15 Cinnamon Sugar Desserts That Are Perfect for Fall

Updated August 31, 2020
Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

Move over, pumpkin spice—you're not the only fall spice game in town. The classic pairing of cinnamon and sugar screams "fall is here" and is more versatile than its ubiquitous pumpkin spice cousin. Dress up baked apples, coffee cake, French toast, bananas, and so much more with this nearly perfect (if ever so slightly retro) spice combination. 

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Warm Cinnamon Apples

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kay Clarke

Warm Cinnamon Apples Recipe

Serve these simple spiced apples with a bowl of vanilla ice cream for an uber-easy fall dessert. If you can't find McIntosh apples, substitute another baking apple such as Rome or Gala; to change things up, try a crisp, tart green apple such as Granny Smith.

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Nutella French Toast Rolls with Cinnamon Sugar

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Nutella French Toast Rolls with Cinnamon Sugar Recipe

White bread? Check. Nutella? Check. Cinnamon-sugar topping? Check. Take your French toast game to new heights by slathering flattened bread slices with addiction-worthy Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread, rolling up and coating in an egg-milk mixture and frying in butter a là regular French toast, and then taking a final roll through a cinnamon-sugar mixture for the finishing touch.

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Vanilla and Cinnamon-Sugar Popcorn

Credit: Dasha Wright

Vanilla and Cinnamon-Sugar Popcorn Recipe

Toss popcorn with cinnamon sugar before drizzling with vanilla-infused butter to create the ultimate snacking indulgence, perfect for movie night, date night, and everything in between.

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Pan-Fried Cinnamon Bananas

Credit: Photo by Kirsten Nunez

Pan-Fried Cinnamon Bananas Recipe

Make quick work of overripe fruit with these pan-fried cinnamon bananas. Simply fry the banana slices in butter for a few minutes, then dust with cinnamon sugar for a simple dessert that's perfect for busy weeknights.

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Buñuelos

Credit:  Jen Causey, Food Styling, Rishon Hanners, Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower

Buñuelos Recipe

This light-as-air fried dough is an incredibly popular snack and dessert item found in many parts of the world such as Columbia, Cuba, and Mexico. Although they can be customized to satisfy any craving, these are rolled in cinnamon and sugar before frying to perfection. Simply set a batch out on the table and watch them be devoured!

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Churro Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches

Credit: Thomas J. Story

Churro Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches Recipe

Plug in your waffle iron for a sinful, sweet treat! Prepare yourself, these decadent ice cream sandwiches are next level. Mouthwatering cinnamon-sugar waffled churros pair perfectly with large scoops of ice cream and a chocolaty drizzle.

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Cinnamon-Apple Cake

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Cinnamon-Apple Cake Recipe

This 5-star cinnamon apple cake is one of our best-ever recipes and can be served as dessert or a breakfast coffee cake. The cream cheese in the batter gives the cake lots of moisture, while the cinnamon sugar topping is dense and crumbly. The cake is best warm out of the oven, and will keep for a week after you've baked it. Toss in walnuts or pecans to the batter for an added nutty crunch.

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Cinnamon Crisp-Topped Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread

Cinnamon Crisp-Topped Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread Recipe

Top this indulgent banana-nut bread with a mix of pecans, melted butter, cinnamon, and sugar for an irresistible twist on an old classic. Warm bread is yummy, but to get perfect slices, let bread cool 30 minutes, and cut with a serrated or electric knife.

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Dessert Taco Shells

Credit: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Dessert Taco Shells Recipe

These sweet, crispy taco shells are a great place to start for dessert, as they're fun to make and exceptionally fun to fill. Bake a batch up for a sweet treat taco bar, then let your creativity fly to make your own custom fillings. If you need a few ideas to get started, we opted to personalize our shells to create Caramel Apple Dessert Tacos, Nutella and Red Berry Dessert Tacos, and Tropical Dessert Tacos--and were super pleased with all three. 

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Sugar- and Spice-dusted Ginger Chew Cookies

Sugar- and Spice-dusted Ginger Chew Cookies Recipe

Cinnamon and sugar balance these ginger cookies' spicy notes for a deliciously bold cookie that can hold its own at any holiday cookie swap.

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Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding)

Credit: Karry Hosford

Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding) Recipe

This capirotada, or Mexican bread pudding, features layers of nuts, cheese, dried fruit, and bread drizzled with cinnamon-infused sugar syrup. To discover more south-of-the-border favorites, see our complete collection of Mexican recipes.

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Buttermilk Coffee Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Buttermilk Coffee Cake Recipe

This buttermilk crumb cake is a breakfast favorite, but it's just as delicious served after dinner. To make one day ahead, just bake, cool completely, and cover pan tightly in in aluminum foil. For an even more decadent treat, make a delicious glaze to drizzle over the cooled cake. Combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 3 teaspoons milk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a small bowl, then stir until smooth.

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Cinnamon-Molasses Baked Apples

Cinnamon-Molasses Baked Apples Recipe

Stuffed cored apples with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, walnuts, and salt, then bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.

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Air-Fried Churros

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Air-Fried Churros Recipe

Crispy, light, and sweet, these air-fried churros are just as tasty as the deep-fried version. The dough is perfectly tender and tastes like a lightly sweetened breadstick, while the cinnamon sugar adds the perfect crunchy texture and sweetness. This dough can be made up to a few hours in advance, but once it’s cooked, the churros should be enjoyed immediately for best results. 

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Amish Cinnamon Bread

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

Amish Cinnamon Bread Recipe

This approachable, no-knead quick bread features a middle cinnamon-sugar layer, plus another layer on top. It's the perfect sweet treat for fall and pairs well with an after-dinner cup of decaf coffee.

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