It's finally shoulder season, when summer begins to give way to fall. There are the last tomatoes and the first apples at the farmers markets, cool mornings turn to warm afternoons, and there's a kind of foreboding energy in the air. And, as always, there are things to bake and reasons to bake, from a simple loaf that will keep lunch boxes full to an apple pie-inspired babka that will sweeten any weekend (or new year).
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Liz Neily
1) Apple cake
In this recipe, the beloved apple pie is reimagined as a sliced, edible pie. Moist and firm cake, made usingThe reverse cream method, supports a large pile of cinnamon-scented diced apples. The vanilla frosting on top adds appeal to this homemade cake shop.
Get the recipe: Apple cake
Buy the recipe: Vietnamese cinnamon AND Pure vanilla extract
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
2) Pretzel Focaccia
This pretzel-focaccia mashup gives you the malt flavor and mahogany crust without the rolling, twisting and boiling. It's so much easier to make, and a sprinkle of pretzel salt is the ultimate finishing touch. Bonus: It's a great addition to a lunchbox.
Get the recipe: Pretzel Focaccia
Buy the recipe: The top of the moment, Unbleached bread flour
Photography by Kristin Teig; food styling by Liz Neily
3) Grandma's Apple Pie
When you want an apple pie, but you also want a dessert for breakfast, what's a baker to do? Make this babka, which is also a suitable bake if you're celebrating Rosh Hashanah. Enriched dough is twisted around a brown sugar spiced apple filling, and nuts; mulled cider (both in the dough and in the filling) gives the bread a great apple aroma and taste.
Get the recipe: Grandma's Apple Pie
Buy the recipe: Apple Pie Spice, Boiled ciderAND SAF Instant Gold Tip
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
4) Tahini Poppy Seed Pound Cake
It's nutty, it's tart, it's a great candidate for all-day snacking: This tahini-filled pound cake has it all.
Get the recipe: Tahini Poppy Seed Pound Cake
Buy the recipe: Unbleached all purpose flour AND Pure vanilla extract
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
5) Peach Caramel Upside Down Cake
Labor Day may be upon us, but summer isn't over yet—just ask the peaches. Before their season ends, make Fatima Khamise's recipe for the upside-down cake, which showcases sliced fruit atop an angel food-like sponge cake. Eat a plain slice, or gild the lily with a large spoon Confectionery slush.
Get the recipe: Peach Caramel Upside Down Cake
Buy the recipe: Cake pan AND Offset shoulder
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
6) Taiwanese Breakfast Bao
We're not suggesting that anyone get out of bed on a weekday morning and make these steamed buns for breakfast. But we're suggesting you make a batch, keep them in the fridge and microwave them for an amazing breakfast at a moment's notice. Recipe developer Joy Huang fills her bao with scallion omelette, soy paste, and pork floss, but you can substitute scrambled eggs and bacon if you like.
Get the recipe: Taiwanese Breakfast Bao
Buy the recipe: Parchment square AND The top of the moment
Photography by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Liz Neily
7) Glazed Espresso Coffee Cake
For a weekend pick-me-up, make this Chocolate Vanilla Zebra Stripe Coffee Cake, our latest iteration of Recipe of the year. It contains coffee in two forms (espresso powder and brewed), a generous layer of dry crumbs and a strong coffee cream.
Get the recipe: Glazed Espresso Coffee Cake
Buy the recipe: Espresso powder AND Black cocoa
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
8) Old Fashioned Oatmeal
If you're back to the school lunch routine, you might want to keep this easy Oatmeal Pan Bread recipe in mind. Sweetened with molasses and filled with rolled oats, it's a light bread that makes great bread – and it's perfect for a sandwich, too.
Get the recipe: Old Fashioned Oatmeal
Buy the recipe: Baker's Special Milk Powder AND Whole wheat bread improver
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
9) Finishing the rice with brown butter
Regular Rice Krispies treats are fine. But this version, made with butter fried and toasted powdered milk, is truly definitive. Soft yet chewy, a pan of these lasts less than a day in our house. Watch us do them on YouTube!
Get the recipe: Ultimate Brown Butter Rice Krispies Treats
Buy the recipe: Powdered milk
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
10) Tomato pie with parmesan and basil
Before we celebrate summer, make this amazing tomato pie. With sliced tomatoes nestled in a soft, creamy custard and a salty buttery crust, it's a great way to say goodbye to the season.
Get the recipe: Tomato pie with parmesan and basil
Buy the recipe: Pie bread
11) Classic challah
Whether you are celebrating Rosh Hashanah, observing Shabbat, or just want to do your best French toast you ever had, try your hand at challah. Golden bread is enriched with eggs, sweetened with honey and easier to make than you might think.
Get the recipe: Classic challah
Buy the recipe: Bucket for raising the dough AND Parchment paper
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
12) No-bake oatmeal cookies
If your kids come home from school hungry for a snack and looking for a project, prepare them with this no-bake oatmeal cookie recipe. Sweetened with maple syrup, filled with oats, nuts and chocolate, and bound with almond butter, they're quick and intensely satisfying.
Get the recipe: No-bake oatmeal cookies
Buy the recipe: Double Dark Cocoa Blend AND Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
13) Biggest Pumpkin Chocolate Bread
Is it too early for pumpkin? Yes. Do we crave pumpkin bread all year round? Also yes! This soft bread uses a whole can of pumpkin puree, is spiced with cinnamon and ginger, and has a generous amount of chocolate chips. Try it and add a comment!
Get the recipe: The Biggest Pumpkin Chocolate Loaf
Buy the recipe: Vietnamese cinnamon, Ginger, Semi-Sweet Chocolate ChipsAND Carbonated sugar
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
14) Oatmeal pasta
Making pasta from scratch is a satisfying weekend project. Destroy yours pasta machine and make a batch of this dough, which uses both semolina and '00' pizza flour and is made in a food processor. Cut into noodles, or use to make ravioli stuffed with cheese.
Get the recipe: Oatmeal pasta
Buy the recipe: Oatmeal flour AND '00' Pizza Flour
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
15) Crispy Cheesy Pan Pizza
Back to school time means the return of Friday night pizza nights! Celebrate the start of the weekend (and the start of the school year) with this beloved, crowd-pleasing recipe that yields a plush pizza with delightfully crispy edges.
Get the recipe: Crispy Cheesy Pan Pizza
Buy the recipe: Bowl scraper AND Unbleached all purpose flour
Cover photo (Peach Caramel Upside Down Cake) by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne.
Additional contributions by Tatiana Bautista
