I'm SO Ready For Summer To Be Over, So Here Are The 17 Autumnal Recipes I'm Making This Weekend
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Don’t get me wrong, I love summer, but when the end of August rolls around, I can’t help but dream of the best season of all time—FALL. Look, I can’t hate on BBQs, nice produce like peaches and corn, and being able to walk out of the house in just shorts and flip flops, but nothing beats that first chill-in-the-air, new beginnings feeling that fall brings. Pumpkins! Sweater weather! Tailgates! Apple picking! Halloween! Back-to-school! Now those are a few of my favorite things. I know we’ve got a few more weeks of the season (both officially—last day is September 22—and in a few more inevitable hot days ahead), but as for me, I’m fully done with summer. You’ll find me sipping pumpkin spice lattes, starting on some baking projects, and seeking out the first fresh cranberries of the season. Join me?
Apple Cider Donuts
As soon as I even think I feel a slight chill in the air, I'm craving an apple cider donut. These ones are baked, which yields a soft, dense donut, and brushed in butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar. One bite, and you'll feel transported to an apple orchard.
Get the Apple Cider Donuts recipe.
Pumpkin Curry
Curry's a fave year round, but come fall, this pumpkin version gets more than its fair spot on my dinner rotation. The recipe starts by roasting the pumpkin to provide some caramelization and nuttiness—some of the roasted pumpkin gets blended into the sauce too for maximum fall flavor.
Get the Pumpkin Curry recipe.
Holiday Roasted Vegetables
The dried cranberries and balsamic vinegar add some sweetness and tartness while the pecans add an extra crunch to these holiday-worthy vegetables. I like to use Brussels sprouts and carrots, but feel free to add whatever vegetables you can find at the farmer's market.
Get the Holiday Roasted Vegetables recipe.
Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip
This cranberry-topped whipped feta dip is here to save your holiday appetizer planning. Fresh feta cheese is combined with herbs, garlic, and cream cheese, whipped until super-smooth, then topped with tart homemade cranberry sauce, toasted pistachios, and honey. The result is a salty, creamy, sweet, tart, and absolutely irresistible dip.
Get the Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip recipe.
Chicken Pot Pie
Truly comfort food at its finest, chicken pot pie represents the gorgeous marriage of a flaky, buttery crust with diced chicken, onions, carrots, and peas in a creamy sauce. I know it's a dish I can easily find pre-made in the freezer aisle, but the end of summer has me craving baking my own from scratch.
Get the Chicken Pot Pie recipe.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Pumpkin spice latte season is officially HERE (August 22 at Starbucks). If, like me, you prefer to avoid the big chains, you'll be happy to know it's easy and delicious to make your own at home.
Get the Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe.
Gnocchi Stuffing
I know no one's technically stopping me from making traditional stuffing whenever I want, but it feels almost sacrilege to make it outside of Thanksgiving. This gnocchi stuffing, though? Now that's another story.
Get the Gnocchi Stuffing recipe.
Cranberry Aperol Spritz
I made this for Thanksgiving last year, and have been dreaming of it ever since. Who knew cranberry could add such a festive, blood-red twist to an Aperol spritz? Don't like things too sweet? Me either, so I swapped the cranberry juice cocktail for 100% cranberry juice (don't worry, it's still plenty tasty!).
Get the Cranberry Aperol Spritz recipe.
Goulash
Cooking the macaroni directly in the goulash means the pasta gets to soak up all that beef and tomato flavor while simultaneously releasing some of its starch into the pan, thickening the goulash to create a hearty, comforting stew. Once you cook pasta this way, you might never go back to boiling water again.
Get the Goulash recipe.
Autumn Kielbasa Sheet Pan Bake With Creamy Curry Dijon Sauce
The idea of combining curry powder with sausage comes from a German fast food dish called currywurst, and it's equally delightful in this ketchup-free, creamy rendition. It adds a hit of flavor to the freshly roasted kielbasa, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and grapes.
Get the Autumn Kielbasa Sheet Pan Bake With Creamy Curry Dijon Sauce recipe.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Get your pumpkin and cheesecake fix in one with these pumpkin-spiced cookies stuffed with a little surprise: cream cheese filling! The pumpkin-spiced cookies complement the creamy, tangy flavors of cheesecake, creating the most decadent cookie you'll have all season long.
Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies recipe.
Harvest Bowls
Grain bowls are a classic weeknight dinner I turn to again and again, and when the weather starts to cool, this one—featuring sliced grilled chicken, roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes, a kale and Parmesan salad, all on top of brown rice— is a regular in my rotation.
Get the Harvest Bowls recipe.
Pumpkin Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Sticks
While I love classic tomato soup, sometimes I want to shake things up a bit when fall comes around. This soup is EXTRA creamy, not only thanks to sweet pumpkin puree, but also heavy cream and sharp Parmesan.
Get the Pumpkin Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Sticks recipe.
Halloween Chex Mix
I can't lie—I LOVE mallowcreme pumpkins and candy corn, so this Chex Mix is kind of my dream snack. In honor of Halloween, this blend veers more toward the sweet side by using some more dessert-friendly components like chocolate-covered pretzels and cinnamon Teddy Grahams too, but feel free to switch it up with your faves.
Get the Halloween Chex Mix recipe.
Tailgate Tots
If you’re looking for the cutest (and easiest) game day snack, look no further than these tailgate tots. See—they even sound cute! Whether you're excited about the games or are just in it for the tailgate food, these are a guaranteed win all around.
Get the Tailgate Tots recipe.
Blooming Quesadilla Ring
A quesadilla ring is the best way to make quesadillas for a crowd. The ring makes for a fun, cheesy, pull-apart game-day app. Buffalo chicken is a must for tailgating, and this creamy, spicy filling is one of our favorite ways to serve it.
Get the Blooming Quesadilla Ring recipe.
Pumpkin Empanadas
Pumpkin pies, beware! Pumpkin empanadas have arrived. Boasting a flaky, buttery crust and a jammy, spiced pumpkin filling, these bite-sized beauties will be a serious contender on any holiday dessert table. They may be small, but they pack BIG pumpkin flavor.
Get the Pumpkin Empanadas recipe.
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