40 Caramel Desserts That Are Delicious in the Fall (and Every Other Season)

Caramel and nuts go together like peanut butter and jelly. Here, chopped macadamia nuts meet caramel custard atop a press-in cocoa crust.

They blow American-style cinnamon rolls way out of the water. Think ribbons of cinnamon-sugar laced with crunchy almonds and pools of salted caramel.

Rice pudding is such an underrated dessert, but we’re betting one bite of this Crock-Pot gem will push it right to the top of your list. (After all, it basically cooks itself.)

This plant-based caramel doesn’t have a drop of dairy in it. Canned coconut cream takes over for butter and heavy cream, while miso paste gives it a punch of salty umami.

Ta-da, your contribution to this year’s holiday cookie swap. Not only are these star-shaped treats gorgeous (thanks, fancy sprinkles), but they also only take 25 minutes to make from start to finish.

A million times more impressive than pumpkin pie, but just as autumnal. Cooking the squash beforehand while you’re mixing the batter is the key to getting it uber caramelized.

The easy-as-pie caramel is baked into and drizzled on top of the macaroons, so they’re extra buttery and sweet.

Behold: Fall in a teeny-tiny, delicious package. Might we suggest serving them after Thanksgiving dinner?

You’re only six ingredients away from this silky custard doused in drippy caramel sauce. The secret to its rich texture and flavor? Sweetened condensed milk.

Paper doll-shaped gingerbread men are classic…but boring. These chewy spiced alternatives are way more surprising, and they’re stuffed with easy store-bought caramels to boot.

All it takes to create the drool-worthy caramel for this breakfast-dessert hybrid is butter, brown sugar and bananas, similar to bananas foster.

Traditionally, this British sponge cake is loaded with dates and toffee sauce. Our modern riff on the treat stars nothing but butter and honeycomb, which reduce into a thick caramel-like coating.

The O.G. version is flawless, but these are no doubt more exciting. Your guests will never know you used store-bought salted caramel sauce.

Warning: This sweet-and-salty trifecta will blow your mind. We’re suckers for the thick caramel filling and chocolate ganache, but our favorite part is the press-in pretzel crust.

We can hear your kids asking for seconds already. Dunk them into hot cocoa when the weather’s cold or use them to make ice cream sandwiches in the summertime.

How does it get that crunchy gourmet-looking crust? We’re so glad you asked. Before the cake is finished baking, it gets crowned with a layer of sugared slivered almonds, which turns toasty and golden brown in just a few minutes.

Gooey caramel + soft bananas + light-as-air whipped cream + crunchy graham crackers = heaven in a ramekin.

There’s store-bought dulce de leche (aka a thick caramel made by slowly cooking sugar and milk together) both in the cream cheese filling and swirled on top. Don’t skimp on the toasted coconut chips.

These have Halloween party written all over them. And since the recipe uses small lady apples, your kids can actually bite into them, unlike those behemoths at the county fair.

Three cheers for better-for-you desserts. Despite how moist and fudgy these brownies are, they’re loaded with potassium and fiber (and only contain 8 grams of sugar each).

It’s tart. It’s sweet. It’s downright divine. Pineapple caramel pairs best with vanilla ice cream, but feel free to drizzle it onto grilled tropical fruit, pie or apple slices as well.

The delicate cookies are rolled in vanilla-infused sugar (which is nothing but blitzed vanilla bean seeds and sugar) before they’re baked for extra flavor.

Considering that the base is store-bought biscuit dough and it all comes together in a Crock-Pot, it’s safe to say that this recipe is foolproof, down to the sticky praline topping.

Meet your new go-to brunch recipe. These handhelds are studded with pecans and chunks of sugary pie crust before being stuffed with three-ingredient caramel filling.

Can you believe this Insta-worthy beauty is plant-based and gluten-free? Chalk it up to the crispy almond shortbread crust and coconut cream filling.

If you’re a sucker for all things made with brown butter, then buckle up. These cuties dusted in cinnamon-sugar will leave you speechless.

Don’t sweat it if you don’t have a kitchen torch for the crackly caramel crust. Simply pop the ramekins in a cold oven and turn on the broiler until the tops are golden brown.

Canned dulce de leche, three-ingredient honeycomb and the easiest crust of all time keep fussiness at a minimum, resulting in a shockingly easy 40-minute recipe.

We *love* icebox cookies because they’re a breeze to make ahead. Just prep the dough, refrigerate or freeze it in the shape of a log, then slice and bake whenever you need a fresh batch.

Grilled dessert is a thing. A gloriously delicious thing. Serve these peaches at your next summer barbecue and your guests will ask for it year after year.

As if a crumbly shortbread crust, spiced apple filling and brown sugar-oat streusel weren’t enticing enough, these handhelds are drizzled with salted caramel before being served.

Any dessert that doesn’t require us to turn on the oven is one after our own heart. The base is a wholesome mix of oats, pecans, pretzels and Medjool dates.

These chewy bars are already loaded with brown sugar, butter and salted caramel sauce. The butterscotch chips are just a bonus.

This Southern classic boasts moist yellow butter cake enrobed in thick, luscious caramel icing made with basics like butter, evaporated milk and sugar.

There’s no need to buy an ice cream maker for this summer delicacy. All it takes is an electric mixer, a loaf pan and a freezer.

Forget the packet stuff—this homemade alternative is just as simple to prepare. The hardest step is waiting for it to chill in the fridge before digging in.

Catch us making these for every single person on our Christmas list.

If you snack like us, it’s always near impossible to decide between sweet and salty. Luckily, this recipe offers the best of both worlds.

The brownies are oozing with the flavors of not only chopped milk chocolate, but also instant coffee and hazelnut liqueur.

You know how the best part of a crumble is the bits of crispy brown sugar on top? You’re about to whip up an entire sheet pan’s worth of the stuff. Happy noshing.