Autumn is when I want to bake everything.
The first cool evenings, the smell of something warm coming from the oven, a pile of apples on the counter, and an unreasonable amount of cinnamon in the pantry— because it all feels like an invitation to start baking.
This collection brings together 12 vegan autumn recipes for the season, including apple cakes and pumpkin pies to chewy cookies, buttery bars, and cozy breakfast bakes.
These are the kinds of recipes I want to make all season long: cozy flavors with a bit of nostalgia. Everything here is completely vegan, with no need to compromise on the things that make autumn baking so good.
Whether you’re looking for something to bake on a quiet October afternoon, planning a Halloween dessert table, or getting ready for Thanksgiving, there’s a recipe here for you.
12 Vegan Autumn Recipes to Bake This Fall
1. Vegan Apple Coffee Cake
Tender cake, juicy apples, and a buttery crumb topping make this apple coffee cake the perfect choice for chilly mornings and slow weekend baking.
It’s a cozy tender cake without being heavy, topped with apples and streusel bringing all the warm autumn flavors.
This is the kind of cake that’s equally welcome at breakfast, brunch, or beside a cup of coffee in the afternoon.
Bake this vegan autumn recipes when: You have a few good apples and want something more interesting than everyday apple cake.
Get the Vegan Apple Coffee Cake Recipe →
2. The Best Salted Caramel Apple Bars
Apples and caramel are practically autumn in dessert form.
These salted caramel apple bars bring together tender apples, rich salted caramel, a buttery shortbread base, with chopped peanuts to keep everything balanced. It tastes just like a caramel apple in a bar.
They’re also wonderfully easy to share, making them a good choice when you want to bring an autumn dessert to a gathering without dealing with a whole pie.
Bake this vegan autumn recipes when: You want something apple-forward, buttery, and a little indulgent.
Get the Salted Caramel Apple Bars Recipe →
3. The Best Holiday Vegan Maple Brown Sugar Cookies
Maple and brown sugar are two of my favorite autumn flavors, especially when they’re tucked into a soft, chewy cookie.
These cookies have that deep, caramelized flavor that makes them especially good with coffee or tea, without relying on pumpkin spice for every fall treat.
Keep a batch in the cookie jar and see how long they last.
Bake this vegan autumn recipes when: You want an autumn cookie that’s cozy and full of pure maple flavor. Perfect for holiday cookie boxes too!
Get the Vegan Maple Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe →
4. The Most Delicious Vegan Pumpkin Ghost Cupcakes
Pumpkin cupcakes get a little spooky with these ghostly Halloween decorations.
Underneath the fun exterior is a tender, warmly spiced pumpkin cupcake—it’s the sort of fall bake that feels right at home in October.
They’re festive enough for Halloween parties but still delicious enough that you don’t need an excuse to make them.
Bake this vegan autumn recipes when: You’re ready for a little Halloween baking.
Get the Pumpkin Ghost Cupcakes Recipe →
5. The Best Mini Vegan Pumpkin Pies
There’s something especially charming about a little pumpkin pie made just for you.
These mini vegan pumpkin pies have all the creamy, warmly spiced flavor you want from a classic pumpkin pie, just in individual portions.
They’re lovely for autumn dinners and especially handy when you’re putting together a holiday dessert table and want everyone to have their own.
Bake this vegan autumn recipes when: Pumpkin pie is calling but you don’t necessarily need a full-sized pie.
Get the Mini Vegan Pumpkin Pies Recipe →
6. How to Make the Best Apple Cider Harvest Loaf
Once apple cider starts showing up everywhere, I want to put it into everything.
This apple cider harvest loaf turns those autumn flavors into a tender seasonal cake that’s wonderful with coffee, tea, or a little quiet time in the afternoon.
It’s simple, fragrant, and exactly the kind of bake that makes a kitchen feel like autumn.
Bake this vegan autumn recipes when: You’ve brought home a jug of fresh apple cider and want to bake something with it.
Get the Apple Cider Harvest Loaf Recipe →
7. The Best Vegan Pumpkin Muffins | Easy Dairy-Free Fall Baking
Pumpkin muffins are one of those recipes that signal the beginning of fall baking for me.
They’re tender, warmly spiced, and easy enough to make when you want something homemade without committing to an elaborate dessert.
Make them for breakfast, keep them around for snacks, or warm one up when the afternoon gets chilly.
Bake this vegan autumn recipes when: You want an easy pumpkin bake for everyday autumn mornings.
Get the Vegan Pumpkin Muffins Recipe →
8. Vegan Apple Crisp You’ll Love – Comforting and Dairy-Free
Some autumn desserts don’t need much fuss.
Apple crisp is a perfect example: tender apples, a crisp buttery topping, and plenty of warm cinnamon as everything bubbles away in the oven.
It’s rustic, comforting, and one of the easiest ways to turn a pile of apples into dessert.
And yes, it’s even better warm with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream.
Bake this vegan autumn recipes when: You want a cozy apple dessert without making pie.
Get the Vegan Apple Crisp Recipe →
9. How to Make Vegan Cranberry Orange Scones | Cozy Holiday Baking
Cranberry and orange bring a little brightness to the deeper flavors of autumn.
These vegan scones are tender and buttery with tart cranberries and fresh orange flavor throughout. They’re particularly lovely for a slow fall breakfast or weekend brunch.
Put the kettle on and you’ve got a very good morning ahead of you.
Bake this vegan autumn recipes when: You want something seasonal for breakfast or brunch that isn’t another pumpkin bake.
Get the Vegan Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe →
10. The Best Vegan Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies
Take a classic snickerdoodle, add pumpkin and autumn spices, and you have a cookie that feels made for October.
These pumpkin snickerdoodles have the familiar sugar and spice coating of a traditional snickerdoodle with the soft, warmly spiced flavor of pumpkin.
They’re exactly the sort of cookie that disappears from the cooling rack.
Bake this vegan autumn recipes when: You want pumpkin spice in cookie form.
Get the Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe →
11. Vegan Pecan Pie Bars (No Corn Syrup!) Easy to Make
Pecan pie is one of those desserts that feels especially at home on a November table.
These vegan pecan pie bars take those rich, nutty flavors and put them into an easy-to-slice bar that’s perfect for sharing.
They’re a lovely addition to a Thanksgiving dessert spread, especially when you want something a little different alongside the pies.
Bake this vegan autumn recipes when: You’re planning your Thanksgiving baking and pecans are calling your name.
Get the Vegan Pecan Pie Bars Recipe →
12. The Best Vegan Ginger Molasses Cookies for the Holidays
As autumn gets deeper and the days get colder, I start reaching for darker, more intensely spiced flavors.
These ginger molasses cookies are chewy, warmly spiced, and full of rich molasses flavor. They’re the sort of cookie that makes the whole kitchen smell wonderful while they’re baking.
They’re also a perfect bridge between autumn baking and the beginning of the holiday season.
Bake this vegan autumn recipes when: You want something deeply spiced and cozy for a chilly day.
Get the Ginger Molasses Cookies Recipe →
A Few Tips for Vegan Autumn Recipes
Fall baking has a way of making us reach for the same ingredients over and over: vegan butter, pumpkin, apples, spices, maple, brown sugar.
But the difference between a good vegan bake and a truly excellent one often comes down to understanding what those ingredients are actually doing.
Get to know your vegan butter
Vegan butter isn’t all created the same. Differences in fat and water content can affect everything from cookies to cakes to pie crust.
If you bake vegan desserts regularly, understanding how your butter behaves can make a noticeable difference in your results.
That’s one of the reasons I created my Vegan Buttercraft Guide. It walks through making your own European-style vegan butter, the science behind it, troubleshooting, brown butter, infusions, and how to use it across different applications.
Explore the Vegan Buttercraft Guide →
Don’t overlook the crust
If there’s a pie on your autumn baking list, give the crust the attention it deserves.
A flaky vegan pie crust isn’t just about replacing dairy butter. Temperature, hydration, fat distribution, mixing, and handling all matter.
My Ultimate Vegan Pie Guide goes deep into the process, with five different crusts, six pies, blind and par-baking techniques, troubleshooting, and more.
Explore the Ultimate Vegan Pie Guide →
Frequently Asked Questions About Vegan Autumn Recipes and Baking
What are good vegan desserts for fall?
Some of the best vegan fall desserts feature classic seasonal ingredients like apples, pumpkin, maple, brown sugar, pecans, cranberries, and warm spices. Cakes, cookies, pies, crisps, bars, and muffins are all excellent choices for autumn baking.
What can I bake in the fall that’s vegan?
There are plenty of vegan recipes perfect for fall, from simple everyday bakes to Halloween treats and Thanksgiving desserts. This collection includes 12 vegan autumn recipes featuring apples, pumpkin, maple, pecans, cranberries, and warm spices.
What flavors are popular for autumn baking?
Popular autumn flavors include apple, pumpkin, maple, caramel, brown sugar, pecan, cranberry, orange, ginger, molasses, cinnamon, and other warm baking spices.
More Vegan Baking for the Season
If you’re in the mood to keep the oven going, there’s plenty more seasonal baking to explore around Ritual Pastry.
Browse the vegan baking recipes for more cakes, cookies, pies, and treats, adding more to the collection each week.
And if you want to take your baking a little further, the Baking Coven is where I share seasonal recipes and more in-depth baking education throughout the year.
For now, put the kettle on, preheat the oven, and enjoy the season.
Happy Autumn Baking! 🍂
