Get into the Spirit of Autumn with These 4 Quick, Fall-Inspired Recipes

By Meghen Jones

The countdown to fall has begun and that only means one thing—tasty, autumn-inspired recipes are back in season! So, many possible ingredients come to mind with the distinct, seasonal flavor profile that is so unapologetically associated with this time of year: sweet potatoes, squash, pecans, apples, pears, cauliflower, and of course, the almighty pumpkin.

But it’s a double-edged sword when it comes to fall meal prep, especially with monumental dinners such as Friendsgiving. In other words, with so many possibilities, it can be hard to narrow down your options.

Plus, cooking can become a bit of hassle when your time is already limited; you most likely have lectures and schoolwork, a job or internship, and extracurricular activities eating up any chance of possible free time. But, even if you feel short on time and energy, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy the highly anticipated autumn season to the best of your ability.

Yeah, maybe you can’t make it to that awesome fall music festival you go to every year due to these things called “responsibilities,” but you can still enjoy all the tastes and smells of autumn with uCribs’ Top 4 Quick, Fall-Inspired Recipes.

Carrot Apple Salad

The crisp air and falling autumn leaves are sure to get you in the spirit of the season, but the unique feeling of autumn and the approaching holiday season is not complete without sweet, hearty apples and oh-so-healthy carrots. Get your crunch on with a bright and colorful Carrot Apple Salad!

You’re probably thinking carrots and apples…together? But, trust us on this one! This refreshing salad, covered in a sweet honey and lemon juice, provides you with the perfect balance of sweetness, and in actuality, requires absolutely no cooking.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons walnut oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 green apple, cored and thinly sliced

2 carrots, peeled and cut into coins

1/2 cup walnut pieces, toasted

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the honey, oil, and lemon juice.
2. Toss apple and carrots in the dressing mixture then sprinkle with nuts. (If you have a nut allergy, we suggest using raisins instead!)

Leaf Cookies

When you think of autumn, what is the first thing that comes to mind? The beauty of the red, orange, and yellow leaves filling the sidewalks throughout the season as they fall from the trees, of course! And sometimes, in the midst of all your admiration of the beauty of nature, you just want to kick back and enjoy a nice treat.

Get your oven going and bake up these simple and seasonal Leaf Cookies. These nature-themed sugar cookies bring the outdoors inside and can be made whether you are hosting a dinner party or planning an impromptu picnic to soak in the cool weather. But, don’t say we didn’t warn you that one bite may have you wanting them all to yourself!

Ingredients:

2 tubes of sugar cookie dough

1/4 cup flour

Red, yellow, and orange food coloring

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the cookie dough into a large bowl and mix together with the flour.
3. Divide the dough into four separate bowls. Dye each piece of dough a different color with the food dye.
4. In a large bowl combine all of the dough. Onto a lightly floured surface using a rolling pin, roll out dough to about a 1/2-inch thick and cut the leaves out with cookie cutters. Place on parchment lined baking sheets about an inch apart and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until slightly golden on the edges.
5. Let the cookies cool before serving, then enjoy!

Pumpkin Soup

Nothing shouts fall like pumpkins! During this time of year, you’ll find every seasonal tribute to this ingredient from pumpkin pie to pumpkin spice lattes. Plus, all the hottest season activities involve pumpkins: visiting pumpkin patches, carving jack-o’-lanterns, and attending pumpkin-themed festivals.  Obviously, we all know they are a staple of the season.

So, it’s only right that you add this highly-coveted ingredient to your repertoire of autumn-inspired recipes, and you can do just that with Pumpkin Soup. With the addition of flavorful ingredients such as garlic and onion that really accentuate the taste of the pumpkin, it’s effortless to savor all of these complex, rich flavors as you enjoy the epitome of fall in a soup bowl— along with your favorite, toasted bread, of course!

Ingredients

2.4-pound pumpkin, unpeeled weight

1 onion, sliced

2 garlic cloves, peeled and whole

3 cups low sodium chicken broth

1 cup water

Salt and pepper

Finishes:

3/4 cup half and half cream

Instructions

1. Cut the pumpkin into three centimeter and two and a quarter inch slices. Cut the skin off and scrape seeds out, then cut into chunks.
2. Place the pumpkin, onion, garlic, broth, and water in a pot, so the liquid doesn’t cover all the pumpkin. Bring to a boil, uncovered, then reduce heat and let simmer rapidly until pumpkin is tender.
3. Remove from heat and use a stick blender to blend until smooth. If you don’t have a stick blender, use a blender.
4. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then stir through the cream. Keep in mind that the soup should never come to a boil because the cream will split.
5. Ladle soup into bowls, drizzle over a bit of cream, and sprinkle with pepper and parsley if desired. Serve with toasted bread!

Salted Caramel Mocha Latte

Over the past few years, salted caramel seems to be all the rage. Something about the combination of salty and sweet seems to drive people wild, and now, you can get your fix with this Salted Caramel Mocha Latte. This latte filled with the flavors of coffee and chocolate then drizzled with gooey salted caramel sauce is sure to get your taste buds going with one sip.

Next to the endless number of pumpkin-based recipes available throughout autumn, caramel is another seasonal favorite. Think about it: caramel popcorn, caramel apple pie, and the beloved caramel apples. And with so much, caramelly goodness, there’s no way you cannot add a Salted Caramel Mocha Latte to the mix!

Ingredients:

1 cup fat-free milk

2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping

2 tablespoons hot chocolate mix

Pinch of sea salt

1/2 cup coffee

Cool Whip

1 teaspoon turbinado sugar

1 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

1. Mix together the turbinado sugar and sea salt then set aside.
2. Heat the milk, caramel, hot chocolate mix, and a pinch sea salt until just below boiling. Pour the ingredients into a blender and pulse until frothy then pour into a cup.
3. Slowly pour the hot coffee into one side of the frothed milk.
4. Top with Cool Whip then drizzle with caramel topping and the sugar and sea salt mixture.

Whether your objective is to fill up, warm up, or wind down, each of these autumn-inspired recipes will satisfy your cravings, fulfill your appetite, and accommodate the schedule of a student who is forever busy. Now, you can officially fall into autumn with uCribs’ 4 Quick, Fall-Inspired Recipes. We know the Fall Equinox is still about three weeks out, but there’s no time like the present to embrace the warmth, comfort, and happiness of everyone’s favorite season.

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