Cozy Desserts to Warm Up the Colder Weather

Created September 24, 2024

Peanut butter and smores dip in a skillet topped with toasted marshmallows and served with graham crackers.

When the weather cools down, it’s natural to turn to warming foods to bring that sense of comfort. But there are so many more opportunities to bring the heat beyond the main dish. Here are some of our favorite desserts that are best served warm!

There’s something undeniably satisfying about a dessert served hot and fresh. A warm peach cobbler, filling up the kitchen with a rich, sweet scent. An ooey-gooey monkey bread, unleashing even more flavor with every pull. When served hot, dessert transforms into a comforting treat that surrounds you with indulgent flavors, decadent textures, and inviting aromas. Especially when the outside temperature starts to dip, warming desserts achieve much more than their cold counterparts.

The allure of warm desserts lies in how heat affects flavor and texture. Not only do these baked treats deliver golden-brown goodness and crispy crusts, but also the flavors inside—savory cinnamon, sweet berry, decadent dulce de leche—take on a new dimension in the heat. Sugar caramelizes becoming rich and complex. Cinnamon melds beautifully with the sweetness of fresh fruits. These aren’t just the flavors of the fall; these are the tastes of home. The warm, satisfying, comforting sensations that take us back to what it felt like to have a warm, delicious homemade meal. Let’s dig into the range of warm dessert recipes that will give that same experience to your own family and friends.

Captivating Cobblers

Cobblers are phenomenal not just because of the luscious mix of sweet and savory flavors, but because they’re so effortless to make. When you combine a sweet, fruity filling with a simple biscuit topping—or a cinnamon roll, yum yum—magic happens in the oven. In as little as ten minutes of prep, you can have a warm, fresh dessert that’s sure to satisfy.

Breathtaking Bread Pudding

Fabulously versatile and loaded with flavor, bread puddings make simple ingredients combine together to create one-of-a-kind dessert experiences. Explore this collection and see the many forms bread pudding can take. You’re sure to find a flavor that will go perfectly with your main dish, with a taste and texture that’s exactly what you’re looking for.

Astounding Apple Pies & Twists

You know it, you love it, apple pie never disappoints. From the classic apple pie recipe to an astonishingly simple 2-ingredient version to reinvented apple turnovers, Pillsbury has you covered for all your apple pie ambitions. Especially in the fall time period, apple pie is that perfect dessert that hits the spot every time.

Magnificent Monkey Bread

The perfect combination of golden-brown dough and indulgent sweetness, monkey bread is great as a breakfast or brunch treat. But that’s not all. Many of these recipes work just as well as an after-dinner dessert or an alluring appetizer for a casual get together. One thing’s for sure: With so many options, your guests will have plenty of flavor to go around.

Spectacular Skillet Desserts

The stovetop may not be your first stop for dessert, but it’s time to rethink those assumptions. These recipes turn your skillet into your secret ingredient! For the perfect combination of hot and gooey inside plus crispy, crunch outside, the skillet is the place to bring dessert to life!

Sensational Slow-Cooker Desserts

Is there anything the slow-cooker can’t do? These recipes turn one of your favorite appliances into a flavor factory. In exactly the same way slow-cooking your main meals creates a lush blend of sensory bliss, it allows dessert ingredients to absorb each other’s flavor profiles so sweet, spicy, and savory create a symphony in every bite.

… And So Much More!

The world of hot desserts is a world of satisfying experiences, and it’s one that’s full of fun ideas to explore. Let these Pillsbury favorites be your inspiration to take your next meal experience to the next level. We know you’ll find that the best way to turn up the taste is to turn up the heat!