Food and Recipes Desserts 54 Fall Desserts That We're Loving This Season By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 11, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photo: Brian Woodcock Fall dessert recipes are one of our favorite things about the season, right up there with crisp evenings and brilliant foliage. We anxiously await autumn morning trips to the farmers' market, and the pounds of fresh apples, pecans, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins that we haul home. When the leaves start changing this fall season, it's time to cozy up with a soft blanket and one of these soul-warming fall desserts. With seasonal ingredients like spicy cinnamon, rich caramel, and decadent pecans, the fall is hands-down one of the best seasons for baking. From gooey morning coffee cakes to elegant holiday-worthy pies, we've pulled together our favorite fall cakes, pies, breads, milkshakes, puddings, and everything in between to keep your sweet tooth satisfied all season long. Pound cake coated in praline sauce, bread pudding drizzled in caramel, and apple pie baked in a buttery, flaky cornmeal crust – these best fall desserts will not disappoint. 01 of 54 Salted Irish Cream Apple Crostata Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Salted Irish Cream Apple Crostata Irish cream liqueur makes this apple dessert sinfully delicious. 02 of 54 Parsnip-Buttermilk Tart Peter Frank Edwards; Prop Styling: Kendra Surface; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Parsnip-Buttermilk Tart This creamy confection has a surprising fall ingredient: parsnips! 03 of 54 Concha Tres Leches Cake Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Concha Tres Leches Cake Easy to prepare and even easier to love, this recipe adds a bit of texture and color to the traditional dessert. 04 of 54 Apple Butter Pound Cake with Caramel Frosting Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Apple Butter Pound Cake with Caramel Frosting We combined apples and pound cake, our two favorite fall foods, to create one delectable dessert. 05 of 54 Apple Butter Cobbler with Drop Biscuits Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Apple Butter Cobbler with Drop Biscuits Canned biscuits, lattice crust, and streusel topping make this apple dessert truly show-stopping. 06 of 54 Old-Fashioned Apple Pie Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Old-Fashioned Apple Pie A classic apple pie with a delicious double crust for double the fun. 07 of 54 Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies Excite the butter-pecan lovers in your life with this slice-and-bake cookie recipe. 08 of 54 Persimmon Pudding Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Persimmon Pudding Use fresh persimmons while they are still in season to create this richly spiced dessert. 09 of 54 Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs Recipe: Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies Not sure what fall dessert to make at your next harvest party? You can't go wrong with an apple-centric choice. 10 of 54 Coconut-Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Hector M. Sanchez Recipe: Coconut-Pumpkin Chiffon Pie This doctored-up version of a classic pumpkin pie is light, airy, with whispers of spicy fall flavors like coconut and ginger. Says one reviewer, "If this wasn't on our Thanksgiving table, there would be mutiny." 11 of 54 Pumpkin Tart with Whipped Cream and Almond Toffee Jennifer Davick Recipe: Pumpkin Tart with Whipped Cream and Almond Toffee Pumpkin spice latte lovers rejoice: this pumpkin tart captures all the best flavors of one of our favorite fall drinks. 12 of 54 Easy Apple Dumplings Sheri Castle Recipe: Easy Apple Dumplings These dumplings are bursting with nutty spices and tart apples. 13 of 54 Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie Jennifer Davick Recipe: Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie Every Southern chef should master a staple pecan pie for the fall. This cast-iron skillet version is easy and oh-so-decadent. 14 of 54 Eggnog Spice Cake with Bourbon Custard Filling and Eggnog Buttercream Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Eggnog Spice Cake with Bourbon Custard Filling and Eggnog Buttercream This four-layer cake is the perfect dessert to serve at an elegant fall party; the flavorful bourbon custard filling will keep your guests coming back for a second slice. 15 of 54 Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley Recipe: Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls Fudgy pecan bourbon balls are the bite-sized treats everyone loves. Consider a sweet batch for a thoughtful hostess gift. 16 of 54 Sea Salt-Caramel Cake Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sea Salt-Caramel Cake For a timeless dessert choice, go with sea salt-caramel cake. The nostalgic flavor will remind you of childhood. 17 of 54 Arkansas Black Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Arkansas Black Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce Let's be sure Arkansas doesn't have all the fun; this distinctive pie should be enjoyed across the South. Pair it with vanilla ice cream for the ultimate treat. 18 of 54 Cushaw Pie with Vanilla Bean Custard Sauce Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cushaw Pie with Vanilla Bean Custard Sauce If you can't find a cushaw, a squash grown in the Louisiana area, try using pumpkin puree as a substitution for the filling. 19 of 54 Mini Pecan Monkey Bread Loaves Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Mini Pecan Monkey Bread Loaves Individual portions of pecan monkey bread? Yes, please! This caramel-drizzled dessert is a fall favorite. 20 of 54 Classic Apple Cobbler Stephen DeVries; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Classic Apple Cobbler Quintessentially Southern and oh-so comforting, classic apple cobbler is a staple homemade dessert. 21 of 54 Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie Pecans and cheesecake make the ultimate combination. The creamy sweetness of the cheesecake beautifully complements the nuttiness of the pecans, resulting in an irresistible confection. 22 of 54 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 This pumpkin-filled work of art is sure impress all of your holiday party guests. It's the definition of a decadent dessert. 23 of 54 Georgia Peanut Pie with Peanut Butter Crust and Brown Sugar-Bourbon Whipped Cream Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Georgia Peanut Pie with Peanut Butter Crust and Brown Sugar-Bourbon Whipped Cream Peanut lovers, rejoice! This tasty pie is completed with an impressive brown sugar-bourbon whipped cream. 24 of 54 Butter Pecan Layer Cake with Browned Butter Frosting Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Butter Pecan Layer Cake with Browned Butter Frosting Nothing says "it's fall, y'all" like the butter pecan flavor combination; this dreamy three-layer cake deserves a prime spot on your dessert table. 25 of 54 Over the Moon Chocolate Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Over the Moon Chocolate Pie This pie is sure to send you over the moon. Complete with graham cracker crust and a wispy marshmallow meringue topping, what's not to love? 26 of 54 Persimmon Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Persimmon Pie with Pecan Streusel If you're hoping to change it up this season, give persimmon pie a try. It's a unique choice for a fall sweet. 27 of 54 Transparent Pie with Whipped Creme Fraiche and Sugared Cranberries Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Transparent Pie with Whipped Crème Fraîche and Sugared Cranberries Sugared cranberries are the shining start of this custard-like, buttermilk pie. It's adorned with a whipped crème topping that's sure to impress even the pickiest dessert connoisseurs. 28 of 54 Putt's Butter Pecan Sundae Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Putt's Butter Pecan Sundae This no-bake fall recipe is the perfect choice when you're short on time. 29 of 54 Skillet Caramel Apple Pie Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Skillet Caramel Apple Pie Southerners love any dessert made in the cast-iron skillet, and this delightful apple pie is no exception. The bourbon-infused caramel sauce gives it the perfect finish. 30 of 54 Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies Linda Pugliese Recipe: Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies Tired of chocolate? Give these brown butter-maple-pecan blondies a try this season. 31 of 54 Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies This nostalgic, childhood favorite gets a tasty upgrade. Packed with a salty-sweet caramel filling, these cream pies are worthy of the highest praise. 32 of 54 Apple Stack Cake Photo: Victor Protasi; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Apple Stack Cake Don't be deterred by the recipe time, this delicious dessert is well worth the effort. 33 of 54 Blackberry Jam Cake Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Blackberry Jam Cake If you're searching for a bold fall dessert, look no further. This mouthwatering confection perfectly combines caramel cream cheese frosting and blackberry jam filling. 34 of 54 Sock It To Me Cake Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey Recipe: Sock It To Me Cake Slice into this cake to reveal a ribbon of brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. 35 of 54 Lemon-and-Chocolate Doberge Cake Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Lemon-and-Chocolate Doberge Cake The lemon-and-chocolate doberge cake is a multi-flavored treat that's sure to send your tastebuds soaring. 36 of 54 Butterscotch-Spice Trifle Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Butterscotch-Spice Trifle Butterscotch is a quintessentially fall ingredient, and this time it's in a trifle to create a masterpiece confection. 37 of 54 Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling Recipe: Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting Seasonal ingredients make this pumpkin layer cake truly remarkable. 38 of 54 Pumpkin Pie Cake Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cake Pie filling and cake batter meld to become one irresistible fall delight. 39 of 54 Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Southern Living Recipe: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies A perfect fall twist for the family-favorite whoopie pies. 40 of 54 Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Cider Glaze Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Cider Glaze Serve these cinnamon rolls for brunch or dessert — or both! 41 of 54 Caramel Apple Cookies Photographer: Alison Miksch Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Recipe: Caramel Apple Cookies These caramel apple cookies are easy to transport and will feed a crowd. 42 of 54 Praline Cake Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Praline Cake This basic cake never disappoints thanks to its wonderful fall flavor. 43 of 54 Apple-and-Pear Cornmeal Galette Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Apple-and-Pear Cornmeal Galette This galette is classic apple pie's cousin, and it most certainly deserves a spot on the dessert table this year. 44 of 54 Honey Bun Cake Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck Recipe: Honey Bun Cake This cinnamon-spiced Bundt cake is complete with a powdered sugar-vanilla glaze. 45 of 54 Ginger-Fig Tart with Cornmeal Crust Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Ginger-Fig Tart with Cornmeal Crust Silky smooth filling meets spicy notes from ginger and fresh moments from fall fruit. 46 of 54 Butterscotch Pie with Whiskey Caramel Sauce Greg DuPree Recipe: Butterscotch Pie with Whiskey Caramel Sauce Top this silky pie with a spirited caramel sauce. 47 of 54 Salted Caramel Cheesecake Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Salted Caramel Cheesecake The caramel cookie crust on this dreamy cheesecake puts it over the top. 48 of 54 Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake Luca Trovato Recipe: Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake Full of sweet cream cheese filling, coated in decadent homemade praline frosting, and topped with toasted pecans, this bundt cake is beyond perfection. 49 of 54 Creole Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce Jennifer Davick Recipe: Creole Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce This splurge-worthy bread pudding is sweetened with ripe apples, crushed pineapple, and 5 – yes, 5 – tablespoons of vanilla extract for one of the richest fall desserts you've ever tasted. 50 of 54 Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies Greg DuPree Recipe: Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies Baked with chocolate chips, pumpkin filling, and a hint of espresso, these dangerously delicious brownies are a chocolate lover's fall dream. 51 of 54 Caramel-Pecan Pumpkin Bread Puddings Jim Franco Recipe: Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings All the best flavors of pumpkin and pecan pies come together in this easy, delicious bread pudding. 52 of 54 Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes Brian Woodcock Recipe: Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes If fall was a flavor, it would taste like Apple Cider. These moist mini apple cider pound cakes perfectly capture the season, and can be doctored up with three different sweet toppings. 53 of 54 Caramel-Glazed Monkey Bread Iain Bagwell Recipe: Caramel-Glazed Monkey Bread We've officially declared this the best pull-apart bread on earth. The dough is soft and cakey, and forms a scrumptious sugary crust. Top with a sweet Caramel Glaze for a Southern fall recipe you'll make every year. 54 of 54 Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake Photo: Brian Woodcock Recipe: Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake Chocolate cake is given a hot and spicy fall upgrade from cinnamon, red pepper, chipotle chile pepper, and sliced almonds. Serve with vanilla ice cream for a gooey and rich chocolate treat. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit