Apple desserts have a way of feeling cozy, familiar, and just right when the weather cools down.
Whether you’re baking for a gathering or just want something sweet at home, these recipes offer a mix of warm spices, buttery crusts, and soft apples.
You’ll find everything from crisps and cakes to hand pies and muffins. Some are easy to throw together, and others feel a little more special, but all of them are doable and full of simple comfort.
Here are some easy apple desserts worth trying.
1. Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping
These cheesecake bars are layered with flavor. You get a buttery crust, creamy cheesecake filling, soft cinnamon apples, and a sweet crumb topping. Once it’s all baked and cooled, a drizzle of caramel finishes it off. Each bite gives you a little crunch, a little creaminess, and a good balance of sweet and tart from the apples.
You can make your own batch using this recipe for caramel apple cheesecake bars with streusel topping.
2. Cranberry Apple Crisp with Orange Zest
This crisp brings together sweet apples, tart cranberries, and a hint of orange zest for a fresh twist. The fruit softens in the oven while the oat topping turns golden and crunchy. It’s a great dessert for colder months, especially when you want something a little brighter without being too sweet.
Try this simple cranberry apple crisp with a touch of orange zest.
3. Brown Butter Cinnamon Apple Blondies
These blondies are soft, chewy, and full of cinnamon apple flavor. The brown butter adds a nutty depth that pairs well with the warm spices and sweet apples. They hold together well, making them a good option for snacks, lunches, or casual desserts.
Get the steps for these brown butter cinnamon apple blondies.
4. Fried Apple Hand Pies with Vanilla Glaze
These hand pies are filled with a soft apple mixture and wrapped in a golden, crispy crust. Once fried, they get a sweet vanilla glaze that adds just the right finish. They’re a fun, easy treat you can hold in your hand and enjoy warm.
Follow the recipe for fried apple hand pies with vanilla glaze.
5. Maple Glazed Apple Fritters
These apple fritters are soft on the inside with crisp, golden edges. Chopped apples are folded into the dough, then the fritters are fried and covered with a warm maple glaze. They’re best served fresh and pair well with a mug of coffee or tea.
You can try these maple glazed apple fritters for a cozy snack or dessert.
6. Caramel Apple Dump Cake
This dump cake is simple to make and full of warm, gooey apple flavor. You layer canned apple filling, caramel, and cake mix in a pan—no mixing required. It bakes into a soft, warm dessert with a golden top and a sweet, sticky base.
Here’s how to make this easy caramel apple dump cake.
7. Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake Cups
These little cups mix the richness of cheesecake with the flavor of apple pie. A graham crust holds a layer of cheesecake, topped with cinnamon apples and a drizzle of salted caramel. They’re great for parties or when you want just a small portion.
You can follow the steps for these salted caramel apple pie cheesecake cups.
8. Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Danish Braids
This pastry braid is filled with a creamy, lightly sweetened cheese layer and tender apple slices. The dough bakes up flaky and golden, and it looks more impressive than it is to make. It works well for brunch or dessert.
Get the directions for this apple cinnamon cream cheese Danish braid.
9. Spiced Apple Chai Panna Cotta
This panna cotta has a smooth, creamy texture with gentle flavors of chai and spiced apples. It’s light, not too sweet, and has a cozy warmth from the spices. It’s a good choice when you want something a little different that still feels seasonal.
You can try this spiced apple chai panna cotta for a quiet, cozy dessert.
10. Apple Cider Donut Cake with Cinnamon Sugar Coating
This cake is inspired by classic apple cider donuts. It’s moist, lightly spiced, and baked in a bundt pan, then coated in cinnamon sugar. It’s simple to slice and share, making it a good pick for fall gatherings.
Try the full recipe for this apple cider donut cake.
11. Puff Pastry Apple Roses with Apricot Glaze
These apple roses are made by rolling thin slices of apple into strips of puff pastry. They bake into pretty, flower-like shapes with crisp edges. A thin layer of apricot glaze adds shine and just a touch of sweetness.
Follow this recipe for puff pastry apple roses to give it a try.
12. Chai-Spiced Apple Crumble with Oat Topping
This crumble is filled with warm chai spices that mix well with soft, baked apples. The oat topping turns golden and crisp, giving a nice contrast to the fruit underneath. It’s easy to make and feels right for cooler days.
You can make this chai-spiced apple crumble with just a few simple steps.
13. Bourbon Caramel Baked Apples
These baked apples are filled with a sweet, spiced mixture and topped with a bourbon caramel sauce. They get soft and tender in the oven, and the sauce adds a deep, rich flavor. It’s a good dessert when you want something a little more grown-up.
Try this recipe for bourbon caramel baked apples for a warm, cozy treat.
14. Honeycrisp Apple Galette with Almond Cream
This galette has a flaky, free-form crust filled with thin-sliced Honeycrisp apples and a layer of almond cream. It bakes into a rustic, golden dessert with just the right mix of textures. The apples stay slightly firm and sweet.
Here’s how to make this Honeycrisp apple galette with almond cream.
15. Apple Butter Swirled Muffins
These muffins are soft and moist, with sweet apple butter swirled through the batter. They’re easy to bake and make a good snack or quick breakfast. The flavor is simple and warm, with a little cinnamon in every bite.
You can make a batch of these apple butter swirled muffins in just a few steps.
16. Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake
This gluten-free coffee cake is soft, tender, and full of apple chunks and cinnamon. It’s topped with a crumbly streusel that bakes into a golden crust. Even without gluten, the texture is light and the flavor feels just right.
Get the details for this gluten-free apple cinnamon coffee cake.
Final Thoughts
These apple desserts bring together simple ingredients in ways that feel familiar but never boring. Some are quick to make, while others take a little more time, but they all offer the kind of comfort that comes from warm spices and baked fruit.
Whether you’re making one for a cozy night in or sharing with others, there’s something here that fits.
Try one or two, and see which recipes become your new favorites.
