Fall baking hits different when apples are involved, am I right? I pulled together 24 of my favorite Thanksgiving apple desserts that bring all the cozy, spiced, caramel drenched goodness you could ever want. Think warm pie vibes, buttery crumbly toppings, and plenty of sweet cinnamon magic to end your feast on a high note.
1. Apple Dumplings with Browned-Butter Salted Caramel Sauce
These little apple dumplings are basically a love letter on a plate. I stuff them with cinnamon sugar and wrap them in pastry, then bake everything until the apples turn luscious and caramelized with a touch of nutty warmth from the brown butter. It is pure heaven, plain and simple. Pair them with caramel ice cream and you can thank me later.
2. French Apple Rose Tart with Frangipane
If you loved the idea of apple roses but wanted something a little more grand, this tart is for you. It is bigger, sweeter, and honestly maybe even yummier. The whole thing starts with a sugar cookie crust, and the frangipane filling adds this nutty, sweet, custard like layer that is just wonderful.
3. Apple Pie Ice Cream
Who needs actual pie when you can skip straight to the à la mode part? This incredible recipe features cinnamon ice cream, soft apple chunks, and crunchy graham crackers all swirled together. It is so flavorful and the texture is just tantalizing. A little caramel sauce drizzled on top and you are done.
4. Apple Tarte Tatin
This topsy turvy tart might just be the original upside down cake inspiration. Apples get caramelized in butter and sugar, then topped with flaky pastry, and it makes the most wonderful treat after a big holiday meal. Since it bakes upside down, you do not even get to see the magic until you flip it over at the end.
5. Apple Cobbler
If apple crisp owns the midwestern table, apple cobbler definitely rules down south. This iconic dish just screams fall in the best way. Saucy cinnamon apples get topped with a buttery biscuit layer and baked until everything is warm and cozy.
6. Glazed Puff Pastry Apple Roses
I know Thanksgiving gets busy, but you have to stop and smell the apple roses. Yes, actual apple roses! These little beauties are sweet, light, and super tasty. They might be the most stunning holiday dessert you ever make, and lucky for us, they are crazy easy to pull off.
7. Apple Bread Pudding
Bread pudding is rustic, simple, and easily one of my all time favorite desserts. Soft, chewy, moist, and sweet without being overpowering, it is a carb lover's absolute dream. Plus it comes together so easily because you basically just dump everything and bake.
8. French Caramel Apple Cake
Ooh la la! This French inspired apple cake will send your tastebuds straight to dessert heaven. It features silky caramel, soft cinnamon apples, and sweet vanilla cake all layered together. Each part is lovely on its own, but together? Totally irresistible.
9. Apple Pomegranate Cobbler
Apple cobbler is one of those easy, classic Thanksgiving treats I will always adore. But this version takes it up a notch with extra color and extra flavor while keeping all the best parts you expect. I am talking saucy fruit, tender apple chunks, and that fluffy biscuit topping I dream about. Instead of leaning only on cinnamon, this one brings pomegranate into the mix too.
10. Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Careful with these cheesecake bars because they are sinfully delicious and ridiculously addictive. The crust is flaky, sweet, and unbelievably tender. Then comes the cheesecake filling that is so smooth it honestly reminds me of velvet. It is luscious, sweet, and completely to die for.
11. Maple Apple Upside-Down Cake
Speaking of upside down cakes, let me introduce you to this beauty! Everything about this vegan apple cake is completely tantalizing, from the tender crumb to that dreamy maple caramel on top. I also love that serving it is a breeze because it needs zero fancy decorating.
12. Sharlotka (Russian Apple Cake)
This easy dessert is so appley and delicious that stopping after one slice feels impossible. At least, I personally struggle to control myself around sharlotka. This Russian treat comes out incredibly light and airy. Trust me when I say you will want to make extra because it disappears fast. Lucky for you, it only takes six simple ingredients, and you probably already have every single one in your kitchen!
13. Easy Apple Pandowdy
I consider myself a pretty experienced baker, but I only just learned about pandowdy recently. This old fashioned fruit dessert feels a lot like a cobbler or crisp. It has a saucy fruit base and gets topped with pastry dough, usually shortcrust.
14. Apple Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
This apple and cream cheese cake is scrum diddly umptious, and that is nothing bundt the truth! Sorry not sorry for that one. Between the moist apple cake, the cheesecake center, and that luxurious cream cheese frosting, I am drooling just thinking about it.
15. Apple Cake
This gorgeous cake is absolutely loaded with fresh apples and fragrant spices. It comes out wonderfully moist, almost dense in the most incredible way, and every single bite is mouthwatering. Pour that homemade caramel sauce over the top and your life might just be changed forever. Do not be surprised when this becomes a holiday tradition in your house.
16. Rustic Skillet Apple Pie
Apple pie without all the fuss? Yes, please! I love a classic apple pie as much as the next person, but making one completely from scratch can feel like a whole project. That lattice crust alone is enough to make me sweat. This skillet version keeps everything you love and skips all the stress.
17. Spiced Apple Upside-Down Cake with Bourbon Caramel Glaze
This is not your average spiced apple cake, my friend. The bourbon caramel takes it to a whole grown up level of delicious. Every single bite is rich, moist, and seriously decadent.
18. Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
Oh my goodness, let me just tell you about these apple pie bars. They are dangerously delicious and stacked with layers of apple, butter, cinnamon, and caramel goodness. Honestly, they are so addictive I could eat the whole pan. It all starts with that homemade shortbread crust that is buttery and flaky in the best way. Then you get fresh apples tossed in flour and warm spices sitting right on top.
19. Apple Bourbon Pot Pie
If the filling is your favorite part of apple pie, you are going to flip for this fun dessert. It is apple pie with a playful twist! Like a savory pot pie, this version is mostly filling, all topped with a super buttery pastry crust. Instead of chicken and veggies, though, you get cinnamon apples with bourbon and apple cider. It is delicious!
20. Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies
Skip the drive thru and make these wonderful hand pies right at home. Homemade beats anything you can grab on the go anyway. These little guys are absolutely brimming with caramel and apples. The crust is stellar and yes, there is even more caramel on top.
21. Caramel Apple Clafoutis
A clafoutis is technically a baked flan, but it looks and tastes more like a soufflé with fruit tucked inside. Imagine a soufflé married a cobbler and you get the idea. It is super scrummy, with puffy light edges like a pancake and a soft, pudding like center.
22. Apple Crisp with Cranberries and Walnuts
This delicious crisp is basically a triple threat of fall goodness. Apples, cranberries, and walnuts all come together so every bite hits you with sweet, tart, and a tiny bit of nutty flavor. It is cozy and bright all at once.
23. Rustic Apple Galette
Meet the original pie, friends. A galette is just so unfussy, totally delicious, and gorgeous in its simplicity. You can absolutely make galettes with any fruit you like, but this apple version is made for fall. Start with an easy pie dough or grab store bought if that is more your speed.
24. Apple Cream Pie
This pie is exactly what it sounds like, friends. Apples dusted with cinnamon, sugar, and flour get baked right in cream. If that does not sound delicious to you, I do not know what will. The result is a fabulously creamy, apple custard like pie that tastes best served cold.