Fall is in full swing and the holidays are nigh. Something about the crisp fall air and the turning leaves that just makes biting into pumpkin and apple treats your primary culinary objective. There's stress eating, so maybe this is seasonal eating? Kind of like the much better side-effect of the changing seasons, an alternative to seasonal affective disorder or some other such maddening affliction that makes enjoying pumpkin spice desserts that much more difficult.
Enough ranting and raving from me though…If you're still searching for some fall-inspired pumpkin and apple treats to rain upon your family or to impress family for the upcoming holidays, we've got you covered.
So give into your innermost basic desires and find that deliciously pumpkin spiced, cinnamon, apple-flavored sweet that your soul yearns for.
Fluffy Apple Cider Pancakes
These homemade apple cider pancakes on a Sunday morning will release you of all your cravings for both a stack of pancakes and sweet fall treats. The aroma of warm butter, spiced apple cider, and maple syrup is basically a starter kit for most excellent fall vibes. What's more, this is a proven recipe that always gets kudos from friends and family as well as questions like: Where did you buy the apple cider pancake mix?! BOUGHT IT FROM MY BRAIN, THAT'S WHERE.
Glazed Pumpkin Scones
We don't know why Starbucks decided to drop these delightfully striped pumpkin scones from their menu, but luckily you can enjoy them at home with natural ingredients and oodles of homemade goodness! Plus, bonus, there's no guilt trip from the calorie count on the food labels. ;)
Cinnamon Sugar Apple Fritters
There are donuts. And then there are fritters. Frankly, I'm not quite sure what the difference is given they're both sweet, fried, and delicious. If you're looking to side-step the pomp and circumstance that comes with homemade donuts, make these easy apple fritters instead. Flavored with apple cider and grated apple, these may just become a family favorite! That's what happened to us! You can keep yer high falutin donuts, I say!
Pumpkin Tres Leches Cake with Spiced Cream
This Pumpkin Tres Leches Cake with Spiced Cream is one of those recipes where you really see just how important it is to get out of your baking and dessert ruts. Pumpkin bread is all well and good, but this cake only requires minimal additional effort for a result that is deliciously soft, moist, and packed with delightful fall flavors. Irresistible pretty much from bite number 1.
Pumpkin English Muffins
Making English muffins seem like a daunting task, but they're actually surprisingly easy in the grand scheme of the homemade bread world, and once you go homemade on these you'll never go back to storebought. We started making English muffins in Beijing because we couldn't buy them locally. Hence, our recipes for Plain English Muffins, Homemade Multigrain English Muffins, and Pumpkin English Muffins were born.
Pumpkin Mochi with Pumpkin Filling
Pumpkin is one of those ingredients that seems uniquely North American, given it's ubiquity during Halloween and Thanksgiving festivities, but people in Asia also enjoy pumpkin treats when gourds are in season! Skip the steamed pumpkin cubes (save that for the austere, post holiday dieting) and make these adorable little Pumpkin Mochis! Because just look at them!
Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Vanilla Buttercream
If you're looking to flex your Martha Stewart muscle–perhaps looking to blow those other PTA moms out of the water at the fall bake sale–give these Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Vanilla Buttercream a whirl. They're packed with flavor not to mention completely adorable. Obviously.
Pumpkin Granola
Homemade granola is a craving that pretty much always strikes this time of year, and it's really easy to make! The addition of pumpkin adds an extra fibrous, anti-oxidant kick. Spend a morning making a big batch and enjoy or give out as gifts!
Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Scones
When I was little and we'd carve jack o'lanterns, my parents always saved the pumpkin seeds. Now that I'm a bit older, the pumpkin carving is probably too much trouble, but the seeds are worth saving. We decided to stud pumpkin scones with dark chocolate and finish them off with a healthy sprinkling of pumpkin seeds for a perfectly acceptable, anti-oxidant rich dessert for breakfast recipe!
Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Coffee cake is delicious. Apple cake is delicious. Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake is reeeeeeeeeeally delicious. The addition of apple takes some of the pressure of the addition of oil and butter in a standard coffee cake, making for a very moist and very deliciously apple-y cake.
Pumpkin Cake with Mexican Chocolate Whipped Cream
This is for the people who laugh in the face of tradition and are looking for something a bit more adventurous than your typical pumpkin bread or pumpkin muffin. Moist light pumpkin cake is finished off with wonderfully delicious Mexican chocolate whipped cream. Nuff said, really.
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