Guys, it’s THE most wonderful time of the year.
I’m just so in love with this time of year it’s not even funny. The weather starts to dip in the mornings and at night. The leaves are starting to turn. There’s pumpkin everywhere.
Yeah, fall is just perfect.
I think one of my very favorite things about fall is the food. Cinnamon-spiked this, butternut squash that; it’s all amazing and it’s all going in my belly.
I wanted to make a delicious list of fall-centric foods to get you (and me) into the spirit of the season, and I’m hoping you’ll add to it, too! Let me know what you can’t wait to make (or give me some ideas of what you’d like to see on the blog!) in the comments below. :)
Dairy-Free Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer
YAS. Oh boy have you guys loved this stuff. It’s been pinned thousands of times, and for good reason. Just because you’re a vegan and/or dairy free doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all of the Pumpkin Spice Latte goodness! Made from thick, full-fat coconut milk, this creamer is super rich and decadent, yet light and made of real ingredients. Love love love this stuff.
Delicata might just be my favorite squash of the season! It’s sweet, it roasts up beautifully, and it’s the perfect vessel into which we can stuff all kinds of fall-forward goodness. For this recipe, we’ll stuff each squash to the brim with brussels sprouts, kale, chickpeas, and balsamic vinegar. SO much yum happening here.
Yep, making risotto requires a bit of time. Yep, you should probably stir it a lot. And yep. It’s truly decadent and rich and delicious. To up the nutritional content of risotto just a tad, we’re filling it with onion, garlic, broccoli, and butternut squash (*insert all the heart-eyed emojis here*), and boy oh boy does it scream “fall.” Perfect for a cooler night where all you want to do is sit under a blanket, sip hot tea, and watch Netflix.
Gluten Free Walnut & Kale Quinoa Stuffing from Healthy Seasonal Recipes
I was never a huge stuffing fan when I was younger. It always just tasted like soggy bread to me, which didn’t make any sense. That’s why I’m SO in love with the idea of quinoa stuffing. Quinoa is chewy, nutty, and just perfect as a lighter, bread-less side. I love how this recipe is baked – my quinoa stuffing (which I love) is not -, which I’m sure gives it an even more comforting texture and flavor. YUM.
Ahh I love soup. Especially when it tastes like my burrito bowl at Chipotle. For real, guys. This stuff is the ticket. Spicy, full of vegetables, packed with beans and rice for extra oomph. Sometimes, all we need is a little comfort in a bowl; this recipe is exactly that.
Granted, I still have a bit more of this stuff in my fridge from when I originally made it, but I’m already missing it. Don’t you hate it when that happens? This stuff rocks, and it’s so simple to make! It’s slightly sweet, totally rich, and just what your PB toast needs to get into the fall spirit. DO it, friends.
Autumn Glow Salad with Lemon Dressing from Pinch of Yum
I mean, can you blame me with that name?! A salad that pretty much guarantees that you’re going to glow after you’re eating it. I like the sound of that. This salad uses grains, cauliflower, sweet potato (my one true veggie love), and a kick-butt lemon dressing to turn a regular ol’ salad into something truly special and perfect for fall.
Caramel Apple Sweet Potato Fries from The Almond Eater
Um. This is not a drill. These are definitely an indulgence, but we all need a treat every now and again. These fries are baked, topped with a healthier caramel sauce (that you can make dairy-free), and mixed with cinnamon apple chunks…I mean COME ON. So obsessed with this whole idea and can’t wait to get them into my mouth.
Yes, I’m talking about apple pie filling stuffed into another apple and then baked until tender. YES. A reader just made these last week, and it seriously got me jonesing for them. Juicy apples, sweet cinnamon, and a crunchy granola…the perfect fall combo if you ask me. And you definitely should pair them with a scoop (or two) of dairy-free vanilla ice cream. Trust me.
Glowing Spiced Lentil Soup from Oh She Glows
Again with the glowing. But man, oh man, am I loving the looks of this soup! It sounds like one of those soups that will keep you full for hours because it’s filled with lentils, full-fat coconut milk, and warming spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and turmeric. I’m having a total moment with turmeric (in my oatmeal! try it!), so this soup is definitely getting made on a cool fall night.
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta with Crispy Brussels Sprouts from B. Britnell
Butternut squash noodles!! Ahh I couldn’t love this idea more if I tried! It requires a handful of ingredients, but it looks like such a fun and light alternative to fettuccini alfredo. PLUS crispy brussels sprouts are never a bad thing.
The Best Gluten Free Vegan Pumpkin Pie
Yep. I said it. The Best. This. Pie. Rocks. Now, I’m not really a pie person, but I can totally devour a hunk of pumpkin pie if I have to. ;) This pie is perfectly spiced, totally creamy, and tastes just like the one I had on Thanksgiving morning growing up. I just love this recipe so much, and I’m just itching at the chance to make it again. ps. make your own pumpkin puree while you’re at it!
Now that it’s football season, I have a feeling Mark & I will be getting into our Dip Dinners once again. We love making a batch of this buffalo chickpea dip, whipping up a giant salad, and calling it a night. It’s creamy and spicy, exactly how a buff chick(pea) dip should be. It’s absolute perfection on game day.
Oatmeal Cookie Peanut Butter Cups
Yeah, we can’t forget that Halloween is right around the corner. These are so much more than your typical PB cup. They’re stuffed with OATMEAL COOKIE DOUGH. And that chocolate? It isn’t your typical chocolate. It’s completely homemade and refined sugar-free. Oh yes, Halloween will be so (naturally) sweet this year.
Autumn Arugula Salad from How Sweet It Is
I mean, come on. How beautiful is this?! Acorn squash, pecans, avocados, POMEGRANATES…the gang’s all here. The dressing is what gets me…pomegranate ginger vinaigrette. Have mercy.
So TELL ME! What are you super excited to cook up this season?!
Marina @ A Dancer's Live-It says
Ummmmm I wanna make ALL of these?! Haha! But if I had to choose, probably the pumpkin creamer, pumpkin pie, and the Buffalo Chickpea Dip. OMG hello game day food! :)
Alexa [fooduzzi.com] says
Ha! I do, too! I’m hoping to cross them all off my list this season :) That buffalo chickpea dip is my FAVE.
Megan says
It’s kinda random because NZ is going into spring right now but now I’m craving the fall goods too. Starbucks finally brought the Pumpkin Spice Latte down here which is weird because as I said it is spring here now but whatever :P
Alexa [fooduzzi.com] says
HA! That’s so crazy. Pumpkin spice year round is never a bad thing ;)
brita says
aww thanks for including my recipe :) I also want to make all of these recipes! Gosh, I love fall cooking!