Fall just wouldn’t be complete without a plethora of pies, crisps, cakes, cookies and other fall treats. Luckily for us, Michigan food bloggers have crafted a wide range of delicious seasonal desserts all featuring fall flavors like pumpkin, apple and cranberry.
We rounded up a few of our favorites, from a gluten-free apple crisp to some maple pecan blondies. Read through these recipes from Michigan bloggers and be inspired to serve up some delicious sweets the whole family will enjoy this season!
Gluten-Free Apple Crisp for Two
Photo courtesy of MI Gluten-Free Gal
Small families, couples and roommates rejoice—Margaret from MI Gluten-Free Gal has the perfect small dessert just for you! Her Gluten-Free Apple Crisp for two is made with just two apples, crushed gluten-free crackers, maple syrup, butter, and of course, plenty of seasonal spices. You can make this scrumptious dessert in one oval dish for sharing or two mini ramekins so each person gets their own. Top it with vanilla ice cream and a healthy dose of melted caramel and you have yourself a perfect gluten-free fall dessert!
Apple Crisp with Ginger
It’s an age-old debate: which is better, pumpkin pie or apple crisp? While we definitely don’t have the answer, we do know that Rachel from Rachel Cooks’ Apple Crisp with Ginger is one of the best—and easiest—fall desserts to make on the Internet. You’ll only need 12 simple pantry ingredients to make this tasty treat. Perfect served warm with ice cream on top or cold with yogurt the next morning, this recipe is one of our favorites every fall.
Cinnamon Baked Apples with Walnuts & Spices
Photo courtesy of The Lemon Bowl
Sweet, simple and absolutely delicious, Liz from The Lemon Bowl’s incredible Cinnamon Baked Apples are a must this season! Featuring four ripe apples stuffed with unsalted butter, walnuts, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and brown sugar, topped with warm apple cider sauce—these beauties are perfect for Thanksgiving or any cool fall afternoon when you need a treat. Liz recommends topping them with some creamy vanilla ice cream, and we definitely agree.
Sweet Potato Pie
In our opinion, the fall and winter seasons are all about nostalgia. And you just can’t go wrong with the classics! That means pumpkin pie, apple crisps and even Mandy from Kitchen Joy’s Sweet Potato Pie. All you’ll need is two large sweet potatoes, roasted and peeled, sugar, eggs, whole milk, a plethora of fall spices, and a pie crust. Simple and easy to follow, this recipe truly is easy as pie.
Apple & Pecan Tart with Bourbon Caramel Sauce
What is autumn without a little booze? Lori from Foxes Love Lemons’ Apple & Pecan Tart is covered with a bourbon caramel sauce that is absolutely to-die-for. While this dessert is fairly labor-intensive, it is definitely worth it. The recipe features a homemade tart crust, a bourbon caramel sauce made from scratch, and even a tasty, handmade pecan maple butter as the main filling. But while this recipe may seem daunting, Lori’s helpful tips and tricks can help even the most inexperienced home chef pull it off.
Pumpkin Spice Candied Walnuts
Photo courtesy of Rachel Cooks
Fall desserts don’t always have to be decadent and grand. Sometimes, the most simple sweets are the most delicious! That’s why we adore Rachel from Rachel Cooks’ Pumpkin Spice Candied Walnuts recipe. With just four ingredients—walnuts, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and sea salt—you can create a mouth-watering snack that is also great on pies, sweet potatoes, ice cream and even yogurt!
5-Ingredient Raw Apple Pie
If you have a friend on the raw food diet (which is a plant-based diet where foods cannot be cooked over 118 degrees) then you’ll want to share this recipe from Livvy at 86Lemons with them! Livvy crafted her own version of an apple pie, which consists of raw sunflower seeds, raisins, apples, cinnamon and apple cider vinegar. The end result is a sweet, health-ified version of a classic apple pie that people of all diets will enjoy.
Maple Pecan Blondies with Maple Butter Sauce
Photo courtesy of Kitchen Joy
Michigan is no stranger to maple. In fact, we’re home to several incredible maple farms, maple syrup-centric events, and even a Maple Syrup Association. So if you can, you should definitely try to incorporate this iconic treat into your fall dessert menu! One of the most delicious ways is by creating Mandy from Kitchen Joy’s mouthwatering Maple Pecan Blondies with Maple Butter Sauce. Packed with pecans and chunks of white chocolate (with a hint of maple syrup, of course), these blondies are soft, moist, buttery and incredible. Top them with some vanilla ice cream and Mandy’s warm maple butter sauce and you’re in for a treat.
Grain-Free Pumpkin Slab Pie
Those on gluten-free diets, this one’s for you! Margaret from MI Gluten-Free Gal has once again crafted a delicious fall dessert without using any grains. Her Pumpkin Slab Pie uses Chebe’s gluten-free cinnamon roll mix as a crust, adding a soft, cinnamon twist to this Thanksgiving favorite. This one is baked in a cake pan, rather than a pie pan, so you’ll serve it like brownies, but you can definitely use the same recipe to create that classic pie shape.
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Turnovers
Photo courtesy of 86Lemons
Flaky pockets of phyllo filled with creamy pumpkin filling, these Pumpkin Spice Turnovers from Livvy of 86Lemons are handheld and absolutely heavenly. The best part? They are 100% vegan! Featuring pureed pumpkin, brown sugar, tofu “cream cheese”, coconut oil, cornstarch and a lineup of fall spices, this dessert is simple, delicious and sure to wow.
