The moment fall hits, the only thing that seems to matter is staying cozy, whether it’s by curling up by the fireplace or baking a warm treat. There’s no better feeling than the one you get when you decide to try that delicious-looking apple tart recipe you found on Pinterest. As you begin to skim the ingredients list, you stumble upon “butter churn” —butter churn?! You realize you definitely don’t know what that is, and you definitely don’t have one, so that’s the end of that recipe attempt.
Don’t let complex recipes and cooking utensils spook you out of the kitchen this season, though, because there are plenty of manageable and almost effortless recipes out there! We’ve rounded up seven simple fall recipes that don’t require strange utensils you don’t have or ingredients you’ve never heard of, so check them out!
1. Cinnamon and Spice Sweet Potato Bread
Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home
Fall can also be known as the pumpkin-craze season, so if you want to try making something that doesn’t involve pumpkin for once, this is it! Plus, the added spices will give it an extra kick.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cold mashed sweet potatoes
- 3 cups sugar
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Directions:
- In a bowl, combine sugar, eggs, sweet potatoes and vanilla; mix well.
- Combine flour, baking powder, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, salt and baking soda; stir into potato mixture.
- Pour into two greased 8-inch-by-4-inch loaf pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour or until bread tests done.
- Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
2. Apple Chips
Recipe courtesy of Whole Living
Picking a snack to munch on when you get back from class is often a dilemma because you want a healthy option, but also one that tastes good! With apple chips, you get the best of both worlds. Also, how much easier can a recipe with one ingredient get? Jackpot!
Ingredients:
- 2 apples, sliced
Directions:
- Slice apples crosswise 1/8 inch thick; remove seeds.
- Heat oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and arrange slices on two parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 1 1/2 hours.
- Flip slices, then continue to bake until crisp, approximately 1 hour more.
- Remove and let cool completely.
3. Chopped Salad with Cranberries
Recipe courtesy of Espresso & Cream
If you eat a simple salad with your main meal every day, try changing it up by adding some seasonal ingredients with this recipe, which will add a pop of texture and flavor.
Ingredients:
- 6-8 cups chopped romaine lettuce or baby greens
- 2 medium pears, chopped
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled (optional)
- 4 to 6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- Balsamic vinaigrette
Directions:
- Combine the lettuce, pears, cranberries, pecans, bacon and feta cheese.
- Drizzle with dressing.
4. Pumpkin Pie French Toast
Recipe courtesy of Closet Cooking
Fall desserts always taste better with pumpkin. Pumpkin French toast is a great idea to try on a Sunday morning while you’re still in your pajamas!
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup mashed pumpkin puree
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 8 slices of bread
Directions:
- Mix the eggs, milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and brown sugar in a low, flat bowl for easy dipping.
- Heat a pan over medium heat.
- Dip bread into egg mixture on both sides and grill in pan until lightly golden brown, approximately 2-3 minutes per side.
5. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Recipe courtesy of life/style 365
As kids, most of us probably despised Brussels sprouts, but now, vegetables are our friend. This roasted vegetable dish is perfect to bring to a potluck dinner with your friends or just to have as a side dish to a main course.
Ingredients:
- 20 Brussels sprouts cut into wedges
- Canola oil
- Salt and pepper
- 6 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place Brussels sprouts on a baking sheet and drizzle with oil.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix Brussels sprouts on the pan to ensure they’re evenly coated in the oil.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Mix mayonnaise, garlic, parsley and lemon juice to be served alongside finished Brussels sprouts.
6. Butternut Squash Fries
Recipe courtesy of Eating Bird Food
Ever since we discovered sweet potato fries, it’s been our mission to make fries with other vegetables! Butternut squash is also a great source of vitamin A, according to WebMD, so this is a super-healthy choice.
Ingredients:
- 1 butternut squash
- Salt
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Peel the squash (optional).
- Cut the squash in half and remove the seeds.
- Cut it up into French fry shapes. Aim to cut pieces that are equal in size so they will finish cooking at the same time.
- Place on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with salt.
- Bake for approximately 40 minutes, flipping the fries halfway through.
- Fries are done when they start to brown on the edges.
7. Cream of Cauliflower Soup
Recipe courtesy of Eat at Home
If you want to get toasty after spending the day outside in the cold or you just want a rich meal that tastes like your grandma made it, be sure to pick cream of cauliflower soup!
Ingredients:
- 1 head of cauliflower, cut into small pieces and steamed until tender
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 onion or small onion, diced
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups milk, warmed
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
- Melt the butter in a large pot.
- Cook the onion in the butter until tender.
- Whisk in flour and cook for a few minutes.
- Whisk in the chicken broth until smooth.
- Stir in the milk and Worcestershire sauce.
- Add the steamed cauliflower and cheese.
- Heat through without boiling.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Simple recipes like these will save you a trip to the store and a lot of frustration!