The 12 best recipes to bake in October
It’s peak baking season — here’s what to make.
Date
October 1, 2026
What do jobs, school, sports practices, and commuting have in common? They all prevent us from baking as much or as often as we’d like. But when we do get the chance, we want a slam-dunk recipe — or 12. Here’s a dozen of the favorite fall recipes we’ll be making this month: from pumpkin cake bars to spooky fudge brownies to a crowd-pleasing vegetarian quiche.
1) The Great Pumpkin Bundt Cake
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Only this version comes in cake form. The decoration is deceptively easy: Stack two small Bundts, frost the entire thing, and add a chocolate-dipped ice cream cone for the stem.
Get the recipe: The Great Pumpkin Bundt Cake
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Golden Wheat Flour and Pumpkin Pie Spice
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Pumpkin Espresso Bundt Cake, Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cake
2) Black Cocoa Halloween Cookies
Black cocoa is the key to giving these cookies their deep color and intense chocolate flavor. Thin and crisp with plenty of chocolatey bite, they can turn into a festive Halloween treat with just a sweep of orange glaze. Or, decorate them into a whole family of jack-o’-lanterns.
Get the recipe: Black Cocoa Halloween Cookies
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Black Cocoa and Supernatural Plant-Based Food Colors
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Chocolate Cookies, Soft Chocolate Sugar Cookies
3) Mini Apple Pies
These bite-sized pies are a charming addition to any occasion. The boiled cider and spices in the filling ensure a full depth of apple flavor for maximum fall vibes. If you're tight on time, swap the lattice treatment for a buttery crumb topping instead.
Get the recipe: Mini Apple Pies
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Boiled Cider and Apple Pie Spice
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Apple Pie Bars, Tiny Apple Tarts for Two
4) Roasted Butternut Squash & Spinach Quiche
Step aside, soup: Butternut squash truly shines in this autumnal quiche. Caramelized onions finished with balsamic vinegar and fresh baby spinach round out the filling, while our Classic Single Pie Crust recipe ensures a tender, golden crust. Elevate the edges with the pie crust decorating technique of your choice.
Get the recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash & Spinach Quiche
To make this recipe, you’ll need: 9" Pie Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Vegetable Quiche, Delicata Squash Galette with Cheese and Herbs
5) Super-Soft Whole Wheat Rolls
Ready to test the theory that only white flour can make rolls light and fluffy? A bit of bread flour and vital wheat gluten give these whole wheat rolls a lofty rise, while the milk, butter, and honey create a plush crumb that stays soft for days. Add a salted honey butter wash to the tops of a freshly baked batch, and you may not have any leftover.
Get the recipe: Super-Soft Whole Wheat Rolls
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Golden Wheat Flour and Bread Flour
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Whole Grain Dinner Rolls, Soft White Dinner Rolls
6) Pecan Tassies
"Tassie" means "small cup" in Scottish, and these dainty pecan pies pack a nutty punch. The cream cheese pastry crust is cut into rounds and placed in a mini muffin pan before the pecan pie filling is spooned into each well. With only 30 minutes of hands-on time, these two dozen tassies come together quickly on a crisp fall afternoon.
Get the recipe: Pecan Tassies
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Mini Muffin Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Easy Pecan Pie Bars, Old-Fashioned Pecan Pie
7) Spider Web Brownies
Need a spooky treat, stat? You can transform a plain batch of brownies into a Halloween-themed dessert in a pinch. A simple piping technique creates a spider web effect and adds a touch of rich tang to chocolatey brownies.
Get the recipe: Spider Web Brownies
To make this recipe, you’ll need: 9" x 13" Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Fudge Brownies, Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies
8) Pumpkin Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
You’ll notice a lot of similarities between this pumpkin cake and carrot cake: moist, spiced cake, toasted walnuts, and rich cream cheese frosting. These bars are great for delighting a crowd, as this recipe yields three to four dozen bars, depending on how big you slice them. You can easily make them gluten-free, too.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Pumpkin Pie Spice and Maple Syrup
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Pumpkin Spice Latte Bars, Chocolate-Pumpkin Crumb Cake
9) Mummy Hand Pies
'Tis the season for hand pies to be mummified! A shortening-based pie crust helps the lattice strips stay together, while jam or pie filling allows for customizable flavors. Pop on a few sugar eyes, and you'll be sure to have treats instead of tricks.
Get the recipe: Mummy Hand Pies
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Double Pastry Wheel or Pizza Cutter
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Flaky Apple Hand Pies, Autumn Apple Turnovers
10) Maple Pecan Cheesecake
With a luxuriously creamy maple filling and a buttery pecan crust, this cheesecake balances richness with subtle flavors. Meanwhile, the candied pecan garnish adds visual interest and a complementary crunch. Be sure to leave time for an overnight chill and keep your cheesecake from cracking with these tips. (Find more seasonal maple recipes in our Fall Flavor Edit.)
Get the recipe: Maple Pecan Cheesecake
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Springform Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Caramel Pecan Cheesecake, Maple Cream Pie
11) Chocolate Cupcakes with Whipped Caramel Frosting
No need to choose between chocolate or caramel; these cupcakes bring both bold flavors together in a luscious combination. Making caramel from scratch is worth it for the irreplaceable flavor, and those few extra steps are easily done ahead of time. Substitute in Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour to make these cupcakes gluten-free. (Find more seasonal caramel recipes in our Fall Flavor Edit.)
Get the recipe: Chocolate Cupcakes with Whipped Caramel Frosting
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Muffin Pan and Pastry Brush
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Chocolate Cupcakes with Pecan Caramel , S’more Cupcakes
12) Pumpkin Milk Bread
This milk bread incorporates all the flavor and color of pumpkin, while still keeping an airy texture. You can shape the dough into pull-apart rolls or a loaf, and topping with a milk wash and pumpkin seeds adds a nutty crunch. Wrap it well at room temperature, and this bread will stay soft for days.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Milk Bread
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Round Pan or Loaf Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Japanese Milk Bread, Pumpkin Yeast Bread
Cover photo by Patrick Marinello; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne.
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