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    Home » Picnic Food

    Easy Fall Picnic Desserts & Sweet Treats

    Published: Sep 5, 2020 · Modified: Sep 15, 2023 by //  by Kate O'Malley · This post may contain affiliate links ·


    When we think about picnics, our minds automatically turn to picnic salads and sandwiches. But no picnic would be complete without a sweet treat at the end. These fall desserts and sweets are a testament to that.

    Collage of fall inspired picnic desserts

    It doesn’t have to be a full-fledged picnic dessert, it can be as simple as a chocolate chip protein ball or delicious cookie washed down with a hot cup of tea or a brownie slice to finish that nice bottle of red.

    These fall picnic desserts are just that, a simple yet sweet celebration of the seasons produce. Think apples, pumpkins and pecans – little indulgences to finish the day on a sweet note.


    Get More Fall Picnic Ideas: Enjoy the harvest season alfresco with our Best Fall Picnic Ideas. The best fall recipes, fall picnic accessories and tips to make your picnics simply perfect every time.


    Delicious Fall Picnic Dessert Recipes

    The beauty of an autumn picnic, the cooler weather allows us little indulgences and a little picnic dessert, no matter how small is a wonderful indulgence.

    These fall dessert recipes and sweet treats, tend to err on the healthy side (although not all) while still retaining a little decadence. We've even included a few cheeky fall cocktails for those who don't mind a sweet tipple or two.

    1

    Jumbo Pumpkin Muffins Recipe

    With cozy spices, silky pumpkin, and a luscious cream cheese glaze, these Jumbo Pumpkin Muffins capture the essence of fall. Their generous size is also a satisfying bonus as the weather turns chilly.

    2

    Homemade Pumpkin Pop Tarts 

    Photo Credit: amandawilens.com

    So pretty, sweet and tasty, these delightfully on season homemade pumpkin pop tarts will make a beautiful fall statement at your fall picnic or Halloween event. Filled with pumpkin and spice and all things nice and finished with a maple flavoured icing, these lovelies are so easy to make, there's no reason not to give them a try.

    3

    Keto Pumpkin Spice Muffins

    Looking for a perfectly portable fall sweet treat without the guilt? These keto pumpkin muffins are easy on the carbs without sacrificing any of the flavours.

    We love muffins for any picnic occasion, but these low carb pumpkin spice muffins are a go-to for a seasonal picnic menu that everyone can enjoy.

    4

    Gingerbread Loaf Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

    A moist and fragrantly spiced gingerbread cake topped with lashings of deliciously rich cream cheese frosting is an easy and very transportable sweet treat for fall picnics.

    5

    Date Jam

    Photo Credit: aubreyskitchen.com

    A luxuriously decadent date jam that is oh so sweet but also healthy. Pack this in your fall picnic hamper for a sweet addition to muffins, banana bread or scones. Team it with a dollop of mascarpone for a whole new spin of baked goods.

    6

    Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Subtly spiced with all the season's flavours, these gorgeous Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting make a deliciously seasonal sweet treat. A lot more portable than a whole carrot cake, we love these for a fall picnic washed down with a hot mug of tea.

    7

    Easy White Chocolate Fudge

    Fudge is the perfect picnic sweet treat. It's so quick and easy to make, is incredibly portable and can be tailored to suit kids or be an elegant sweet bite for adults.

    Switch almonds for pecans to make a sweet seasonal statement with this White Chocolate Fudge.

    8

    Cocoa Peanut Butter Fat Bombs

    So easy to make but so delicious, fat bombs are the perfect picnic dessert. Loaded with chocolate and peanut butter, these bite size morsels make a perfect fall picnic treat.

    9

    Sweet Potato Muffins

    Photo Credit: thetravelbite.com

    Sweet potato muffins with pecan topping are the fall picnic dessert you didn't know was good for you. Loaded with delicious wholesome ingredients, you can feel less guilty about this guilty pleasure.

    You can whip these up in less than an hour and these versatile little picnic goodies have a multitude of possible variations - don't like pecans? switch out for walnuts. Find all these fabulous fall variations in the recipe.

    10

    Pumpkin Scones with Cinnamon Sugar & Whisky-Soaked Raisins

    Photo Credit: www.shekeepsalovelyhome.com

    Not your average pumpkin scone, these pumpkin scones with cinnamon sugar and whiskey-soaked raisins are a very decadent fall picnic treat indeed.

    While they may sound complex, they are actually quite easy to whip up and need nothing other than a smear of butter to serve – they are flavourful enough as is. Serve them with piping hot tea or even a hot apple cider.

    11

    Pear Frangipane Tart

    Photo Credit: vintagekitchennotes.com

    In a nod to the fruits of the season, this delectable pear frangipane tart makes a delightful fall dessert.

    Frangipane (almond cream) layered with slices of fresh pears in a sweet shortcrust pastry. This is a very simple dish but it makes such a sweet impression.

    12

    Chocolate Sweet Potato Muffins

    Photo Credit: thelittlestcrumb.com

    Muffins and chocolate is a match made in heaven. Make it double chocolate and throw in some sweet potato and you have a muffin on a whole new level.

    Healthier than other chocolate muffins, they definitely don’t taste like it. Made with both cocoa powder and chocolate chips, mashed sweet potato adds richness and moisture, resulting in a rich and almost cake-like muffin.

    13

    Easy Pumpkin Empanadas 

    Photo Credit: champagne-tastes.com

    A twist on the classic Mexican dessert, these delightfully creamy, sweet pumpkin empanadas are a perfect finish to any fall-inspired picnic menu.

    Made with pizza dough, so as to not detract from the sweet pumpkin filling, they are also robust enough to stand up to their hand pie reputation. Load them into your picnic hamper steaming hot from the oven for a warming sweet treat at the end of the day.

    14

    Vegan Pumpkin Scones

    Photo Credit: homecookedroots.com

    Super simple to make - whip them up in a food processor; these vegan pumpkin scones with maple glaze are a perfect accompaniment to a hot tea or coffee on a chilly fall day.

    Perfectly picnic portable, with all the flavours of the fall season, these are lovely picnic sweet treats for larger groups or an afternoon tea picnic.

    15

    Vegan Zucchini Muffins 

    Photo Credit: nosweatvegan.com

    Soft, sweet, and full of healthy ingredients ( including no oil or refined sugar), these vegan zucchini muffins are a wonderfully delicious and healthy fall picnic treat.

    Make them in only 30 minutes and easily switch out or add ingredients to suit your style or mood. Another sweet contender for a hiking picnic menu.

    16

    Easy Vegan Apple Bread Loaf

    Photo Credit: www.rainbownourishments.com

    This apple loaf bread is a stand-alone star, fluffy and moist and brimming with the season's sweet flavours. But this dessert really shines with a yoghurt and caramelised apple topping that will shine at any fall picnic.

    17

    Healthy Mini Pecan Pies 

    Photo Credit: www.texanerin.com

    Easy to make, these mini pecan pies make a gorgeous addition to your fall picnic. They are also incredibly versatile to suit all dietary requirements.

    The recipe given is the decadent butter and cream version - think sticky sweet caramel pecan. Or, you can easily adapt to make these little sweet picnic statement pieces to make them dairy free and vegan - think pecan pie but perhaps not as sweet.

    You can switch it up a little more and make them whole-grain or gluten-free if desired – the variations are all laid out in the recipe.

    18

    Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with Maple Icing

    Photo Credit: lepetiteats.com

    Easy to make chewy Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies drizzled with a sweet maple icing are the champions of sweet portable treats.

    A delightful fall-inspired picnic sweet treat, these cookies come together in just 20 minutes.

    Finish a picnic with these delicious cookies or bundle them up with some fall-inspired sandwiches and a thermos of tea for a fall hiking picnic - The perfect energy boost.

    19

    Easy Apple Chips 

    Photo Credit: www.pastrywishes.com

    I included these really simple, healthy, and delicious snacks in our Fall Finger Food edition because I feel they could go either way. There I recommended dropping the cinnamon and serving it as an accompaniment to a wine and cheese platter.

    Keep the recipe as it is and they make a really easy sweet fall snack. Best of all, this recipe requires no air fryer or dehydrator - it's a simple oven-baked recipe.

    20

    Pear and Hazelnut Brownies

    Photo Credit: thelittlestcrumb.com

    Brownies are such a great picnic dessert we have a dedicated list of brownie recipes.

    Put a seasonal spin on the classic brownie. These soft, cakey chocolate brownies have all the chocolate goodness of regular brownies with the addition of roasted hazelnuts and soft pears baked in.

    21

    Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts (Gluten-Free)

    Photo Credit: itsnotcomplicatedrecipes.com

    Doughnut or Donut, it doesn't matter how you spell it, everyone loves them. These seasonal doughnuts have all the pumpkin spice flavours of fall and are much better for you than the average doughnut because they are baked not fried. They're also gluten-free.

    22

    Vegan Apple Sauce Cake

    Photo Credit: myveganminimalist.com

    Soft, airy and super moist, this apple sauce cake with creamy vanilla icing comes together in under an hour and is so easy to make even beginner bakers will nail this fall-inspired recipe.

    This is also one of those very adaptable recipes that you can tweak to your heart's desire. Try a lemon zest icing instead of vanilla. Add ginger or allspice for more seasonal zing, or thrown in some nuts for added texture.

    23

    Mini Apple Hand Pies For Fall

    Photo Credit: thezhush.com

    What better fall dessert for a picnic than very portable mini apple hand pies.

    Portioned just right as a sweet treat without going into sugar overload and bundled into an easy to eat package.

    They only take about 40 minutes to make and can be served hot or cold at your picnic. Want to keep your picnic apple pies hot, we have loads of simple solutions here for keeping your picnic food piping hot.

    24

    Toffee Apple Flapjack

    Photo Credit: www.littlesugarsnaps.com

    The British version of what others might call muesli bars, cereal bars, oat bars or granola bars. These delicious chewy fruity flapjacks are a great snack, although not as healthy as they may appear at first sight. The butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup give flapjacks their sweet chewiness and make them incredibly moreish.

    These are traditional flapjacks but with a very seasonal spin. Hidden in the middle is a layer of deliciously sweet fresh apple and homemade toffee sauce.

    25

    Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Photo Credit: savingtalents.com

    The chocolate chip cookies is a classic and always a welcome addition to any picnic menu. Make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and you have a delightful fall sweet picnic treat.

    Packed with that sweet pumpkin flavour we all crave in the fall - you know you want them at your next autumn picnic.

    26

    Pumpkin Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

    Photo Credit: www.atasteofmadness.com

    This chocolate chip banana bread has a lot going for it - It's quick to make – prepped and in the oven in 10 minutes, it's pretty healthy - Consider it invited to your next fall picnic.

    It's incredibly moist so won't need any toppings and will keep in the fridge for up to a week without drying out. Think of it as a super moist bread cake.

    And, as with anything this easy-going, it's incredibly versatile. Want to add nuts? no worries mix and match as you see fit. It will still be a fabulous fall picnic addition.

    27

    Peach Almond Thumbprint Cookies

    Photo Credit: ofbatteranddough.com

    Tender little balls of buttery shortbread cookie dough rolled in roasted almonds, filled with a dollop of peach preserves, and adorned with a drizzle of almond glaze. These adorable thumbprint cookies are melt-in-your-mouth tender and positively addicting.

    Whether putting your summer bounty of peach preserves to good use or using store-bought preserves, these little beauties will make a delightful finish to any fall picnic.

    28

    Pumpkin Banana Muffins

    Photo Credit: thecookiedoughdiaries.com

    Put a fall twist on the classic banana muffin. Combine pumpkin and banana for an incredibly soft and fluffy finish mixed with fat chunks of chocolate for that extra indulgence.

    Fall flavours and spices add that little extra seasonal touch for a muffin that is a perfect fall picnic companion.

    29

    Apple Cider Mojito Cocktail

    Photo Credit: www.atastefortravel.ca

    For those who like a sweet tipple at their fall picnics, this Apple Cider Mojito celebrates the harvest season with fall spices and ripe apples.

    Maybe think of this fall sweet treat as a picnic starter rather than a sweet finish. What better way to start a fall picnic than with a perfectly fresh seasonal cocktail.

    30

    Apple & Orange Bourbon Sour, with Allspice Simple Syrup 

    Photo Credit: straighttothehipsbaby.com

    Another cocktail taking inspiration from the season is this exquisite take on a Bourbon Sour.

    Tangy apple and fresh orange create an amazingly refreshing combination. An allspice and berry syrup gives this fall-inspired sweet and sour sipper a hint of spice for an extra touch.


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    About Kate O'Malley

    Picnic enthusiast, passionate cook, and the creative force behind Picnic Lifestyle. With a globe-trotting background and a keen eye for local ingredients, she's mastered the art of crafting delectable picnics and portable feasts (especially for long travel days). Kate's passion for al fresco dining comes alive in this guide, curating perfect picnics for every occasion.

    Previous Post: « Fall Finger Food & Appetisers for Picnics
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