Fall is a season best experienced with your taste buds. Even on warmer days like this week, all it takes to capture the season is a sampling of four key ingredients: a burst of cinnamon, an indulgent swirl of caramel, a velvety dollop of pureed pumpkin, and a crisp, juicy apple.
You can find these flavors just about anywhere, from Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts to Starbucks’ fall drinks: the Salted Caramel Mocha, Pumpkin Spice Latte and Caramel Apple Cider. They’re offered for a limited time only, so it’s easy to want to gobble up as many tastes of the season as you can muster. The problem? It can be a drain on your wallet. And it doesn’t fill your apartment with that sweet, fresh-from-the-oven scent. (Even a Yankee Candle can’t hold a, well, you know, to the real thing.)
With that in mind, here’s a roundup of the best pumpkin and apple recipes. We’ve tested them to make sure they’re worthy of your palette — now it’s up to you to get cooking.
Canned Pumpkin Recipes:
Yes, you read correctly — they all use canned pumpkin. You can substitute pureed sugar pumpkin, but this method will save you serious time — and cleanup.
Chris Gardner’s Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie
Apple Recipes:
Gala or Fuji apples tend to work best, since they’re crisp and flavorful without being overly sweet. Opt for Granny Smith apples if you’re after a more tart taste.
Just-Like-Starbucks Caramel Apple Cider
White Chocolate Peanut Butter Dip with Sliced Apples
If you’re the type who’s not satisfied with just one dip (or maybe you’re allergic to peanut butter, which is a real tragedy!), here’s a recipe for a no-fuss caramel sauce you can make in the microwave. It doesn’t require candy thermometers or any other fancy equipment, so it’s perfect for dorm dwellers! Or those who are easily intimidated by the thought of cooking caramel from scratch. (Ahem, me.)
Let me know if you have any droolworthy apple or pumpkin recipes that I can add to my fall food repertoire. And if you just can’t resist regular stops at Starbucks, Her Campus has a great guide to which fall drinks are worth savoring — and which you should just skip.