My friends would tell you from the way I dress and act: I am not basic. However, the one aspect that could insinuate that I am is my love for anything pumpkin spice.
Yes, I know—that delicious flavor infused with nutmeg and swirled around in cinnamon is the EPITOME of basic. But like millions of people around the world, I cannot resist a good Pumpkin Spice Latte at the beginning of my day. However, I recommend below some alternatives to a PSL that will still curb your pumpkin spice cravings that you may have after your daily dose of caffeine or late at night when caffeine won’t be of benefit.
Muffins
My little sister found this amazing recipe online (linked below). Ever the connoisseur of the culinary arts, she makes it a habit to break these out every fall. Her twist on the recipe is adding a medley of milk and white chocolate chips and evenly dispersing it throughout the batter. The recipe yields 12 muffins, and takes about 20 minutes to complete.
Recipe: https://www.handletheheat.com/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-muffins/
Ah, cupcakes. Who doesn’t love the pairing of light, sweet frosting and fluffy cake? These pumpkin cupcakes, coupled with a cream cheese frosting, are sure to tide over any bouts of hunger you may have. For a festive touch, add sprinkles. The recipe yields about 12 muffins, and takes roughly 45 minutes to complete.
Recipe: https://www.letseatcake.com/pumpkin-cupcakes-cream-cheese-frosting/
The perfect recipe to bust out for your family. If there’s one thing I personally enjoy creating, it’s bread of any kind. But for the fall season, I like to swap out my banana bread for pumpkin. The highlight of the recipe is that it calls for butter as a substitution to oil. It yields two loaves and takes an hour and a half to bake.
Recipe: https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/the-best-pumpkin-bread-recipe/
It doesn’t matter how old you may be, but there’s no denying that French toast is one of the greatest breakfast creations to grace our lives. The recipe accommodates ten bread slices, and should take about ten minutes to prepare. The serving number is also handy, because you can accommodate everyone else you’re quarantining with. If you’re feeling extra, garnish with maple syrup and pecans.
Recipe: https://blog.debbiemacomber.com/pumpkin-spice-french-toast
Granola
For all the health nuts out there, anyone attempting a health kick, or simply in need of a convenient snack—I’ve got you! The recipe calls for nine ingredients, and the prep + cook time is a total of 30 minutes. A couple bonuses to this recipe is that it is gluten free, vegan, and lasts for nearly three weeks.
Recipe: https://minimalistbaker.com/pumpkin-maple-pecan-granola/
It’s important to find time to relax and take time to yourself, and what better way to do this than creating food? Hopefully you’ll enjoy making these for now, and stay tuned for fun holiday recipes!