25 Fall Apple Desserts you need to try — sweet, cozy and delicious! Simple ingredients, big flavor. Real apples, real flavor, real good. Every recipe below comes with its own photo, ingredients and step-by-step instructions. Fall tastes better at home!
Simple Ingredients
Big Flavor
Every Card Photographed
In This Collection
- Apple Cider Whoopie Pies
- Caramel Apple Hand Pies
- Apple Cinnamon Roll Cake
- Apple Cider Donuts
- Sweet Potato & Apple Cobbler
- Air Fryer Baked Apples
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
- French Apple Cake
- Caramel Apple Dump Cake
- Apple Bread Pudding
- Apple Crumble Muffins
- Healthy Apple Chai Bars
- Mini Apple Pie Bites
- Gluten-Free Apple Fritter Bread
- Caramel Apple Layer Cake
- Apple Butter Waffles
- Apple Spice Cupcakes
- Apple Cinnamon Waffles
- Apple Pie
- Apple Crumble Tart
- Air-Fried Apples
- Apple Pie Cookies
- Caramel Apple Popcorn
- Sugar-Free Applesauce
- Apple Snickerdoodles
Apple Cider Whoopie Pies
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup apple cider
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- Cinnamon sugar
How to Make It
Step 1: Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the apple cider and applesauce, then the flour, cinnamon and baking soda until a soft batter forms.
Step 2: Scoop rounded tablespoons onto lined baking sheets. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes until set and springy.
Step 3: Beat the cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar into a fluffy filling. Sandwich pairs of cakes and roll the edges in cinnamon sugar.
Caramel Apple Hand Pies
Ingredients
- 2 refrigerated pie crusts
- 3 apples, diced
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tbsp coarse sugar
How to Make It
Step 1: Toss the diced apples with a spoonful of the caramel and a pinch of cinnamon. Cut the pie crusts into 4-inch circles.
Step 2: Spoon apple filling onto half of each circle, drizzle with caramel, fold over and crimp the edges with a fork. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
Step 3: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 18-20 minutes until deep golden. Cool 10 minutes — the caramel is molten inside.
Apple Cinnamon Roll Cake
Ingredients
- 1 can cinnamon rolls
- 2 apples, sliced
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Cream cheese icing
How to Make It
Step 1: Arrange the cinnamon rolls in a greased 9-inch baking dish. Tuck the apple slices between the rolls and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.
Step 2: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes until the rolls are golden and the apples are tender.
Step 3: Drizzle with the cream cheese icing while warm. Pull-apart cinnamon roll cake with gooey apple pockets.
Apple Cider Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp warm fall spices
- Cinnamon sugar for coating
How to Make It
Step 1: Simmer the apple cider until reduced to 1/2 cup and cool — this concentrates the apple flavor.
Step 2: Whisk the reduced cider with the sugar, eggs and melted butter, then fold in the flour, baking powder and warm spices.
Step 3: Bake in a donut pan at 350°F (175°C) for 12-14 minutes (or fry at 350°F). Toss warm donuts in cinnamon sugar.
Sweet Potato & Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
- 2 sweet potatoes, cubed
- 3 apples, sliced
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cobbler crust or biscuit topping
How to Make It
Step 1: Toss the sweet potato cubes and apple slices with the brown sugar and cinnamon. Spread in a greased 9×13 dish.
Step 2: Top with the cobbler crust or drop biscuit dough over the fruit.
Step 3: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35-40 minutes until the fruit is bubbling and the top is golden. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Air Fryer Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 4 large apples
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tsp cinnamon
How to Make It
Step 1: Core the apples, leaving the bottom intact. Mix the oats, maple syrup, melted butter and cinnamon into a crumbly filling.
Step 2: Pack the filling into each apple and place in the air fryer basket.
Step 3: Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 12-15 minutes until the apples are tender and the filling is toasted.
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
- 1 graham cracker crust (9×13)
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 apples, diced
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
How to Make It
Step 1: Press the graham cracker crust into a 9×13 pan and bake at 325°F (165°C) for 8 minutes.
Step 2: Beat the cream cheese, sugar and eggs until smooth. Pour over the crust, then scatter the diced apples over the top.
Step 3: Bake 30-35 minutes until the center is just set. Cool, drizzle with caramel, and chill 4 hours before cutting into bars.
French Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 3 apples, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 tsp cinnamon
How to Make It
Step 1: Whisk the eggs, sugar and melted butter. Fold in the flour, baking powder and cinnamon into a thick vanilla batter.
Step 2: Fold in the apple slices until every piece is coated. Spread into a greased 9-inch springform.
Step 3: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 40-45 minutes until golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Dust with powdered sugar.
Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 4 apples, sliced
- 1 box spice cake mix
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
How to Make It
Step 1: Spread the apple slices in a greased 9×13 dish. Sprinkle the dry spice cake mix evenly over the top.
Step 2: Drizzle with the caramel sauce, then pour the melted butter over everything — do not stir.
Step 3: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 40-45 minutes until bubbling and golden. Serve warm with ice cream.
Apple Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- 6 cups cubed day-old bread
- 2 apples, diced
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- Caramel sauce
How to Make It
Step 1: Whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Pour over the bread cubes and apples and soak 15 minutes.
Step 2: Stir in the pecans and spread into a greased 9×13 dish.
Step 3: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 40 minutes until puffed and golden. Serve warm with caramel sauce.
Apple Crumble Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups cinnamon muffin batter
- 2 apples, diced
- 1/2 cup butter crumble topping
- Simple glaze
How to Make It
Step 1: Fold the diced apples into the muffin batter. Fill lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
Step 2: Pile the butter crumble on top of each. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 18-20 minutes until golden.
Step 3: Cool 10 minutes, then drizzle with glaze. Bakery-style muffins at home.
Healthy Apple Chai Bars
Ingredients
- 2 apples, diced
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp chai spice blend
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
How to Make It
Step 1: Stir the oats, apples, maple syrup, chai spices and applesauce into a thick dough.
Step 2: Press firmly into a lined 9×9 pan — pack it down so the bars hold together.
Step 3: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into 12 bars.
Mini Apple Pie Bites
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- 2 apples, diced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp butter
How to Make It
Step 1: Sauté the apples with the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon 5 minutes until just tender. Cool slightly.
Step 2: Cut the puff pastry into squares and press into a greased mini muffin tin. Fill each with the apple mixture.
Step 3: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-18 minutes until puffed and golden. All the apple pie flavor in two bites.
Gluten-Free Apple Fritter Bread
Ingredients
- 3 apples, diced
- 2 cups gluten-free flour blend
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Simple glaze
How to Make It
Step 1: Toss the apples with cinnamon and half the sugar. Whisk the flour, remaining sugar, baking powder, eggs, milk and oil into a batter.
Step 2: Layer batter and apples in a greased loaf pan, swirling lightly with a knife.
Step 3: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 50 minutes. Cool, then drizzle with glaze. Nobody will guess it is gluten-free.
Caramel Apple Layer Cake
Ingredients
- 3 baked cake layers
- 2 apples, diced and sautéed
- 1 cup caramel sauce
- Cream cheese frosting
How to Make It
Step 1: Bake three cake layers and cool completely. Sauté the apples with a little butter and cinnamon until tender.
Step 2: Layer: cake, frosting, apples, drizzle of caramel. Repeat, then frost the outside.
Step 3: Finish with a caramel drip down the sides. A showstopper for fall gatherings.
Apple Butter Waffles
Ingredients
- 2 cups waffle mix
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 2 eggs
How to Make It
Step 1: Whisk the waffle mix, apple butter, milk and eggs until just combined.
Step 2: Pour into a hot, greased waffle iron and cook 4-5 minutes until crisp and golden.
Step 3: Top with whipped cream, an extra spoonful of apple butter and cinnamon. Crispy, fluffy and comforting.
Apple Spice Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 2 apples, diced
- 1 tsp fall spices
- Cupcake batter
- Cream cheese frosting
How to Make It
Step 1: Fold the diced apples into the spiced cupcake batter. Fill lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
Step 2: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Step 3: Cool completely, then swirl with cream cheese frosting and a dusting of cinnamon.
Apple Cinnamon Waffles
Ingredients
- 2 cups waffle batter
- 1 apple, diced
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Maple syrup
How to Make It
Step 1: Fold the diced apple and cinnamon into the waffle batter.
Step 2: Cook in a hot, greased waffle iron 4-5 minutes until crisp and golden.
Step 3: Serve with warm maple syrup and extra cinnamon. Crisp edges, tender apple pockets.
Apple Pie
Ingredients
- 2 pie crusts
- 6 apples, sliced
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp butter
How to Make It
Step 1: Toss the apple slices with the brown sugar, cinnamon and flour. Fill the bottom crust, mounding the apples high.
Step 2: Top with the second crust, crimp the edges, and cut vents. Dot with butter.
Step 3: Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 20 minutes, then 375°F (190°C) for 35 minutes until deep golden and bubbling.
Apple Crumble Tart
Ingredients
- 1 baked tart shell
- 4 apples, sliced
- 1/2 cup cinnamon sugar
- 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
- Crumble topping
How to Make It
Step 1: Arrange the apple slices in the tart shell in overlapping circles. Drizzle with the condensed milk.
Step 2: Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, then pile on the crumble topping.
Step 3: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30-35 minutes until the apples are tender and the crumble is golden.
Air-Fried Apples
Ingredients
- 4 apples, sliced
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
How to Make It
Step 1: Toss the apple slices with the melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until every slice is coated.
Step 2: Spread in a single layer in the air fryer basket — work in batches if needed.
Step 3: Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes, shaking once, until caramelized at the edges.
Apple Pie Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 package refrigerated soft cookie dough
- 1 cup apple pie filling
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Simple glaze
How to Make It
Step 1: Bake the cookie dough as directed. While warm, press a small spoonful of apple pie filling into the center of each.
Step 2: Sprinkle with cinnamon and return to the oven 2 minutes to set.
Step 3: Cool, then drizzle with glaze. Apple pie meets cookie in the best way.
Caramel Apple Popcorn
Ingredients
- 10 cups popped popcorn
- 1 cup caramel sauce
- 1 tsp apple flavoring
- 1/2 tsp fall spices
How to Make It
Step 1: Warm the caramel sauce with the apple flavoring and fall spices until pourable.
Step 2: Drizzle over the popcorn in a large bowl, tossing constantly to coat evenly.
Step 3: Spread on a lined baking sheet to cool and crisp. Break into clusters. Addictive movie-night snack.
Sugar-Free Applesauce
Ingredients
- 6 fresh apples, chopped
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup water
- No added sugar
How to Make It
Step 1: Combine the apples, water and cinnamon in a saucepan.
Step 2: Simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are completely soft and falling apart.
Step 3: Mash to your preferred texture — chunky or smooth. Sweet from the apples alone.
Apple Snickerdoodles
Ingredients
- 1 apple, grated
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 tsp cinnamon sugar
- 1 tsp fall spices
How to Make It
Step 1: Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the grated apple (squeeze out excess juice), then the flour and fall spices.
Step 2: Roll tablespoon-sized balls in cinnamon sugar and place on lined baking sheets.
Step 3: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes until the edges are set. Soft, chewy and spiced.
Tips for Apple Desserts
- Mix your apples. Tart Granny Smith plus sweet Honeycrisp gives the best flavor in pies and crisps.
- Keep pie dough cold. Cold butter = flaky layers. Chill the dough and work quickly.
- Don’t skip the acid. A squeeze of lemon juice keeps apples bright and balances the sweetness.
- Bake low and slow for custards. Cheesecake bars and bread pudding set gently without curdling.
- Glaze while warm. Muffins, scones and fritter bread absorb glaze best when still slightly warm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which apples are best for baking?
A mix of tart (Granny Smith) and sweet (Honeycrisp, Fuji) holds its shape and gives the deepest flavor.
How do I keep apples from browning?
Toss cut apples with a squeeze of lemon juice right after slicing — it stops oxidation without changing the taste.
Can I make these desserts ahead?
Yes — bars, breads, pies and cookies all keep well. Most improve overnight as the flavors meld.
Are there gluten-free options?
The Gluten-Free Apple Fritter Bread is fully gluten-free, and most bar recipes adapt well with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Can I reduce the sugar?
Apples are naturally sweet — you can usually cut sugar by a third in crisps, muffins and bars without noticing.