HAPPY FIRST DAY OF FALL!! Can you believe it is officially fall!? This past summer was our best one ever so it was hard to let go, but something tells me this fall will be our best one yet too! To celebrate, I’m sharing 8 recipes that you absolutely, positively, MUST make this fall. I’m serious — these are all among the TOP best recipes I’ve ever shared and you are guaranteed to love them all. So bookmark this page and tag me on Instagram when you make them (that seriously makes my day)!
1. The Best Pumpkin Dip
Since 2011, this is the #1 highest traffic pin to my website. And for good reason — this simple dessert is sure to please any crowd. It’s the perfect app or dessert to bring to a party because it travels well, can sit out for a long period of time and there’s no container to bring home (if you make it in a pumpkin)! I also love how light this dessert is. It’s not super rich and even though it’s definitely not the unhealthiest dessert, you can reduce the calories by using “light” coolwhip and serve with apple slices if you really want to behave.
Note: consider sprinkling some mini spiders around your dessert for Halloween!
This is a really fun recipe to surprise your friends, neighbors, teachers, bus drivers, etc. with too!! Just scoop some dip into a mini tupperware container and gift with a few mini bags of vanilla wafers! This treat is ALWAYS a hit!!
Pumpkin Dip
Since 2011, this is the #1 highest traffic pin to my website. And for good reason -- this simple dessert is sure to please any crowd. It's the perfect app or dessert to bring to a party because it travels well, can sit out for a long period of time and there's no container to bring home (if you make it in a pumpkin)! I also love how light this dessert is. It's not super rich and even though it's definitely not the unhealthiest dessert, you can reduce the calories by using "light" coolwhip and serve with apple slices if you really want to behave.
Ingredients
- 15 oz can of pumpkin
- 5 oz box of instant vanilla pudding (just the powder, don’t make the pudding)
- 16 oz container cool whip
- 1/2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 small pumpkin
Instructions
- Mix pumpkin, pudding mix powder, cool whip and pumpkin pie spice together in a large bowl.
- Chill for several hours in the refrigerator. Meanwhile, carve out your pumpkin.
- Fill carved pumpkin with dip. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve with fresh apples slices, vanilla wafers or ginger snaps.
Note: consider sprinkling some mini spiders around your dessert for Halloween!
2. Sparkling Caramel Apple Cider
Hands down, my favorite fall cocktail of all time. This spiked apple cider is dangerously delicious and couldn’t be more festive. But warning — pace yourselves.
Sparkling Caramel Apple Cider
The most festive drink for the holidays that sneaks up on you fast so pace yourself!
Ingredients
- 1 750 ml bottle of prosecco
- 1 cup caramel flavored vodka
- 1-3 cups apple cider, depending on how sweet you prefer
- 2 medium apples, cored and chopped
- 1 tbl cinnamon
- 3 tbl sugar
Instructions
Make the sugared rim. Combine sugar and cinnamon together in a shallow dish. Wet the rim of each glass, all the way around, with water. Dip each rim into cinnamon sugar to coat. Set aside. In a large pitcher stir the prosecco, vodka, and apple cider together. Add the chopped apples to the pitcher, or to individual glasses.
3. Two Ingredient Pumpkin Bread
A recipe that calls for only two ingredients is always a winner in my book. On top of that, this bread is perfectly pumpkinny and it’s so dang delicious that you’ll likely eat the whole loaf in one day! It’s also an amazing giftable treat. I love to grab mini bread loaf tins and make a big batch of mini loaves of pumpkin bread to give out to teachers, neighbors, the bus driver, coworkers, etc.!
You can also make this recipe as jumbo or mini muffins! Just adjust the bake time to 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
Two Ingredient Pumpkin Bread
Ingredients
- 1 can Pure Pumpkin
- 1 box Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix
Instructions
- Combine dry cake mix with canned pumpkin in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly {batter will be VERY thick}. Pour into baking pan sprayed with nonstick spray.
- Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 40 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Refer to cake-mix box for pan size and approximate bake time.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve warm with {or without} butter.
4. S’mores Dip
This is my newest fall recipe and has already become a reader favorite! Perfect for family movie night, football watching, play dates, camping and more, this sweet dip couldn’t be easier to throw together…yet tastes incredible!
S'mores Dip
The perfect family movie night treat (or anytime treat, really!) that everyone will love! You will not be able to stop dipping crackers into this marshmallowy goodness. And you can whip it up in just a few minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 package Hershey's Chocolate Bars
- 1 bag Large Marshmallows
- 1 box Graham Crackers (for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- In an oven safe dish, add a layer of Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars. Top chocolate with marshmallows.
- Bake for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve with graham crackers.
5. Pumpkin Spice Muddy Buddies
Always a huge hit with the kids, I love packaging these in little baggies to contribute to the annual school bake sale…and they are always among the first treats to go. 
Pumpkin Spice Muddy Buddies
Ingredients
- 1 box Cinnamon Chex Cereal
- 1 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, divided
- 1/2 cup M&Ms
Instructions
- Pour box of Cinnamon Chex cereal in a large bowl.
- In a double broiler carefully melt the white chocolate. Add the pumpkin pie spice until fully incorporated.
- Pour the white chocolate mix over the Chex carefully stir together.
- Divide the powdered sugar between 2 large bags. Add half of the cereal to each bag. Shake until the powdered sugar fully coats the cereal.
- Once dry (about 30 minutes) top with M&Ms.
6. Apple Cider Mini Muffins
Perfect for breakfast or a snack, these apple cider mini muffins are the perfect bite size treat for fall! My kids go wild over them!
Apple Cider Mini Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ cup apple butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup apple cider
- 1/3 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
Muffin Topping
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and grease a donut pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamonand brown sugar.
- In another large bowl, whisk together the egg, apple butter, vanilla extract, honey, apple cider, yogurt and oil.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient mixture and whisk until blended {don't over-mix}!
- Spoon the batter into muffin pan until about 3/4 full. Bake for approximately 10 minutes and cool on a wire rack.
- Meanwhile, melt butter for muffin topping in the microwave.
- In a separate dish, combine ½ cup sugar with 3 tablespoons cinnamon.
- White muffins are cooling, brush each top with butter and roll in sugar mixture until coated.
7. Apple Cider Donuts
If you liked my Apple Cider Mini Muffins you’ll love these donuts!
Apple Cider Donuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ cup apple butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup apple cider
- 1/3 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
Muffin Topping
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a donut pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamonand brown sugar.
- In another large bowl, whisk together the egg, apple butter, vanilla extract, honey, apple cider, yogurt and oil.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient mixture and whisk until blended {don't over-mix}!
- Spoon the batter into donut pan until about 3/4 full. Bake for approximately 10 minutes and cool on a wire rack.
- Meanwhile, melt butter for donut topping in the microwave.
- In a separate dish, combine ½ cup sugar with 3 tablespoons cinnamon.
- While donuts are cooling, brush both sides with butter and roll in sugar mixture until coated.
8. Starbucks Medicine Ball Miracle Brew
Did you know there is a drink at Starbucks called the “Medicine Ball,” also known as “The Coldbuster,” also known as “Honey Citrus Mint Tea”? The miracle brew is filled half with steamed lemonade and half with hot water, a Teavana jade citrus mint tea bag and a bag of Teavana peach tranquility tea, a drizzle of honey and an optional pump of peppermint. Not only is it delicious, it helps relieve cold symptoms, so if you’re scrambling for an immunity booster or throat-soother you must try this steamy concoction.
But what if you don’t want to get out of your pajamas? Or what if you don’t want to pay $5 for a venti? Wellllll, you can recreate it yourself in your pajamas at home — and healthier and cheaper! Instead of regular lemonade, I prefer light lemonade (or sometimes just a squeeze of fresh lemon) and I skip the pump of peppermint (although sometimes I’ll add a spearmint leaf if I’m in the mood). I’m obsessed.
Starbucks Medicine Ball Miracle Brew
Did you know there is a drink at Starbucks called the “Medicine Ball,” also known as “The Coldbuster,” also known as “Honey Citrus Mint Tea”? The miracle brew is filled half with steamed lemonade and half with hot water, a Teavana jade citrus mint tea bag and a bag of Teavana peach tranquility tea, a drizzle of honey and an optional pump of peppermint. Not only is it delicious, it helps relieve cold symptoms, so if you’re scrambling for an immunity booster or throat-soother you must try this steamy concoction.
But what if you don’t want to get out of your pajamas? Or what if you don’t want to pay $5 for a venti? Wellllll, you can recreate it yourself in your pajamas at home — and healthier and cheaper! Instead of regular lemonade, I prefer light lemonade (or sometimes just a squeeze of fresh lemon) and I skip the pump of peppermint (although sometimes I’ll add a spearmint leaf if I’m in the mood). I’m obsessed.
Instructions
COMBINE:
1 Venti sized cup filled with half hot water and half steamed light lemonade (I mix these ingredients together on the stove top and bring to a gentle boil.)
1 bag Teavana Jade Citrus Mint Tea
1 bag Teavana Peach Tranquility Tea
Drizzle of honey
Pump of peppermint (optional) or spearmint leaf
I love all of these recipes! The pumpkin dip and bread are go tos for me. I’m so happy to have the medicine ball recipe. It really works but I want to drink it even if I’m not sick!
Swooning over that s’mores dip! I do a weekly dinner club with friends and I think that would be a perfect addition!
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
Sorry if this is a silly question–for the pumpkin bread, you really don’t add anything called for on the box mix (like eggs?)
Yes, you don’t add anything else that is called for! I’ve done this many times and it works! Sometimes I add an egg but I’m not sure whether it makes any difference. Also, you can do the same thing with a plain yellow cake mix and add whatever spices you want (or just a heap of pumpkin pie spice) and it tastes the same (I can’t always find spice cake mix). ALSO you can do what I did last weekend: use the same 2-ingredient mixture to make cupcakes and put cinnamon maple cream cheese frosting on top. I also read today that you can mix a can of pumpkin with a box of brownie mix for 2-ingredient pumpkin brownies. Literally the best “recipe” ever.
These ALL look amazing – thank you for sharing 🙂 I have made your Cider recipe and its delicious!! Pregnant this Fall and will be missing this treat haha