31 Fall Bread Recipes To Fill Your Home With Warmth

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Updated on October 25, 2023

Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread — Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

When you think about fall baking, what do you imagine? We imagine cozying up on our screened porches on a weekend morning, wrapped under a plaid blanket, holding a cup of hot coffee, and enjoying the steaming slice of coffee cake we just pulled from the oven. Perhaps you imagine gathering around the family dinner table with a large pot of hearty chili and a basket of fresh, homemade dinner rolls.

These recipes are classic, heart-warming Southern comfort foods like grandma used to bake. Whether you want a coffee cake coated in a sugary glaze or icebox dinner rolls to sop up Thanksgiving gravy, this list rounds up delicious breads to suit every occasion.

01 of 31

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

pumpkin cream cheese swirl muffins — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Too much pumpkin spice? Never! The cream cheese swirl adds a danish-like quality to this mixture, which tastes delicious in both muffin and loaf form.

02 of 31

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Southern Living Pumpkin Bread sliced on a cutting board — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Give classic pumpkin bread a chocolaty upgrade with this one-bowl quick bread recipe. The pepitas and sugar on top are optional, but they add an irresistible crunch that makes this pumpkin bread company-worthy.

03 of 31

Cranberry Orange Muffins

Southern Living Cranberry Orange Muffins after baking — Molly Bolton

Cranberries and orange muffins, with warm and toasty spices cinnamon and nutmeg, are the perfect breakfast for fall morning.

04 of 31

Apple Muffins

Sugar-and-Spice Apple Muffins — Photo: Stephen Devries; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Cozy up with warm apple cider and one of these tender apple muffins to kick off fall the right way. Or, enjoy one of these fall-infused morsels while you're on the go.

05 of 31

Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread — Micah A. Leal

Classic pumpkin bread is usually first on our baking list as soon as the temperatures dip below 80 degrees. This easy recipe requires only 10 minutes of hands-on time, two bowls, and a whisk to pull together.

06 of 31

Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread

Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread — Alison Miksch; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Beer and pumpkin flavors are the unexpected show-stoppers of this unique bread. When preparing this bread for the oven, ensure not to over-mix your batter.

07 of 31

Cherry-Pecan Swirl Bread

Cherry-Pecan Swirl Bread — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

A homemade dough, cherry pecan filling, and glaze with orange zest create an impressive bread that's as beautiful as it is delicious. The orange juice base and powdered sugar glaze perfectly complement the cherry pecan filling.

08 of 31

Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit

Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit on a plate with jam and butter — Will Dickey

Our Test Kitchen baked hundreds of biscuits until we landed on our all-time favorite, no-fail recipe that will impress new cooks and seasoned pros alike. There's no way to go wrong with biscuits that have this level of buttery goodness.

09 of 31

Sally Lunn Bread

Sally Lunn Bread

The no-knead recipe came from England, but Southerners have been starry-eyed for the brioche-like loaf for decades. Named for its creator, an 18th-century Englishwoman, this bread recipe is a popular option in any season.

10 of 31

No-Knead Buttermilk Bread

No-Knead Buttermilk Bread — Greg DuPree

You'll feel like a professional baker after creating this bread. Baking in a cast-iron Dutch oven makes a crisp golden crust without kneading. Use a well-floured surface to turn the dough but incorporate as little extra flour as possible.

11 of 31

Chocolate Monkey Bread

Chocolate Monkey Bread — Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Make monkey bread even more decadent with a homemade chocolate glaze. This classic breakfast pull-apart bread starts with frozen yeast balls, thawed in a refrigerator overnight, and ends with a chocolate ganache.

12 of 31

Apple Bread

Apple Bread — Micah A. Leal

You probably have most of the ingredients for this bread recipe on hand in your pantry. Brown sugar and honey in the batter add a sweet quality to the mixture, complementing the apple's tartness.

13 of 31

Sweet Potato Cornbread

Skillet Cornbread — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Add an autumnal touch to cornbread by adding two cups of mashed sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie spice. This bread is great on its own or paired with your favorite fall dish.

14 of 31

Mini Pecan Monkey Bread Loaves

Mini Pecan Monkey Bread Loaves Recipe — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Frozen yeast rolls help these miniature loaves come together with less effort on your part. This recipe is great for brunches or events where everyone can treat themselves to an individual loaf.

15 of 31

Apple Butter-Pecan Quick Bread

Apple Butter-Pecan Quick Bread — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

True to its name, this bread only takes about 20 minutes of hands-on time to assemble. After a morning of smelling delicious vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar rising from your oven, the hardest part of this recipe might be waiting for the bread to cool before diving in.

16 of 31

Praline Pull-Apart Bread

Praline Pull-Apart Bread — Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Caroline Murphey

You'll need just seven ingredients and 15 minutes prep time to create this indulgent pull-apart bread. Pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon are the basis for a decadent fall dish.

17 of 31

Apple Cider Doughnuts

Apple Cider Doughnuts — Jennifer Causey

These lightly spiced doughnuts are incredibly moist from the combination of apple butter, cider, and grated apples. Grab one of these doughnuts to enjoy with your morning coffee as you watch the fall foliage change.

18 of 31

Applesauce Muffins

Applesauce Muffins — Micah A. Leal

This muffin recipe uses applesauce and greek yogurt as a healthier alternative to recipes calling for butter or oil. The brown sugar and cinnamon create a beautiful mix, and optional walnuts and golden raisins add a little extra flavor.

19 of 31

Caramel Apple Coffee Cake

Caramel Apple Coffee Cake — Photo: Jennifer Davick

This cake is down-home delicious and so easy you won't believe you started from scratch. Don't let the baking time intimidate you — this recipe requires only a little over half an hour of hands-on time, and the streusel topping and caramel center are well-worth the baking time.

20 of 31

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Sweet Potato Biscuits — Micah A. Leal

Serve these baked-from-scratch biscuits warm with butter, honey, and jam. Another platter containing seared slices of country ham and pepper jelly or deli ham and pimiento cheese will be welcomed pairings.

21 of 31

Spiced Apple-Pecan Swirl Bread

Spiced Apple-Pecan Swirl Bread — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

This spice apple bread looks so impressive with its swirls and layered dough that your guests will never guess how easy it was to bake. An apple cider glaze makes this recipe extra suitable for fall.

22 of 31

Angel Biscuits

Angel Biscuits Recipe — Photo: Alison Miksch

Nestle these yeast biscuits snug in their pan, and they'll rise even higher when baked. This dough will refrigerate in an airtight container for up to five days.

23 of 31

Bananas Foster Coffee Cake with Vanilla-Rum Sauce

Bananas Foster Coffee Cake with Vanilla-Rum Sauce — Photo: Alison Miksch

Pecans, cinnamon, and banana will be a delicious reprieve from the typical apple or pumpkin dish after baking all season. It's called coffee cake, but this tastes more like dessert.

24 of 31

Sweet Potato Muffins

Sweet Potato Muffins — Micah A. Leal

A variation of fall-favorite pumpkin muffins, sweet potato is a nice substitute if you want a less sweet option for breakfast or to pair with your meal. You can eat these muffins with butter or alongside a cup of coffee.

25 of 31

Apple Butter Doughnuts with Salted-Caramel Glaze

Apple Butter Doughnuts with Salted-Caramel Glaze — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Homemade apple butter doughnuts? Say no more. The only thing to improve these fall treats is adding the salted-caramel glaze. Make this fall treat extra special by making slow-cooker apple butter.

26 of 31

Apple Cinnamon Bread

apple cinnamon bread — Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Apple and cinnamon-based bread smell delicious when baking, which is why you want to take note of this recipe. This recipe makes two loaves, leaving plenty for holiday or weekend guests. Serve with apple or plain butter.

27 of 31

Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread

Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Pull-apart bread is forgiving, so you don't need to worry about perfectly arranging this dough. This bread is also great to make in a pinch because you probably have most of the ingredients.

28 of 31

Sorghum-Pecan Monkey Bread Muffins Recipe

Sorghum-Pecan Monkey Bread Muffins — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

The smell of cinnamon rising from the oven will wake up everyone in your house. Prepare this dough the night before and refrigerate for easier preparation. You can also toast the pecans before baking and keep them in the freezer until you need them—a great tip for all your fall baking.

29 of 31

Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes Recipe

Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes — Brian Woodcock

Need a host gift for all your fall events? Make life easier with a mini-pound cake . The recipe includes three topping options, so there's something for every preference.

30 of 31

Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Cider Glaze

Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Cider Glaze — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

These fall-inspired cinnamon rolls, a breakfast bread with apple butter and apple cider, create the ultimate apple-themed package. This recipe requires time to rise, so we recommended preparing and freezing them the night before.

31 of 31

Coffee Cake Muffins

Southern Living Coffee Cake Muffins on a plate with a cup of coffee to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Coffee cake in muffin form? Yes, please. These cinnamon-inspired muffins are great for breakfast, as an afternoon treat, or for a post-dinner dessert. These homemade muffins also freeze, so make them ahead of your guests' arrival, thaw, and microwave them to serve for breakfast when needed.

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