The crisp autumn air is filled with the comforting aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin spice. As the leaves change from green to vibrant oranges and reds, the desire for warm, cozy comfort food intensifies. What better way to make your home smell like fall than by baking up some seasonal desserts?
Pumpkin pie is a classic autumn treat. The sweet pumpkin puree is spiced with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, then enriched with evaporated milk and eggs before being poured into a flaky pie crust. As the pie bakes, the smell of fall wafts through the house. Top slices of pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream or bourbon whipped cream for an extra special treat.
Nothing says fall like the smell of apples baking in the oven. Make homemade apple crisp or apple pie for a burst of autumn in the kitchen. As the apples soften and release their juices, they fill the house with notes of cinnamon and brown sugar. Serve apple crisp warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
For chocolate lovers, molten chocolate cakes with a gooey chocolate center are a perfect fall dessert. As the cakes bake, the chocolate melts into a lava-like filling. Dust the cakes with powdered sugar and top with whipped cream or bourbon whipped cream and a few pomegranate seeds for a gorgeous autumnal presentation.
Spice up fall with gingersnap cookies or pumpkin cheesecake brownies. The aromas of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin waft through the house as the treats bake. For an extra decadent brownie, top each one with a square of cream cheese frosting before serving.
Fall fruit like pears, cranberries and blackberries also make wonderful additions to autumnal desserts. Add pears or cranberries to bread pudding, crumbles or muffins. Blackberry jam or compote is delicious spooned over pound cake or cheesecake. The natural aromas of the fall fruits infuse the kitchen with the essence of the season.
As the days get shorter and the nights longer, baking up some festive fall desserts is a wonderful way to make your home warm, cozy and smelling like autumn. Fill your kitchen with the comforting scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, apples and pumpkin by whipping up some classic fall treats to share with friends and family.