There’s no time like autumn to bake up sweet treats. And what better to satisfy your sweet tooth than cookies? The options for fall cookies and bars are almost unlimited! In this post I’m going to share dozens of my favorites for you to enjoy!
Fall Flavors, Perfect for Sweet Treats
When you think of fall, what flavors come to mind? Many think of pumpkin right away.
I’ll be honest: I’m the last person to think of pumpkin. Why? Because I’m severely allergic! Just the tiniest little taste and I’m reaching for the Benadryl.
The rest of you, though? I’m sure most are head-over-heels in love with all-things-pumpkin. Pumpkin latte. Pumpkin bread. Pumpkin muffins. Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin cookies.
Other Fall Spices to Enjoy
Others are fans of gingerbread and other warm flavors that fall under that same category.
Here are a handful of popular fall spices that you might not think of right away:
Apple: Apples are very popular in the fall! They’re a harvest fruit.
Chai: Chai tea, anyone?
Maple: This one of my very favorites! I love maple in and on cookies, cakes, pies, and coffee cakes!
Caramel: This is high on my list! I make mine by taking a can of sweetened condensed milk and simmering it (in the pan) in boiling water for two hours. Delicious!
Nutmeg: This is another favorite in the fall. You’ll find it in many spice combinations on the baking aisle.
My Favorite Fall Spice. . .Cinnamon!
I love cinnamon. In fact, it’s one of the few “strong spices” I can consume with no worries whatsoever. So you’ll find a lot of cinnamon-themed cookies and bars in this post.
Cinnamon is a dominant fall spice, very popular across the globe. I am not the only one who bakes with it!
Cinnamon is warm and versatile, which make it a staple in a wide range of fall treats and drinks, including many of the cookies and bars you’ll find in this list.
I also use a lot of cinnamon in my fall cakes, muffins, and coffee cakes.
My favorite brand of cinnamon (thanks for asking) is Vietnamese Cinnamon, which I purchase on Amazon. It has a flavor that puts all other cinnamons to shame!
Fall Treats are the Best!
More than anything, fall treats remind us of the changing of the seasons. The hot days of summer meld into the cool, crisp days of fall.
And, as the leaves change from brilliant green to orange, red, and gold, our taste buds remind us that yummy fall sweets are about to make their debut!
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in! I’m so excited to share these fall cookie and bar favorites from Out of the Box Baking!
Fall Cookies and Bars
These aren't listed in any particular order, y'all. I'm just posting them as I go through my recipes, pulling the ones I think you might be interested in!
If you love a delicious pumpkin pie but don't have the time to bake one, have I got a great alternative for you! These simple Pumpkin Spice Bars are quick and easy, and start with a box of cake mix!
If you love the warm rich flavors of butterscotch and toffee you’re going to adore this simple recipe. These delicious cookies are absolutely divine. Best of all, they start with a box of butter pecan cake mix.
If you love German Chocolate cake but want the ease of a tender, flaky cookie bar, this is the recipe for you! The cookie crust has a light chocolate flavor and the rich gooey filling is loaded with coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips.
If you love those warm fall spices and you’re also a fan of a traditional shortbread cookie, this is the sweet treat for you! These delicious cookies are perfect for fall. . .or any time of year!
Everyone in the south knows what hummingbird cake is, but not everyone has the time or energy to bake one. With this easy recipe you’ll get all of those flavors without all of that work!
If you love coconut pecan cake but you’re looking for something with more of a bar or cookie texture you’ve definitely come to the right place! This is one of my simplest (but tastiest) recipes yet. And it starts with canned frosting and a box of white cake mix!
If you love brownie bites you’re going to adore this chocolate on chocolate cookie. Best of all, it starts with a simple cake mix.
If you love a luscious cheesecake bar with a yummy crust and you’re also a fan of apple pie, this is the perfect combination for you!
If you love that rich pumpkin flavor and you’re a fan of super-soft cookies, this is the recipe for you! These delicious cookies are almost cake-like in texture and are loaded with fall flavors!
If you’re looking for a light, crisp buttery cookie, you’ve come to the right place. In this post I’m going to teach you how to make traditional, old-fashioned butter cookies, just like Grandma used to make!
If you’re looking for a bar with a soft sugar cookie crust, cake-like in texture, with a rich almond and cherry flavor, have I got a treat for you! These Simple Cherry Pie Bars (Cherry Cobbler Bars) are gooey, soft, and absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
If you love the cozy taste of a cup of hot chocolate but you’re in the mood for cookies, I’ve got the perfect treat for you! In this recipe I’m going to show you how to make Hot Chocolate Cookies—perfect for any occasion!
These chunky oatmeal cookies are a fun, chewy variation of a traditional oatmeal cookie. It'll leave you feeling like you've gone back to your childhood to grandma's kitchen.
These cookies go by different names. Some call them Mexican Wedding Cookies, some call them Snowballs. Some call them Pecan Sandies, others call them Pecan Balls. Some folks call these soft bites of wonderment Mexican Wedding Cakes or Russian Tea Cookies. No matter what you call them, they're delicious and super easy to make.
If you’re looking for a delicious pumpkin-themed recipe for fall (or any time of year) this is a great one! It’s simple, delicious, and comes together in minutes!
Light, fluffy, peanut-buttery! These cookies are absolute perfection!
Light, fluffy peanut butter cookies sandwiched with Nutella, then skinny-dipped in semi-sweet chocolate and covered in chopped peanuts? Yes, please!
This delicious cookie is loaded with three favorites: the creaminess of chocolate, the salty flavor of pretzels, all in a yummy peanut butter base.
In this post you will receive all of the information you need to make the ultimate cut-out sugar cookies, which you can hand-paint for the season!
Nutty, rich, and loaded with the delicious flavors found only in brown butter, this cookie is a sensory overload!
If you love brownies but want the convenience of a gooey cookie, you’ve come to the right place! In this recipe you’ll learn how to make ridiculously easy stuffed brownie cookies. They’re not like anything you’ve ever had, I promise!
If you enjoy red velvet cake with luscious cream cheese frosting you're going to flip over these yummy Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies. They're simple to make and loaded with rich cocoa flavor. Best of all, the recipe starts with a boxed cake mix!
If you've been looking for the perfect sugar crinkle cookies, you've come to the right place! This easy recipe is so fool-proof that you'll use it again and again! It's perfect as a sugar cookie, but with a few variations can serve as a base for much, much more!
Every baker needs an amazing chocolate chip cookie recipe, one that causes people to stop in their tracks and say, "Oh my goodness, this is the best cookie I've ever eaten!" This recipe will bring that sort of reaction. It's got the charm of a traditional chocolate chip cookie with something extra--the bliss of browned butter.
If you love the flavor of a yummy oatmeal cookie but you're looking for a bit more crunch, this is the recipe for you. Crisp and sweet, this delicious cookie is packed full of nutritious goodness. Best of all, it's incredibly easy to make.
If you enjoy the combination of salted caramel and chocolate, you're going to love this amazing new recipe. It's rich and decadent, loaded with sweetness and an added pinch of salt.
If you love a great pecan cookie, one with a hint of salt, you're going to flip over these Potato Chip Cookies. They are the perfect combination of crunchy and soft, salty and sweet.
If you love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, you've definitely come to the right place. Today's recipe is those soft, fluffy peanut butter cookies with luscious Hersheys Kisses on top.
If you’re looking for a quick, easy cookie to serve your Halloween guests, this is it! You can use any base cookie recipe you like, but adding an icing mummy wrap to the cookie will send it over the top.
If you love brownies but you're equally as fond of chocolate chip cookies, this is the perfect recipe for you! These Brookies have a lush brownie bottom and a tender chocolate chip cookie on top. Best of all, they start with a box mix.
If you're looking for a fluffy, crisp, old-fashioned Sugar Cookie, do I have a treat for you! This is a simple sugar cookie recipe, packed full of flavor, and straight from Grandma's cookbook!
In this post I’m going to show you how to make a simple pecan pie cookie, perfect for a quick treat! This recipe will be particularly exciting during the holiday season.
If you love a good shortbread crust and you're also a huge fan of caramel and chocolate, have I got a treat for you! These easy Twix cookies come together quickly and require very few ingredients!
If you’re in the mood for a quick, easy cookie—one loaded with oats, chocolate, and peanut butter—have I got the perfect no-bake recipe for you!
This is a delicious slice-and-bake cookie dough that can be made in advance and frozen. Just like those tubes of cookie dough you buy at the store, this one is convenient. But it's cheaper and healthier, too!
If you love luscious gooey bars, filled with the crunch of coconut and the sweetness of chocolate and condensed milk, you’ve come to the right place! This is the traditional recipe and incredibly easy to make.
In this post I’m going to share my personal recipe for Butterfinger Cookies. They’re rich with peanut butter and chocolate lavor, loaded with texture, and simple to make!
If you're looking for a crisp, chewy bar loaded with pecan flavor, you've come to the right place. These pecan chewies are absolutely delicious and so easy to make!
If you’re looking for a light, flaky cookie, loaded with toasted pecan flavor, have I got a recipe for you! These Easy Pecan Sandies are so simple and start with only four ingredients!
If you're looking for a simple base recipe for just about any kind of cookie, this is it! You can use this simple recipe as a foundation for literally any kind of cookie add-ins.
If you’re looking for a rich maple shortbread that’s flaky and delicious, have I got a treat for you! This recipe is so simple, you don’t even need a mixer!
If you love the flavor of carrot cake but the ease of a bar, have I got a treat for you. These luscious carrot cake bars come together in no time. And best of all, they start with a box of cake mix!
If you love a delicious German chocolate cake with coconut pecan frosting, have I got a treat for you! These bars come together quickly, taste amazing, and best of all. . .they start with a box of cake mix!
If you love German Chocolate cake but want it in cookie form, do I have a treat for you! You’ll love these sweeter-than-coconut sandwich cookies, stuffed with coconut pecan frosting!
If you’re crazy about the combination of bananas, caramel, and pecans, but you don’t want to the hassle of making bananas foster from scratch, do I have a treat for you! These easy bars have all of those delicious flavors, but start with a box of cake mix!
You love coffee. You love cheesecake. You want to merge those two flavors into one easy-to-eat bar. No worries! In this recipe you'll learn how to do just that!
If you love the luscious flavors of apple and caramel, this is the recipe for you. These bars are delicious and simple. Best of all, they start with a box of cake mix.
If you love the rich chocolate and coconut flavors of an Almond Joy bar, have I got a treat for you! In this post I’m going to show you how to make a sweet treat with those same flavors. . .and it all starts with a box of cake mix!
These Churro cookies are a Crumbl copy cake. They're soft and have an amazing flavor and texture. But that cinnamon sugar topping is everything. And can we just talk about the frosting?
That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed these delicious fall recipes! I’ve given you a lot to choose from.
If you make any of these recipes and enjoy them, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you’re at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!
See these recipes at
Learn more about doctored cake mixes, the theme of this blog.
For the master list of all doctored cake mix recipes on this site, visit Doctored Cake Mix Recipes, Master List.
About the Author
Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 150 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.
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