. So when those seasonal cravings kick in, it’s time to embrace all things cozy, comforting, and deliberately sweet and spicy. That’s where you should welcome the addition of pumpkin to just about every dish gracing your holiday table during sweater weather. In this tasty collection, we’ve included crowd-pleasing pies, but we also drifted outside the pie pan and latté land to incorporate spiced layers, crumbly crisps, and pumpkin-filled bars to whet your guests’ appetites. Here are a few smashing pumpkin recipes you’ll have no problem preparing or saying yes to this fall. Each far more delicious than the last.

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Pumpkin-Espresso Tiramisù

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Pumpkin-Espresso Tiramisù

Layered to pumpkin perfection with a creamy tiramisù filling. Finish off the cake with a sprinkle of nutmeg and then press ladyfingers onto the sides. 

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Pear-and-Pumpkin Tart

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Pear-and-Pumpkin Tart

Savor all the flavors of autumn in this crisp, rustic tart. Pumpkin comes together with ripe pears for a simple yet stunning dessert. 

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Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Trade your creamy pumpkin pies for a cake with crunch; this one is quick to make and is always a showstopper on a fall dessert spread.

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Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies

Pumpkin swirled into chocolaty, chewy brownies? Yes, please! 

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Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever

Easy as pie. Pun intended. 

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Pumpkin Spice Battenberg

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Battenberg

A seasonal take on a traditional cake, this pretty battenberg is certainly a show-stopper.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue

Photo: Jody Horton

Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue

A sure-fire showstopper, with its airy meringue topping, toasted pecan crust, and traditional pumpkin filling. This one's worth trading in summer strawberry cheesecake for. 

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Back in the Day Bakery Southern Pumpkin Pie

Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Southern Pumpkin Pie by Back in the Day Bakery

This classic pumpkin pie recipe comes from Cheryl Day and her Back in the Day Bakery. It's a crowd pleaser that's perfect for a fall afternoon (and impressive enough for your Thanksgiving dessert spread!).

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Pumpkin Cheesecake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake

The best way to describe this dessert is that it combines all the classic cheesecake flavor you love with pumpkin puree, plus the chocolate and cinnamon graham cracker crust is to die for. 

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Mini Pumpkin Cakes

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Mini Pumpkin Cakes

You know what they say, the most delicious things come in the smallest packages, including these pumpkin-shaped cakes. It'll be hard to choose between the caramel-rum glaze or vanilla. But since these are individually-portioned, we're guessing you won't have to. 

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Coconut-Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Photo: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Coconut-Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Pumpkin pie turned up with fluffy chiffon and toasted coconut.

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Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Our best-ever pumpkin spice muffin recipe is a perfect dessert-for-breakfast option, and it's easy to make ahead for breezy mornings and grab-and-go snacktimes.

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Pumpkin Tart with Whipped Cream and Almond Toffee

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pumpkin Tart with Whipped Cream and Almond Toffee

An easier and more elegant way to serve pumpkin pie during autumn. The molasses and toffee flavor really elevate this dessert. 

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Pumpkin Roll

Photo: Southern Living

Recipe: Pumpkin Roll

Roll it, pat it, and mark it with a "P." You'll fall in love with this impressive pinwheel. 

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Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt

The perfect centerpiece for your holiday party this season. This gorgeous Bundt cake blends our favorite autumnal flavors of cranberry, apple, and pumpkin together, with a crunchy pecan and maple glaze drizzled on top. 

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Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie

This pie gets its name from the delicious melted chocolate layered on the bottom. 

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Pumpkin Pie Spectacular

Photo: Southern Living

Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Spectacular

We're not overselling this pie by labeling it "spectacular." Trust us, each decadent slice is really all that and more.  

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Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Your autumn cookie-baking plans just got a seasonal upgrade from this recipe, the results of which pair perfectly with a hot cup of coffee or tea.

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Marbled Pumpkin Praline Cake

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Marbled Pumpkin Praline Cake

A pecan-praline filling, whipped topping, and pumpkin-filled batter are the finishing touches for this glorious spiced pumpkin cake. Swoon. 

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is the simplest version of one of our favorite fall flavor pairings: pumpkin and chocolate chips. These two team up to make a cookie so delicious it'll disappear quickly from the cookie jar.

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Pumpkin Crisp

Photo: Southern Living

Recipe: Pumpkin Crisp

When you're tired of pumpkin pie, whip up this easy, buttery rich dessert. 

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Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

The flavor of your favorite seasonal latte gets baked to perfection in this cupcake recipe, which is easy to make in big batches for fall parties.

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Pumpkin-Pecan Streusel Pie

Photo: Helen Norman

Recipe: Pumpkin-Pecan Streusel Pie

The only pie you'll need on your dessert table. This pecan streusel delicacy is like a cross between pumpkin pie and coffee cake. 

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Pumpkin Fudge

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Pumpkin Fudge

Smooth, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth squares that are perfect for a late-night treat. 

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Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake

The added layer of nutty pecan flavor in this pumpkin cheesecake will have you reaching for another slice, or maybe even two. 

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Pumpkin-Lemon Cream Cheese Chess Pie

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Pumpkin-Lemon Cream Cheese Chess Pie

Finally, a dessert you can really be thankful for when the holidays roll around. 

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Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Cookies

Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Cookies 

This recipe uses what you already have on hand, namely a tin of canned pumpkin and a bag of chocolate chips. The cookies are delicious after dinner or, really, anytime.

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Pumpkin Dump Cake

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pumpkin Dump Cake

A mix of warming spices combine to create an irresistable (and easy!) cake that's perfect for all your fall entertaining.

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Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake

Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake

Try this recipe, and you'll see what makes it magic. Hint: It involves flan and cake with plenty of pumpkin spice delight.

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Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting

Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling

Recipe: Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting

This classic layer cake recipe gets a pumpkin twist with the addition of seasonal ingredients and a sweet, sweet frosting.

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Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans

Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans

Everyone loves a bundt cake, and this one comes with a lovely, craveable brown sugar icing and plenty of crunch thanks to candied pecans.

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Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings

Jim Franco

Recipe: Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings

If you're hosting holiday parties this fall, they need to end with spoonfuls of this delicious pumpkin-filled bread pudding. This recipe's a keeper.

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Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread

Alison Miksch; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Recipe: Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread

Combine the winning trio of pumpkin, honey, and beer, and you've got a stunner of a seasonal bread. It's just indulgent enough for dessert, and it's the perfect base for a bread pudding.

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Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce

Once you've made a loaf of Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread for the bread pudding, follow it up with a delicious dessert, namely, this holiday-ready bread pudding with an indulgent sauce.

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Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake

Photo: Southern Living

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake

What do you get when you mix a classic Heath bar with pumpkin spice? A whole lotta nice, that's what. This sheet cake is ooey-gooey and oh-so-good!

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