Our Favorite Fall Desserts

Fall may be the most magical time for desserts. As the crisp air settles in and the leaves turn shades of red and gold, desserts become a way to celebrate the season's comforting abundance. There’s fresh sweet-tart apples for pies, crisps, and tarts. Pears for poaching. And, of course, pumpkins for cheesecakes, truffles, pastries, and bread. Cranberries lend their tangy brightness to cranberry pumpkin butter bread, and autumn plums are not to be missed! And who can resist the aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom filling your kitchen and warming your heart?

Our fall dessert lineup brings an extra layer of happiness to the table, where every bite feels like a cozy hug.

Pear Crumble Pie

Incomparable Royal Riviera Pears star in this stunning cross between a classic pie and spiced fruit crumble that has it all: flaky crust, juicy filling, and warming spices. It's a winning make-ahead dessert for a gathering. As soon as it comes out of the oven, allow it to cool for a minimum of three hours to allow the fruit filling to thicken and set. Serve with dollops of whipped cream.

Plum Galette

Take advantage of plums' long season — they’re available until October — and enjoy them in this free-form French tart called a galette. Once you roll out the pastry, toss the sliced plums in 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and one juiced lemon. Place the plums over the tart, leaving a 2-inch border at the edges. Serve warm with ice cream.

Deep-Dish Pumpkin Pie

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Pumpkin Affogato

An affogato — from the verb affogare, meaning "to drown" in Italian — is a drinkable dessert comprising a scoop of vanilla gelato topped with hot espresso. Delight in this fall version by drowning pumpkin ice cream in caramel pecan coffee.

Cranberry Pumpkin Butter Bread

Swirls of pumpkin butter and cranberries, for sweet-tart satisfaction in each moist and tender bite, will hypnotize you into going back again and again. Enjoy it plain or with a powdered sugar glaze and scoop of pumpkin or vanilla ice cream.

Cinnamon Apple Cake

Star anise and ginger — two warm spices that have been cultivated for thousands of years in China and India — lend subtle sweetness, zesty spice, and licorice flavor to this tender apple spice cake with a buttery cinnamon topping. Enjoy it over cups of coffee after dinner with friends, or as a breakfast treat.

Individual Pumpkin Butter Cheesecakes

Harry & David pumpkin butter adds rich flavor to these individual no-bake cheesecakes loaded with ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice, and set in a classic graham cracker crust. For easy release, use a silicone muffin mold. Set the mold in the freezer for 10 minutes after chilling, and the cheesecakes will pop right out.

Spice Cake with Poached Pears

Try this recipe for an easy-to-make spice cake that gets its moist, rich flavor from molasses. While baking, it will send the irresistible aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom wafting through the house. A whole poached pear sits in the center of the cake — use slightly firm, unbruised pears and peel in long strokes with a vegetable peeler to keep the shape of the pear — making it a showstopper for all upcoming festive gatherings. A sweet maple glaze is the finishing touch.

Moose Munch Caramel Bark

This crunchy, chocolatey, chewy Moose Munch caramel bark begins with the classic combo of caramel corn and chocolate and then ramps up the decadence with drizzles of homemade caramel and roasted peanuts. It makes a great treat for game day or Halloween — or for those cool fall nights on the couch when your sweet tooth calls.