Apples & Acorns | Fall Baking Favorite Recipes & Essentials

 

Before the pumpkins and before the mums, apple season is the official start of fall - for us, anyway.  I'm getting geared up for a weekend of fall baking and while I was browsing through my past favorites, I thought I'd share my little roundup with you.

This weekend is the first weekend that Apple Cider donuts are available at our favorite country cider stand. If you don't have a local spot, you can indulge at home and make them yourself.  This baked version is a lot less messy than frying and will fill your kitchen with the aroma of baked apples and cinnamon... instead of grease.

Baked Cider Donuts

Is there anything better than an old fashioned apple pie?  I think this is actually what we'll be making on Sunday for dinner.  I mean dessert after dinner.  Promise.

Spiced Old Fashioned Apple Pie

Share your apple bounty with friends with this very easy gift.  Just make a big batch of Salted Caramel (recipe below) and pile in an Apple Basket with apples. 

Everything I used :

Apple Baskets, 4 for $12
Acorn Tag, 20 for $6Jute Twine, $5
Kraft Labels, 60 for $6.50
Large Spice Jar, 3 for $18
Orange Linen Tea Towel, 2 for $24

Making homemade caramel sauce might sound difficult.  It's not... it takes minutes.  If you can boil water (and sugar) then you can make it.  It is even easier than unwrapping all of those caramels to melt - and so much better!  It is really is so delicious.

 Especially when it is warm, right off of the spoon.

There is something about the sea salt that adds so much flavor and the vanilla that brings out a warm sweet aroma. 

Salted Caramel Recipe

Speaking of Caramel...

This is the most perfect desert to serve at a fall dinner party.  Imagine this warm, moist (almost custard-like) cake drizzled with hot caramel and topped with vanilla bean whipped cream on a cool evening.  Ugh.  Daydreams like that make me want to host a dinner party immediately.  

Sticky Toffee Caramel Cake

This collection of copper cookie cutters was released last fall.  This year, I brought back the two most popular (and my personal favorites)- the Pumpkin & the Acorn.  

I just love how easy these are to decorate.  I've changed up my icing routine from royal icing to butter icing and haven't turned back.  So much more into taste than look lately, right : )

Acorn Cookie Cutter

Acorns are one of my favorite motifs of fall.  The Acorn Tags and Folded Cards go from fall into the holidays, too.  I remember Martha Stewart decorating her kitchen Christmas tree with gingerbread acorn cookies with some gold ribbon.

What is more Fall than cream cheese frosting topped spice cupcakes?  I used the gold striped cupcake papers to give these a little flare.  It makes them look more special and would be great for a party.

Spice Cupcake Recipe

If we aren't having Apple Cider Donuts (or pancakes...), we are likely having scones.  Here are some of our Fall-ish favorites :

Apple Cinnamon Scones 

Cranberry Orange Scones are always on our list.  I use fresh cranberries now that they are in season - my favorite.

What a treat these are!

Cinnamon Maple & Pecan Scones

Apple Cranberry Crisp

This is my all time favorite dessert.  The mix of orange zest, cinnamon and cranberries is unbelievable.

Apple Country Cake
Of course this recipe kicked off the fall season on the blog a couple of weeks ago.  The Creamware Tart Pan is back in stock, again!

Individual Salted Caramel Pies

What's better than your very own pie?  Here is a shot of my baking drawer, stocked with the newest (smaller) size of tart pan.

For the packaging we used :
Disposable Tart Pan, $6 for 10 
Jute Twine, $5
Edgartown Sand Tag, $8 for 10
Large Cello Bag
Multi Stripe Linen Tea Towel, $30 for 2

I hope everyone found something to make their list this weekend - enjoy the beginning of fall baking : )

Jenny