I'm SO Ready For Summer To Be Over, So Here Are The 17 Autumnal Recipes I'm Making This Weekend

apple cider donuts
Sick Of Summer? Make These Fall Recipes InsteadPHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE


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The best season of all time—FALL—is finally here. Sorry Summer lovers, I can’t hate on BBQs, nice produce like peaches and corn, and being able to walk out of the house in just shorts and flip flops, but nothing beats that first chill-in-the-air, new beginnings feeling that fall brings. Pumpkins! Sweater weather! Tailgates! Apple picking! Halloween! Back-to-school! Now those are a few of my favorite things. I know we’ve got a few more weeks of the season (both officially—last day is September 22—and in a few more inevitable hot days ahead), but as for me, I’m fully done with summer. You’ll find me sipping pumpkin spice lattes, starting on some baking projects, and seeking out the first fresh cranberries of the season. Join me?

Apple Cider Donuts

As soon as I even think I feel a slight chill in the air, I'm craving an apple cider donut. These ones are baked, which yields a soft, dense donut, and brushed in butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar. One bite, and you'll feel transported to an apple orchard.

Get the Apple Cider Donuts recipe.

apple cider donuts
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Pumpkin Curry

Curry's a fave year round, but come fall, this pumpkin version gets more than its fair spot on my dinner rotation. The recipe starts by roasting the pumpkin to provide some caramelization and nuttiness—some of the roasted pumpkin gets blended into the sauce too for maximum fall flavor.

Get the Pumpkin Curry recipe.

pumpkin curry
Joel Goldberg

Holiday Roasted Vegetables

The dried cranberries and balsamic vinegar add some sweetness and tartness while the pecans add an extra crunch to these holiday-worthy vegetables. I like to use Brussels sprouts and carrots, but feel free to add whatever vegetables you can find at the farmer's market.

Get the Holiday Roasted Vegetables recipe.

holiday roasted vegetables
PARKER FEIERBACH

Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip

This cranberry-topped whipped feta dip is here to save your holiday appetizer planning. Fresh feta cheese is combined with herbs, garlic, and cream cheese, whipped until super-smooth, then topped with tart homemade cranberry sauce, toasted pistachios, and honey. The result is a salty, creamy, sweet, tart, and absolutely irresistible dip.

Get the Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip recipe.

whipped garlic and herb feta, topped with fresh cranberry sauce, pistachios, and honey
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: SIMON ANDREWS

Chicken Pot Pie

Truly comfort food at its finest, chicken pot pie represents the gorgeous marriage of a flaky, buttery crust with diced chicken, onions, carrots, and peas in a creamy sauce. I know it's a dish I can easily find pre-made in the freezer aisle, but the end of summer has me craving baking my own from scratch.

Get the Chicken Pot Pie recipe.

chicken pot pie with a flaky crust
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin spice latte season is officially HERE (August 22 at Starbucks). If, like me, you prefer to avoid the big chains, you'll be happy to know it's easy and delicious to make your own at home.

Get the Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe.

pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Gnocchi Stuffing

I know no one's technically stopping me from making traditional stuffing whenever I want, but it feels almost sacrilege to make it outside of Thanksgiving. This gnocchi stuffing, though? Now that's another story.

Get the Gnocchi Stuffing recipe.

gnocchi and sausage stuffing in a white baking dish
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Cranberry Aperol Spritz

I made this for Thanksgiving last year, and have been dreaming of it ever since. Who knew cranberry could add such a festive, blood-red twist to an Aperol spritz? Don't like things too sweet? Me either, so I swapped the cranberry juice cocktail for 100% cranberry juice (don't worry, it's still plenty tasty!).

Get the Cranberry Aperol Spritz recipe.

cranberry aperol spritz
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Goulash

Cooking the macaroni directly in the goulash means the pasta gets to soak up all that beef and tomato flavor while simultaneously releasing some of its starch into the pan, thickening the goulash to create a hearty, comforting stew. Once you cook pasta this way, you might never go back to boiling water again.

Get the Goulash recipe.

elbow macaroni in a tomato sauce
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: LAURA REGE

Autumn Kielbasa Sheet Pan Bake With Creamy Curry Dijon Sauce

The idea of combining curry powder with sausage comes from a German fast food dish called currywurst, and it's equally delightful in this ketchup-free, creamy rendition. It adds a hit of flavor to the freshly roasted kielbasa, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and grapes.

Get the Autumn Kielbasa Sheet Pan Bake With Creamy Curry Dijon Sauce recipe.

autumn kielbasa sheet pan bake with creamy curry dijon sauce
Photographer: Lucy Schaeffer. Food Styling: Makinze Gore.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

Get your pumpkin and cheesecake fix in one with these pumpkin-spiced cookies stuffed with a little surprise: cream cheese filling! The pumpkin-spiced cookies complement the creamy, tangy flavors of cheesecake, creating the most decadent cookie you'll have all season long.

Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies recipe.

pumpkin cookies with a cheesecake filling
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDSERON

Harvest Bowls

Grain bowls are a classic weeknight dinner I turn to again and again, and when the weather starts to cool, this one—featuring sliced grilled chicken, roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes, a kale and Parmesan salad, all on top of brown rice— is a regular in my rotation.

Get the Harvest Bowls recipe.

chicken, kale salad, and roasted sweet potatoes in a rice bowl
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Pumpkin Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Sticks

While I love classic tomato soup, sometimes I want to shake things up a bit when fall comes around. This soup is EXTRA creamy, not only thanks to sweet pumpkin puree, but also heavy cream and sharp Parmesan.

Get the Pumpkin Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Sticks recipe.

pumpkin tomato soup and grilled cheese sticks
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Halloween Chex Mix

I can't lie—I LOVE mallowcreme pumpkins and candy corn, so this Chex Mix is kind of my dream snack. In honor of Halloween, this blend veers more toward the sweet side by using some more dessert-friendly components like chocolate-covered pretzels and cinnamon Teddy Grahams too, but feel free to switch it up with your faves.

Get the Halloween Chex Mix recipe.

a bowl of halloween themed chex mix with chex cereal, chocolate pretzels, reese's pieces, candy corn, and sweet potato chips
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Tailgate Tots

If you’re looking for the cutest (and easiest) game day snack, look no further than these tailgate tots. See—they even sound cute! Whether you're excited about the games or are just in it for the tailgate food, these are a guaranteed win all around.

Get the Tailgate Tots recipe.

tater tots in a mason jar layered with sour cream, cheese, bacon, and chives
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Blooming Quesadilla Ring

A quesadilla ring is the best way to make quesadillas for a crowd. The ring makes for a fun, cheesy, pull-apart game-day app. Buffalo chicken is a must for tailgating, and this creamy, spicy filling is one of our favorite ways to serve it.

Get the Blooming Quesadilla Ring recipe.

buffalo chicken blooming quesadilla ring
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Pumpkin Empanadas

Pumpkin pies, beware! Pumpkin empanadas have arrived. Boasting a flaky, buttery crust and a jammy, spiced pumpkin filling, these bite-sized beauties will be a serious contender on any holiday dessert table. They may be small, but they pack BIG pumpkin flavor.

Get the Pumpkin Empanadas recipe.

pumpkin empanadas piled on a platter
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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