There is something about fall that makes us want to eat all the cozy things.

Warm apple pie, cinnamon sugar, fresh apple cider, pumpkin treats and a really good pastry with a hot coffee all hit differently once sweater weather arrives.

If you’re looking for a sweet fall outing with the kids, or just an excuse to treat yourself, here are some of our favourite places to check out around Barrie this season.

📍 2935 Barrie Hill Rd., Springwater

This might be the quintessential Barrie-area fall treat.

Barrie Hill Farms makes its apple cider donuts using apples grown right on the farm, and you can pair them with fresh-pressed apple cider for the full fall experience. Their farm bakery also makes apple and pumpkin pies, plus other fruit pies using produce grown on the farm.

Make an afternoon of it by picking apples or pumpkins before stopping for something sweet.

Mom Scoop pick: Apple cider donuts + hot apple cider. 🍎

📍 3088 Horseshoe Valley Rd. W., Phelpston

A short drive north of Barrie brings you to Nicholyn Farms, where the on-site bakery is a destination on its own.

Their seasonal pumpkin pie is made with pumpkin, brown sugar and classic fall spices including cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. If pumpkin isn't your thing, their bakery also makes apple pie and apple crumble pie from scratch.

There are also farm animals to visit, making this an easy little family outing rather than just a bakery run.

Mom Scoop pick: Pumpkin pie for Sunday dessert. 🎃

📍 96 Victoria St., Barrie

Fox's has been baking in Barrie since 1978, and sometimes you just can't beat an old-school bakery treat.

Their sweet counter includes cinnamon buns, Chelsea buns, butter tarts, cookies, brownies and pies. Even better for fall, apple pies are currently the bakery's Saturday special.

Grab a pie, take it home and warm it up. Add vanilla ice cream and you have a pretty perfect fall dessert.

Mom Scoop pick: Cinnamon bun for now, apple pie for later. 🥧

📍 240 Bayview Dr., Barrie

Donuts and fall weekends just belong together.

Mmm Donuts makes its donuts by hand and offers a rotating selection of creative flavours, along with classics like glazed and cinnamon-style treats. The entire menu is plant-based, making it an especially useful stop for families looking for dairy-free or vegan treats.

The fun part is checking the case and letting everyone pick their own.

Mom Scoop pick: Build a mixed box and bring it home for a fall movie night. 🍩

📍 480 Mapleton Ave., Barrie

For a neighbourhood bakery stop, Jake's Bakes deserves a spot on the list.

The small Barrie bakery has developed a strong local following for its butter tarts, cinnamon rolls, cookies, brownies and pies, with its butter tarts getting particularly enthusiastic recommendations from Barrie locals.

A butter tart and coffee on a cool Saturday morning? Very hard to argue with.

Mom Scoop pick: Classic butter tart. 🍁

📍 3239 Penetanguishene Rd., Barrie area

For something a little different from the usual pie-and-donut route, head north for locally made chocolate.

Chelsea Chocolate Company specializes in handcrafted chocolates, truffles and seasonal novelty pieces, with fall among the seasonal collections offered by the chocolatier.

This is an especially fun stop if you want to pick up a little treat for the kids and something considerably more sophisticated for yourself.

Mom Scoop pick: A few seasonal chocolates plus a box of truffles to share. 🍫

📍 80 Dunlop St. E., Downtown Barrie

Not every fall treat needs pumpkin in it.

Homestead is a great downtown stop for a freshly made pastry and coffee before heading for a walk along Barrie's waterfront. The bakery focuses on small-batch baking using locally milled flour, while its coffee comes from Barrie-based Good Monday Coffee Roasters.

Grab something from the pastry case, get a coffee to go and head toward Kempenfelt Bay for peak cozy-fall-weekend energy.

Mom Scoop pick: Whatever pastry looks best that morning + a hot coffee. ☕🍂

Can't choose just one?

Start downtown with coffee and a pastry, grab a few bakery treats for later, then head out toward Springwater for fresh cider and something apple-filled.

Because fall in Barrie is short, and we fully support eating as many apple cider donuts as possible while the season lasts. 🍎❤️

Did we miss your favourite fall treat? Tell us where we need to go next!

Seasonal menus and availability can change, so it's worth checking with each business before making a special trip.