Happy Fall First!

Hello dear readers and welcome to my third annual Fall Post! Today, Sunday September 22, is the Autumnal Equinox. Although I have been in full fall mode for at least the last month and a half, it is now officially time.

It’s actually been getting kinda cold over here. Most years, it’s still very summery feeling by this time of year. But I feel like it’s gotten a little colder earlier, which I am very happy about. The tree right outside my bedroom window is slowly getting more and more red. I’ve been taking a picture of it everyday after school, and the plan is to clip them all together and have a cute lil video of the tree changing color. I’ve actually been pretty good at remembering to take the pictures so I think it’ll work out.

Aside from now officially being the best season of all time, it’s almost officially the best MONTH of all time. If you’re cool, then you know that it’s almost October AKA SPOOKY SEASON.

Although to me, it’s spooky season right now. I’ve been working on my Halloween recipes for the coming month since August. More on that in a bit…

I’m so pumped for October. I mean, I always am. But especially this year. I have a few traditions that I love to do every year. First, put up the graveyard in front of my house with my mom and brother (with a cup of warm apple cider after of course). Go on a little reading/work outing at a cafe with a pumpkin spice latte. Make pumpkin oat cookies while watching Scooby Doo, all the cozy vibes.

And, of course, the Halloween outfits! I’m unpacking the clothes next weekend…

And this year I get to do something extra special. I’ve been given the opportunity to do one of my dream pop ups at our farm’s fall festival. I LOVE the fall festival so much, and I am so so so excited to get to sell there in October! It’s my prime time recipe wise and I’m ready to show that off.

Ok now lets get into todays post. I’m including a few things, firstly, a list of my favorite fall recipes from this here blog you have stumbled upon. Ballerina Baker to be clear. Secondly, a list of some of my go-to fall recipes from some of my favorite blogs. Also some recipes I haven’t made yet, but that look absolutely delicious. Next, I’ll recommend some of my favorite books and movies for this time of year. I’ll throw in a handful of fall activities to do, and then I’ll close out with a lil sneak peak of what’s to come in the next couple of months!

Ballerina Baker Fall Recipes

Pumpkin Walnut Cake with Espresso Frosting: I only published this a week or so ago, but it truly is one of my favorites of the season. It’s just like your classic pumpkin cake, but with a delicious coffee walnut swirl and a luxurious espresso buttercream.

Spiced Orange and Fig Quick Bread: This is one of those recipes that is just perfect for a rainy day. It’s cozy and comforting, filled with chewy figs and sweet citrus. It’s topped off with a crunchy walnut cinnamon crumble. It’s a quick recipe too, perfect for a Friday night.

Ginger Pear Sparkle Cookies: I ADORE these cookies. They were my very favorite recipe from last year. Sweet ginger cookies have a crisp outside, and a gooey center. They’re topped with a beautiful brown pear for a unique taste, texture, and look.

Pumpkin Chai Brûlée Pie: My go-to for Thanksgiving, this recipe takes your classic pumpkin pie, mixes it with the complex chai spices, and tops it with crunchy caramelized sugar. It still tastes cozy and familiar, but is the perfect twist to make a classic a little more interesting.

Mushroom Pastries with Sage Brown Butter: Looking for something savory? These pastries are the perfect quick fall appetizer, with buttery sautéed shiitake mushrooms, sweet fig, tangy goat cheese, all topped with sage brown butter. What more could you ask for?

Apple Cider Cookies: Although these are a new recipe, they feel like a classic. Sweet apple cider, brown butter, cinnamon, and molasses work together to create the ultimate grandma-style fall cookie. Plus, they’re really easy to throw together.

Pumpkin Cookie Butter Truffles: These truffles are obviously one of the cutest things I have ever made, but they also taste pretty damn good. They take that sweet cinnamon cookie butter flavor, and combine it with the season’s star, pumpkin. They’re sweet, cozy, and just so addicting. Perfect as a little somethin’ somethin’ for your next fall party.

Pumpkin Patch Cookies: Inspired by those classic Tollhouse sweet treats, these spiced slice and bake cookies are one of my favorites to make for giving to friends. It’s a high yield recipe, so it would even be good for trick or treaters. I love dipping these in coffee for the perfect morning snack.

Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake: One of my favorite quick recipes, this would be so good to serve with a Thanksgiving morning breakfast. Tart cranberries are layered over a spiced citrus cake and topped with a simple yet delicious crumble.

Pumpkin Creme Brûlée: Smooth, creamy, and decadent pumpkin spice custard topped with a crunchy layer of caramelized sugar really is one of the best things. Creme brûlée may seem like a difficult thing to tackle, but I find that it’s actually quite easy.

Pumpkin Bat Donuts: This recipe was published in the olden days (2022) and is one of my favorites for October. Pumpkin and chocolate are an unusual flavor combination, but really shine in these donuts. They’re topped with a classic dark chocolate ganache, and chocolate eyes and wings for fun!

And that’s just the tip of the ice burg! I have loads more delicious fall recipes from the past few years just waiting to be made. If you do make any of them, please comment on my post or any of my socials. I would LOVE to hear about it, it makes me so so so very happy when others make my recipes.

Also, that list didn’t have very many Halloween recipes, but I think I might do a separate post on those in a few weeks. Stay tuned!

Go-To Recipes and Recipes I Look Forward to Making

• Apple Fritter Cake from Half Baked Harvest. Are you kidding me?! This looks so good!
• Apple Cinnamon Scones from Sallys Baking Addiction. I love scones, and I just know this would be delicious with a warm cup of coffee.
• Pecan Pie Babka from Butternut Bakery. I love chocolate babka, and this sounds like it would be so tasty.
• Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies from Sallys Baking Addiction. A classic, and one of my favorites for October.
• Chocolate Bourbon Chai Latte Cupcakes from Half Baked Harvest. I made these last year for my birthday and everyone loved them!
• Banana Bread from Red Currant Bakery currently holds the crown as my favorite banana bread recipe. I like it with the chocolate, but when you leave it out you can really let that caramelized banana flavor shine.
• Sweet Potato Cake with Smoked Paprika Caramel by Justine Doiron. I have recently discovered the beauty of smoked paprika, and I for one would love to try this.
• Cinnamon Sugar Apple Butter Pie From Butternut Bakery. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of apple butter pie, but it sounds amazing.
• Caramel Apples from Sallys Baking Addiction. My friend and I made these two years ago and they were so fun, and easier than expected.
• Lebkuchen Cookies from Red Currant Bakery. These look so cozy and tasty. I want to try them with the chocolate glaze because I think chocolate and spice go really well together.

My Favorite Fall Books, Movies, and Shows

Books:

• Fankenstein by Mary Shelly- Classic literature is scary, but I actually really liked this one.
• A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson- Spooky, suspenseful, and the definition of a page turner. One of my favorite book series and perfect for October.
• All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters- Another great spooky ghostly read.
• Lockwood and Co by Jonathan Stroud- My very favorite book series, and full of ghosts, I recommend this to anyone who wants a fun supernatural story. (Also, highly recommend the show!)
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman- I love the Coraline movie, so reading the book was a lot of fun for me. It’s super short, but you can watch the film with new eyes once you read the book.
• Edgar Allen Poe- last year, I read a Poe poem every day of October and I highly recommend. They’re hard to understand, but poem analysis is one of my favorite topics in literature.
• Weyward by Emilia Hart: Three different girls in three different time periods, woven together by a history of witchcraft. Aside from being witchy, it’s a very empowering story.
• Shady Hollow by Juneau Black- This series is the perfect cozy mystery, made up from a cast of completely animal characters in a forest.
• If We Were Villains by M.L Rio-Dark academia thespian murder mystery? Say no more.

Shows/Movies

• Scooby Doo- Although there are many different Scooby-Doo eras, my favorite will always be Scooby-Doo Where Are You.
• Hilda- I grew up on the Hilda comics by Luke Pearson, and the show is just such an animated masterpiece. It’s cozy, fun, unique, and heartwarming.
• Corpse Bride- Tim Burton will be heavily featured in this list, but Corpse Bride is just such an iconic Halloween Film.
• Nightmare Before Christmas- Henry Selick and Tim Burton really know how to make a fun spooky movie.
• Lockwood and Co- I already mentioned the book, but the show is such a good one to!
• It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown- Perhaps the definition of classic, my family always watches this one when we carve our pumpkins.
• Hocus Pocus- I’m going to be honest, I don’t actually love Hocus Pocus all that much. But it is an October classic.
• Old monster movies- Dracula, Frankenstein, Creature from the Black Lagoon, you name it. These movies aren’t really scary because they’re so old, but they’re a great cozy watch.
• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving- Another fall classic, I look forward to this every Thanksgiving.

Cozy Fall Activities

• Take a walk- listen to music, crunch the leaves, take a book with you. It’s a simple activity, but so peaceful.
• Read a book at a cafe, pumpkin spice lattes are not required but are highly encouraged.
• Go apple or pumpkin picking.
• Make a leaf pile.
• Bake something (shocking I would suggest this).
• Have a movie marathon with your friends and carve pumpkins.
• Eat soup. Sometimes it’s the simple things.

Coming Soon…

If you’ve made it this far, thank you! I hope this post was informative and fun. I always love writing stuff like this. It feels low pressure. Anyway, I’m gonna close out with a little sneak peak at what’s to come.

I have two more recipes for September coming to ya. They’re both very cozy and classic, and one of them may or may not be dropping tomorrow…

I will have six recipes coming in October, five of which are based off of spooky movies/shows. This is the first year I’ve done a theme other than general spookiness, and it’s been a lot of fun! We’re talking Beetlejuice, Nightmare before Christmas, and more.

I haven’t gotten very far into November yet, but I think we’re looking at something like five recipes. And just so everyone is aware, November will be FALL recipes. None of this Christmas nonsense. That will be reserved for December, and December alone. Are we clear? Ok cool.

Thanks for reading, and I sincerely hope you enjoyed the post. Writing these always gets me so hyped about fall, and I hope it does the same for you. It truly is a beautiful time of year and I can’t wait to savor every moment. Stay tuned for more cozy recipes, but until then, Happy Fall First!