Going out for sweet treats is a fun activity as autumn sets in, but sometimes our wallets would appreciate it if we didn’t. This doesn’t mean the fun has to end, here are a few ways to enjoy your fall favorites for cheaper at home.
#1 – Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
As fall begins, so does the pumpkin spice latte craze. With its rich pumpkin cream and its hearty blend of spices, pumpkin spice lattes have become a fall staple in coffee shops all around the world. With this recipe, you can save time and Starbucks money by making your own in as little as ten minutes.
Ingredients:
- Espresso
- Milk
- Unsweetened pumpkin puree or sugar pumpkin
- Pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves to make it yourself
- Maple Syrup
- Optional: vanilla extract for more flavor
- Optional: whipped cream for topping
- Optional: for a vegan alternative, swap the dairy milk for oat milk
Step one
For a homemade pumpkin pie spice, combine 1½ tablespoon of ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¾ teaspoon ground allspice and ¾ teaspoon ground cloves in a small bowl. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture is evenly blended.
Step two
To make pumpkin puree, cut off the stem and remove the stringy seeds from a sugar pumpkin – do not use a regular carving pumpkin. Oven-roast on a sheet pan at 400°F until soft. Scoop the flesh out into a medium size bowl and mash it or use an immersion blender until smooth. For a sweeter final latte, add sugar to taste.
Step three
Heat a cup of milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until hot and nearly simmering. Make sure to not boil the milk.
Step four
While the milk is heating, pull a shot of espresso using an espresso machine or another method and pour it into a large mug of your choice. Add 1 ½ tablespoon pumpkin puree, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, ¼-½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice and optionally ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk until combined.
Step five
If you have a milk frother, use it to stir the milk until foamy. Pour it on top of the pumpkin espresso mixture to taste, you likely won’t need all of it. Add whipped cream for extra sweetness and garnish with a sprinkle of pumpkin pie seasoning before enjoying.
#2 – Old Fashioned Apple Crisp
Appearing in print for the first time in 1924, apple crisp has been a delectable fall treat for over a century. Take a blast to the past with this old-fashioned apple crisp recipe.
Ingredients:
- Granny Smith or Fuji apples
- Unsalted butter
- Flour
- Brown sugar
- Old-fashioned rolled oats
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Nutmeg
- Optional: Rum or brandy, solely for taste.
- Optional: if you have nut allergies/sensitivities, swap them for nut-free granola
Step one
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Step two
To prepare the streusel topping, add 1 cup flour, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup oats, 1½ teaspoon cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon salt to a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
Step three
Slice 1 stick of unsalted butter into small pieces and mash it into the streusel topping until it forms crumbs about the size of a grain of rice. Finely chop ½ a cup of walnuts and pecans or scoop out ½ a cup of nut-free granola and fold it into the topping mixture using a spatula. Chill in the freezer.
Step four
Peel and core five to six apples. Cut them into ½ inch thick slices and place them into a large bowl with 1 cup of flour, 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg and 3 tablespoon of rum or brandy. Make sure the apples are thoroughly covered by gently mixing with a spatula.
Step five
Transfer the apple mixture to a baking dish and evenly sprinkle the streusel over the apples. Gently tap the pan on a counter to even it out, and bake for 45 minutes or until lightly browned and the apples are tender.
Best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a caramel sauce drizzle.
#3 – Pecan Pie Bars
If you’re looking for the perfect fall treat to serve at a large gathering or event, pecan pie bars may be right for you. Evolving from the heart of southern pecan pies, these bars are the perfect size and crust-to-filling ratio to encapsulate fall spirit.
Ingredients:
- Flour
- Powdered sugar (can also be made by blending standard granulated white sugar)
- Brown sugar
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
- Pecans
- Vanilla extract
- Honey
- Heavy whipping cream
- Optional: if you have allergies or sensitivities to pecans, they can be swapped out for any other nut
Step one
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Step two
Make the pie crust by adding 2 cups of flour, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, ½ cup powdered sugar and 1½ sticks diced unsalted butter into a bowl. To combine, use a food processor or mash by hand until the crust is coarsely ground like the bottom of a cheesecake. Place the crumbs into a parchment-lined baking dish and flatten to compress evenly. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until lightly golden.
Step three
Roughly chop 3 cups of pecans. In a large saucepan, add ¾ cup brown sugar, ½ cup honey, ½ a stick of butter, ¼ cup heavy whipping cream and ¼ tablespoon salt. Use a whisk to stir and combine while bringing to a boil. Let simmer for 2 minutes before removing the pan from heat. Mix in pecans and 1teaspoon vanilla extract.
Step four
Spread the pecan filling over the baked crust and bake for another 20-25 minutes or until the top is caramelized. Let cool before serving.
This treat also pairs well with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
