20 Easy Desserts With Apples You'll Want to Make This Fall

Do you have a bag of apples in your kitchen that you can't seem to think of what to do with? Don't spend too much time thinking - there are so many easy desserts with apples that you're sure to find one you want to make!

From simple warm apple crisps and buttery cobblers to cakes, hand pies, and caramel apple delights, these easy apple desserts are perfect for fall baking, dinner parties, or family gatherings.

These easy apple dessert recipes are all simple enough for anyone to make - so you can let the apples do most of the work!

1. Easy Apple Crisp

Apple crisp is simple to make and has a wonderful aroma of cinnamon and apples filling the house. Warm, spiced apples bake in a buttery oat topping until bubbly and delicious.

Served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this easy dessert with apples is sure to be a hit.

Best for: Weeknight desserts, family dinners, and Thanksgiving.

2. Easy Apple Cobbler

If you'd rather make a baked apple dessert without a pie crust, look no further than apple cobbler.

Sweet, baked apples hide beneath a slightly crisp topping with warm hints of cinnamon. It's simple to whip up and will leave your kitchen smelling wonderful.

Best for: Fall dinners and for feeding crowds.

3. Easy Apple Crumble

Apple crumble is similar to apple crisp, but often uses different types of ingredients in the crumbly topping (such as flour, butter, and sugar).

Apple crumble is quick and simple to make, and is great for using up a few apples when you just can't bear to waste them.

Best for: Easy homemade desserts!

4. Easy Apple Pie

Apple pie may be a classic favorite, but that doesn't mean it's complicated. A flaky, buttery pie crust filled with sweet, spiced apples is always a winner.

If you're making a dessert for Thanksgiving, you simply can't go wrong with apple pie.

Best for: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and classic holidays.

5. Baked Apples

Looking for an absolutely easy dessert with apples? You can't get much easier than baked apples!

Core the apples and simply stuff them with a mixture of spices, sugars, butter, and/or nuts before baking. They're warm, delicious, and perfect when you just want a little bit of apple dessert without having to make a whole pie.

Best for: Quick desserts and smaller gatherings.

6. Easy Apple Turnovers

Apple turnovers give you all of the flavor of a classic apple pie, but in a much more portable, handheld size. Flaky pastry surrounds a spiced apple filling, and can be dusted with powdered sugar or topped with a light glaze.

They're great for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

Best for: Parties, brunches, and easy grab-and-go treats.

7. Apple Hand Pies

Hand pies are similar to turnovers, but tend to be slightly smaller in size. Each little hand pie is filled with a mixture of spiced apples before being baked to a golden brown. They can be served plain or drizzled with a simple glaze.

Best for: Parties, potlucks, or as lunchbox treats.

8. Easy Apple Tart

An apple tart requires less effort than a pie, but still looks impressive enough to serve to guests. Thin slices of apples are placed on top of a pastry dough and baked to a tender, caramelized finish. A little bit of cinnamon or sugar will bring it all together.

They even look nice when the slices of apple are arranged in overlapping rows before being baked.

Best for: Dinner parties and special occasions.

9. Easy Apple Galette

A galette is basically a freeform pie. While a traditional pie requires the careful crimping of a pie crust, a galette only requires placing the filling in the center of a large piece of pastry dough before folding the edges in to form a pie.

It's a casual, no-fuss dessert that looks nice enough to serve to guests, but still lets you avoid the tedious task of making a perfect pie crust.

Best for: Serving to company, or for weekend desserts.

10. Easy Apple Dumplings

This is the kind of homemade dessert that turns an ordinary dinner into something special.

Best for: Family dinners and cozy fall evenings.

11. Easy Apple Cake

An apple cake is perfect when you want something slightly lighter than a pie or crisp.

Chopped or sliced apples are simply mixed with a cake batter for a moist, spiced dessert that would pair well with cold milk or a cup of coffee. Served warm with a drizzle of glaze or a sprinkling of powdered sugar, this easy apple dessert is sure to be a hit.

Best for: Afternoon treats, brunch, and fall gatherings.

12. Apple Coffee Cake

Apple coffee cake is great when you want something that pairs well with a cup of coffee.

A cake is topped or layered with spiced apples, and has a buttery, crumbly topping. Despite the name, apple coffee cake doesn't actually require coffee to be enjoyed - though it is especially good with it.

Best for: Brunches, coffee gatherings, and afternoon snacks.

13. Apple Pie Bars

Instead of making a whole pie, why not try making apple pie bars?

Apple pie bars combine a buttery crust, a sweet apple filling, and a crumbly or pastry-like top. They're a great variation when you want something different from a traditional pie, and they're also a lot more convenient to serve at parties since they're cut into bars.

Best for: Potlucks, bake sales, and parties.

14. Apple Cheesecake Bars

Apple cheesecake bars combine two classic desserts into one. Creamy, rich cheesecake is combined with warm spiced apples for a cheesecake bar that still has all of the flavors you love.

They're a step up from a simple apple crisp, but even easier to portion out for parties or family gatherings.

Best for: Holiday dessert tables, or special occasions.

15. Easy Apple Dump Cake

Dump cakes are incredibly easy to make, which is probably why they're so popular.

Apple filling is simply dumped into a baking dish before being topped off with a cake mix and butter. They bake into a warm, spiced dessert with a soft apple filling and buttery cake topping.

Best for: Busy weeknights, or when you need something easy.

16. Caramel Apple Cheesecake

If you love caramel apples, you're sure to love this caramel apple cheesecake dessert.

A creamy cheesecake filling complements warm spiced apples and rich caramel sauce. It has the sweet, gooey flavor of a caramel apple, but with the added richness of a cheesecake.

The addition of rich caramel sauce drizzled over the top also gives this dessert the appearance of a far more complicated dessert than it actually is.

Best for: Holidays, and Thanksgiving desserts.

17. Apple Bread Pudding

Did you know that you can make a dessert with leftover bread?

That's right! This easy apple bread pudding uses up day-old bread, which soaks up a sweet custard mixture. Apples, spices, and warm cinnamon also fill this comforting dessert.

Best for: Using up day-old bread, and feeding a crowd.

18. Easy Apple Fritters

Apple fritters are a fun twist on a traditional dessert. They're light, fluffy, and have just the right amount of crispiness. Pieces of apples are mixed into a simple batter before being dropped into hot oil (or baked, depending on your preference). A sprinkle of powdered sugar or a drizzle of glaze will finish it off nicely.

Best for: Weekend desserts, brunches, and parties.

19. Caramel Apple Dessert

You don't have to make an entire cake or pie to make a dessert with apples. This simple caramel apple dessert can be made by mixing chopped apples with cinnamon, caramel sauce, cookies, cake pieces, whipped cream, or a creamy filling.

It's also easy to customize to whatever you have on hand!

Best for: Quick desserts, and casual gatherings.

20. Apple Cinnamon Roll Bake

Here's a fun way to combine two of your favorites - cinnamon rolls and apples. These warm, gooey rolls bake up with spiced apples to create a sweet dessert that is super easy to serve.

It's simple, comforting, and perfect for a cozy fall dessert. Simply finish it off with a drizzle of icing or glaze and serve it warm.

Best for: Weekends, brunches, and fall desserts.

What Are the Best Apples for Desserts?

Not all apples are created equal. In fact, certain types of apples hold up better for baking than others. For apple dessert recipes, it's best to use apples that have a good balance of sweet and tart flavors, and that hold their shape well when baked.

Granny Smith

Granny Smith apples are tart and firm, making them a great choice for pies, crisps, and cobblers.

Honeycrisp

Honeycrisp apples have a sweet-tart flavor, and hold their shape well when baked.

Pink Lady

Pink Lady apples have a balanced sweet-tart flavor, and hold up well when baked.

Fuji

Fuji apples have a naturally sweet flavor, and can be used when you'd like a sweeter dessert.

Golden Delicious

Golden Delicious apples are tender when baked, and have a mild sweetness that works well in cakes, pies, and other baked desserts.

You can also mix different types of apples, if you'd like a more complex flavor. Mixing a tart apple with a sweeter apple can also help balance out the flavors in your dessert.

Easy Apple Desserts for Fall Gatherings

When you're making a dessert for a fall gathering, you don't always have to go for the most complicated recipe. For a classic dessert, go with apple crisp or apple pie. If you're looking to feed a crowd, apple dump cake or apple bread pudding can both be excellent choices.

Looking for something that's easy to pick up and eat? Try making apple turnovers or apple hand pies. Want something that looks just a little fancier? An apple tart or apple galette is a great choice.

These fall apple desserts are especially useful for Thanksgiving, potlucks, family dinners, and other autumn gatherings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest dessert to make with apples?

Apple crisp is one of the easiest desserts with apples to make. It requires a simple filling and an easy crumbly topping, and there's no need to make a complicated pastry crust.

What can I make with lots of apples?

If you have lots of apples, you can make apple crisp, apple cobbler, apple pie, apple cake, baked apples, apple bread pudding, or apple dump cake. You can also prepare and freeze some apples for later baking.

What can I make with apples besides apple pie?

There are many options besides apple pie. Apple crisp, apple crumble, apple cobbler, baked apples, apple cake, apple turnovers, apple bars, apple fritters, and apple cheesecake are all delicious alternatives.

Which apples are best for baking?

Firm apples with a good balance of sweetness and acidity are best for baking. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, and Golden Delicious are all great choices depending on the dessert.

Can I mix different types of apples in a dessert?

Yes. Mixing different types of apples can give your dessert added depth of flavor. A tart variety, such as Granny Smith, can also balance out the sweetness of a naturally sweeter apple.

Final Thoughts

The next time you have a bag of apples that you can't seem to think of what to do with, don't forget all of the easy desserts with apples you can make!

Whether you're craving a warm apple crisp, simple cobbler, buttery cake, handheld turnover, or something special for Thanksgiving, there's sure to be an easy apple dessert that you can't wait to try.

Choose your favorite, and get baking!