As temperatures dip and leaves begin to change, there is no better way to celebrate autumn’s arrival than enjoying a hearty baked treat. This crisp season offers an assortment of unique flavors: apple, pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, and more. With all the variations of desserts, it’s no wonder Erica and Eva, who are talented confectioners here at The Lance, spend so much time each autumn season testing unique baking recipes. While there are thousands of autumnal confections circulating the internet right now, here are the top six baking recipes they have tried that will certainly satisfy any craving you have this upcoming season. 

• Caramel apple butter cake

  

Picture this: you and your friends are spending time at a local autumn carnival, spending tickets on rides and participating in fun games, when all of a sudden, hunger strikes. You need something sweet, but can’t decide between a classic caramel apple or a refreshing slice of cheesecake from the bakery stand. You wish you could find a treat that could perfectly capture these cravings, but you unfortunately don’t know of any. Lucky for you, this recipe results in a cake that is a wonderful blend of a caramel apple and cinnamon cheesecake. It’s a decadent, ooey gooey dessert that combines apples and classic fall spices, like clove and nutmeg, with a creamy and sweet caramel cream cheese frosting. Though a bit more advanced, this recipe is definitely worth a try, especially if you love the taste of caramel apples!

• Pecan sticky buns

Similar to the cinnamon roll, sticky buns are pastries made of leavened dough–meaning dough that has risen through fermentation and the use of yeast–rolled with a cinnamon filling and baked in a rich caramel sauce. Recipes involving yeast aren’t exactly Eva’s favorite because they are more advanced and contain a lot of steps. For example, the temperature of all liquids used have to be exact according to the recipe in order for the dough to rise, and you have to make sure you don’t over- or under-mix the dough. Nonetheless, pecan sticky buns are Eva’s all time favorite pastry, and she fully recommends those who are up for a challenge to try baking them. After all, who can resist the mouthwatering contrast between the nutty pecans and sweet caramel?

• Maple snickerdoodle cookies

There is nothing more comforting than waking up to a warm cinnamon pancake smothered in maple syrup. This recipe combines the best of both worlds–cinnamon and maple–by baking up a wonderfully warm cookie, a fall staple that is perfect for any occasion! Eva, who is a fanatic for maple and anything with cinnamon sugar, swears by these cookies. She once baked these for the school’s girls varsity soccer team, and neither her nor her teammates could stop raving about how heavenly they tasted!

Pro-tip: Use a high-quality, pure maple syrup to enhance this sweet treat’s flavor.

• Pumpkin bread with chocolate chips

  

Pumpkin bread is a favorite in Erica’s house during the fall. The process of making it is simple and quick (Erica spends most of the time patiently waiting for the loaf to bake). Plus, the recipe can be made in one bowl for easy cleanup! This pumpkin bread makes for the perfect breakfast or snack, especially when you add a generous amount of chocolate chips to the batter – however much your heart desires!

• Apple cider oatmeal cookies

  

If a baked treat could capture childhood nostalgia, this would be it. These cookies take Erica back to memories of apple picking with their loved ones, and afterwards savoring a soft apple cider donut to warm up from the cool fall weather. These cookies showcase an incredibly sweet apple flavor that pairs perfectly with the nuttiness from the oats. For such a simple recipe, these cookies will have friends calling you a professional without all the complicated work! Pair these with a glass of hot apple cider, and you’ve got yourself the most delectable fall treat!

All in all, there are hundreds of different activities to do this autumn in order to celebrate this special season. Whether your favorite autumnal tradition is apple picking like Erica or spending time with teammates like Eva, we invite you to add one of these delicious recipes to your fall bucket list this year! No matter your experience, we urge you to honor this crisp season with baking and indulging in a wonderful fall treat with loved ones.