As someone who loves baking and seasonal activities, this fall I decided to challenge myself to make one autumn recipe every weekend as a way to bake and get into the fall spirit. Since then, due to the time commitments of homework, studying, and just life in general, I’ve had to adapt to a more realistic approach. I haven’t had time to bake every week, but I have done it a lot. And while fall still isn’t over and I have a lot more recipes to try, here are my favorite recipes I’ve tried so far:

1. Dutch Apple Pie

image from betty crocker

If you’ve ever had normal apple pie, dutch apple pie is like that but better. It’s basically just apple pie but with a crumble on top, made up of butter, flour, granulated sugar (normal sugar), and brown sugar, and it’s delicious. If you serve it with vanilla ice cream, it’s even better. So if you have time and some apples (I went apple picking with some of my friends to get mine, which I would definitely recommend!), this recipe is perfect.

Here’s the recipe I used (also, I chose a store-bought crust for mine since I didn’t have time to make one, and it worked fine): https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/dutch-apple-pie/815d821f-058d-4177-93be-e157390e947b 

2. Carrot Cake

 image from bakefromscratch.com

Carrot cake is another fall classic and if you haven’t before, you should definitely try making it. It’s easy and super delicious and I would 100% recommend it. I made a carrot cake a few weeks ago using the recipe below and it was a ton of fun to make. *Side note: be careful not to overmix the cream cheese when you make the frosting; it will become runny, making it hard to frost the cake. 

The recipe I used: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/triple-layer-carrot-cake-with-cream-cheese-frosting-799 

3. Pumpkin Pie

image from LIBBY’S Famous Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie is a seasonal staple and for good reason, as it has the perfect blend of fall spices. It’s easy to make and doesn’t take long (unless you make your own pie crust, which can take a while). I made it for the first time this weekend following an easy recipe and it was delicious. 

Here’s the recipe I used: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/the-great-pumpkin-pie-recipe/ 

*I didn’t make the candied cranberries as she did in the recipe, and I also used a pre-made crust but it still came out well.

Baking is the perfect fall activity. It’s fun and cozy and you end up with something delicious every time (hopefully). So if you have some free time this fall, I recommend trying to bake something (it’s especially fun if it’s a seasonal recipe). I’ve loved doing this baking challenge this fall and I think you would too!