Fall Desserts Recipes Suitable for Crowd Sharing
Autumn is the perfect season for cozy gatherings and delicious desserts. The rich flavors of pumpkin, apple, and cinnamon are staples that everyone loves, making them ideal for sharing with a crowd. This blog post will provide you with several fall dessert recipes perfect for your next gathering, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Crowd-Pleasing Pumpkin Pie Bars
Forget individual pies; these pumpkin pie bars are the perfect solution for large groups. They’re easy to transport, slice, and serve, eliminating the hassle of individual portions.
Ingredients:
- Crust: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup packed brown sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes, ¼ cup cold vegetable shortening, cut into cubes, ¼ cup ice water
- Filling: 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree, 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 cup packed brown sugar
Instructions:
- Prepare the crust: Combine flour, brown sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter and shortening using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add ice water, mixing until the dough just comes together. Press into a greased 9x13 inch baking pan.
- Make the filling: In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Bake: Pour filling over the crust. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 40-45 minutes, or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.
Apple Crisp with a Crumble Topping – A Classic Fall Favorite
This comforting classic is always a hit. The warm, gooey apples beneath a crunchy crumble topping are irresistible. Prepare a large batch to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth in your crowd.
Ingredients:
- Filling: 8-10 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix), peeled, cored, and sliced, ½ cup packed brown sugar, ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Topping: 1 cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup packed brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
Instructions:
- Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, combine apples, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice. Toss gently to coat. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Make the topping: In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Bake: Sprinkle topping evenly over the apple filling. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Parfaits – A Lighter Option
For a lighter yet equally delicious option, these no-bake pumpkin cheesecake parfaits are perfect. They're visually appealing, easy to assemble, and can be made ahead of time.
Ingredients: (This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a crowd)
- Crust: 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, ¼ cup sugar, 6 tablespoons melted butter
- Filling: 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened, 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree, ½ cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 1 cup heavy cream, whipped
Instructions:
- Prepare the crust: Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press into the bottom of individual glasses or a larger dish.
- Make the filling: Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Add pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice; mix well. Fold in whipped cream gently.
- Assemble: Layer the crust and filling in glasses or a dish. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Remember to adjust the quantities based on your guest count. Enjoy your fall gathering and the delicious desserts! Happy baking!
