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 is a foreboding energy in the air. And, as always, there are things to bake and reasons to bake them, from a simple loaf that will keep lunchboxes full to an apple muffin that can sweeten any gathering—and of course , the first pumpkin roasts of the season.
Kristen Dough
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 methodsupports 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
If you like this recipe, you may also like: apple fritters, Apple Crumb Cake
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
2) Biggest Pumpkin Chocolate Bread
Is it too early for pumpkin? Maybe. Are we already craving pumpkin anyway? yes! This soft bread, which uses an entire can of pumpkin puree for maximum fall flavor, is spiced with cinnamon and ginger and has a generous amount of chocolate chips.
Get the recipe: The Biggest Pumpkin Chocolate Loaf
Buy the recipe: Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips AND Carbonated sugar
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Light Pumpkin Bread, Chewy Pumpkin Cookies
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
3) 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 ARE 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
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Fried Buns with Mushrooms and Cabbage (Sheng Jian Bao), Steamed Pork Bun (Xian Rou Bao)
Photography by Patrick Marinello; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
4) Bagels with dough
If you're looking to bake with sourdough beyond boules, these 100% naturally leavened bagels are packed with delicious starter flavor. Baked in a high-heat oven, the bagels take on a beautiful bubbly crust and a deep golden brown color once baked. From there, the choice is yours: a cream cheese frosting or a large serving of lox.
Get the recipe: Bagels with dough
Buy the recipe: Everything Topping with Bagel
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Sourdough rolls, Without kneading everything Bread
Photography by Patrick Marinello; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
5) Whipped Caramel Apple Cake
This quick cake is an apple triple threat: the applesauce keeps the cake moist, the mulled cider adds concentrated tang, and the apple pie spice provides the old-fashioned flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. A generous dollop of caramel whipped cream (yes, you can whip caramel!) adds toffee-like sweetness without being too overwhelming, making this the perfect dessert to celebrate the season.
Get the recipe: Whipped Caramel Apple Tart
Buy the recipeof: Apple Pie Spice AND Boiled cider
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Apple Cider Candies, Salted Caramel Apple Donuts
Photography by Patrick Marinello; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
6) Super protein pancakes
These nutritious pancakes contain a large amount of protein from cottage cheese, milk, eggs and most importantly, oats. For more protein, use it our rolled oatswhich contain 40% more protein than conventional oats – as a result, each pancake has 8 grams of protein, so there's never been a better excuse to treat yourself to a short stack.
Get the recipe: Super Protein Pancakes
Buy the recipe: Rolled oats
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Protein Pancake Bites, Homemade Whole Wheat Pancake Mix
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
7) Baked oatmeal with chocolate
Looking for another way to add protein to your breakfast? This baked oatmeal doesn't feel virtuous, but rather decadent and indulgent. There are many toppings that make this easy breakfast delicious – from mashed banana to chopped walnuts to an extra sprinkle of chocolate chips. This keeps well for a few days, so it can fuel you for breakfast throughout the week.
Get the recipe: Baked oatmeal with chocolate
Buy the recipe: Triple Cocoa Blend
If you like this recipe, you may also like: No-bake oatmeal cookies, Granola with dough
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
8) Shou Zhua Bing (Crispy Pulled Pancakes)
These delicious buns are extremely salty and are best eaten by tearing them apart with your hands, as their Chinese name suggests – which translates to “hand grip pancake”. Use them in place of tortillas for a superior breakfast taco or add them to your dinner table bread basket.
Get the recipe: Shou Zhua Bing (Crispy Pulled Pancakes)
Buy the recipe: Maple and Mat Flip-Up Set
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Roti Canai, Lachha Paratha (Flaky Paratha)
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
9) Daily bread
This simple pan bread from our future The Big Book of Bread (pre-order your copy now!) well worth keeping in your daily rotation. Sweetened with a touch of honey and enriched with milk and a little butter, this whole wheat sandwich bread can be used for anything you need: PB&J, lunch box sandwiches, grilled cheese and more.
Get the recipe: Daily bread
Buy the recipe: Whole wheat flour
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Classic 100% whole wheat bread, Bread with whole wheat dough
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
10) Supreme Garlic Bread
To make the best garlic bread, you need these three things: good bread, lots of butter, and lots of garlic. Start with ours Daily French breadthen load it up with butter and garlic (and parmesan cheese) for an incredibly crunchy and flavorful bread that will easily steal the show.
Get the recipe: Supreme Garlic Bread
Buy the recipe: Country bread knife
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Soft garlic cloves, Garlic Cheese Flatbread
Liz Neily
11) Harvesting pumpkins
If you're already cooking with pumpkin this season, this recipe is a great way to use up leftover puree. (It only takes half a cup!) Cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg give these flavors the flavor of fall, while sweet cinnamon sticks add extra pockets of spice to every bite.
Get the recipe: Harvesting pumpkins pumpkins
Buy the recipe: Sweet cinnamon sticks AND Pumpkin Pie Spice
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Light Pumpkin-Banana Whole Wheat Bread, Pumpkin pie bars with cream cheese frosting
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
12) Sour Cornbread
This cornbread recipe is a genius way to use up an entire cup of sourdough — but that's not the only trick up its sleeve. It includes brown butter for a nutty, toasty flavor, and even better: This brown butter can be made right in the cast iron skillet you bake the cornbread in.
Get the recipe: Sourdough Cornbread
Buy the recipe: Field no. 8 Tava
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Tamale Pie, Delicious spicy corn cake
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
13) Cream Cheese Filled Red Velvet Cookies
No time for a red velvet cake? Instead, bake those flavors into a batch of cookies. In this recipe, a crisp, soft cookie gives way to a sweet surprise of decadent cream cheese filling, all under a snowy, flaky exterior.
Get the recipe: Cream Cheese Stuffed Red Velvet Cookies
Buy the recipe: Triple Cocoa Blend
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Lemon Wrinkle Cookies, Mochi Filled Ube Crinkle Cookies
Cover photo (Apple cake) by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne.
