These fall desserts are the autumn baking recipes—tarts and crumbles and cakes, oh my!—that we boast about the most.

A piece of apple crumble topped with vanilla ice cream in a white bowl.
John Kernick
1 of 10

Apple Crumble

This apple crumble is made with apples tossed in sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger and covered with an oat and brown sugar top. An easy fall dessert.
Recipe
A square white baking dish filled with maple walnut squares that have been cut into 9 pieces with one missing and a knife resting in its place.
Todd Coleman
2 of 10

Maple Walnut Squares

Call these maple walnut squares whatever your heart desires. Bars. Blondies. Brownies. Bar cookies. Whatever the name, they offer superlatively sweet and gooey maple awesomeness atop a sweet shortbread crust.
Recipe
Seven rosemary apple hand tarts on a sheet of parchment.
Guy Ambrosino
3 of 10

Rosemary Apple Hand Tarts

These rosemary apple hand tarts make individual apple pies that are simple, subtly flavored, and sophisticated. Even better, you don’t have to share yours. Not with anyone.
Recipe
A whole apple cake, covered in cream cheese frosting and cut into 12 squares on a sheet of wax paper with a knife on the side.
John Lee
4 of 10

Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Win over your colleagues at coffee break with this scrumptious, spiced apple cake that is smothered in cream cheese frosting.
Recipe
A cut root beer cake on a pewter platter with a slice on a decorative plate in front.
Quentin Bacon
5 of 10

Root Beer Cake

Root beer cake is like a regular spice cake but so much better. Root beer, ginger, star anise, cardamom, and actual sassafras lend it intrigue and warmth. If you’ve never had it before, it’s time.
Recipe
A whole peeled pear in an opened piece of parchment with star anise and cardamom in a blue baking dish.
Jonathan Buckley
6 of 10

Pear Parcels with Star Anise

These pear parcels with star anise are made by roasting whole pears in parchment paper along with star anise, cloves, cardamom, and a honey and port wine sauce. A remarkably easy and elegant autumn dessert.
Recipe
A round tart filled with cooked sliced apples in a concentric pattern.
Peter Cassidy
7 of 10

Apple Tart

This super easy apple tart recipe is as simple as it is stunning. It's allows the natural flavor of the apple to shine without any competing flavors.
Recipe
A rectangular tart with wedges of pear baked into it in a rectangular tart pan.
Peter Cassidy
8 of 10

Pear Almond Tart

This pear and almond tart, made with pears, ground almonds, and a sweet pastry dough, is a classic French dessert. Easy yet elegant. A terrific fall dessert recipe.
Recipe
A maple parsnip cake with mascarpone frosting between the layers on a grey plate.
Laura Edwards
9 of 10

Maple Parsnip Cake

A little more rustic version of the everyday carrot cake, made with parsnips, apples, hazelnuts, and a lush maple mascarpone icing.
Recipe
A pear tart with blue cheese and honey finished with sliced almonds.
Petrina Tinslay
10 of 10

Pear Tart with Blue Cheese and Honey

This pear tart with blue cheese and honey is made with thinly sliced pears layered on puff pastry and embellished with crumbled blue cheese and a drizzle of honey. A magnificent appetizer, cheese course, or even a vegetarian main dish.
Recipe



About David Leite

David Leite has received three James Beard Awards for his writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


Hungry For More?

Our 8 Best Skewer Recipes

Let’s not mince words here—food on sticks is awesome. We all know it, so grab some skewers and start lining up stuff to grill, roast, toast, and otherwise enjoy.

3 hrs 30 mins

6 Grilled Chicken Thigh Recipes

When you fire up the grill this summer, put these chicken thigh recipes at the top of your must-make list. You’ll be glad that you did.

1 hr 15 mins


Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *