As autumn sets in and the air becomes crisp, it’s time to fire up the oven and utilize the abundance of seasonal produce for delectable baked treats. Stone fruits, apples, pears, pumpkins, squash, and root vegetables like carrots and beets are all in their prime at this time of year.
After a trip to the farmers’ market or a U-pick farm, you may find yourself coming back with more fruits and veggies than planned. The challenge now is deciding what to bake first – something sweet or savory, perhaps incorporating classic fall flavors such as maple and pumpkin spice, a traditional carrot cake, or a hint of cardamom.
Options abound, from fluffy sweet potato dinner rolls with maple butter to a unique red velvet beet cake. While pie-making is synonymous with fall, think beyond the usual pumpkin pie and explore savory galettes or innovative twists on apple pie with cheddar or candied ginger.
To make the most of the season’s bounty, consider preserving fruits for later use. Jars of applesauce can be transformed into a cake with cream cheese and honey frosting, while quince jelly can star in a no-bake mascarpone cheesecake.
Even during an unexpected fall heatwave, you can still enjoy seasonal produce without heating up the kitchen. Grill peaches for a delightful sundae, poach pears with saffron for an elegant dessert, whip up carrot halwa, or indulge in pumpkin spice caramel apples.
Explore a variety of recipes like butternut squash pie with oat crust, delicata squash and mushroom tart, rustic mushroom and kale galette, sweet potato-fig flatbread, French onion rolls, apple-cheddar pie, classic pumpkin pie, cranberry, apple, and candied ginger pie, apple harvest cake, classic carrot cake with cream cheese icing, Julia Turshen’s applesauce cake with cream cheese honey frosting, no-bake quince mascarpone cheesecake, red velvet beet cakes, cardamom-pistachio stone fruit crumble, rum raisin and cider pear pie, chocolate-tahini fudge sundae with grilled peaches, carrot halwa, pumpkin spice caramel apples, and saffron-chai poached pears.
Indulge in the flavors of fall with these sweet and savory baking recipes that celebrate the best of the season’s produce.