Fall. It brings brisk fresh air, the wearing of chunky sweaters, and a kaleidoscope of color in its flowers and leaves, and marks the return to school and weeknight routines that comfort and ground us. And we love the extra hour of sleep we get when we “fall back” in November.
In the kitchen, we naturally crave heartier, slower-cooked fare, in which the warm aromas of fall spices, such as cardamom, cinnamon, and turmeric, feature in smoothies, soups, and desserts. And, of course, our beloved fall produce — earthy-sweet pumpkins, tart apples, buttery textured pears, and plump grapes — take center stage in our fall recipes. For roasting, we’re gobbling up the best of the season’s root vegetables, such as ruby red beets, carrots, potatoes, and Brussels sprouts.
The soup’s up, the slow cooker is ready for action, and the countdown to game day is on. Here are some of our favorite fall recipes that capture the best of the season. Let the feasting commence!
Apple Smoothie
This golden-hued smoothie, reminiscent of fall foliage, gets a color boost from earthy, pungent ground turmeric. This ancient herb contains curcumin, a substance known for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Sweet apple and frozen banana give this almond milk-base smoothie a beautifully sweet and creamy texture, and yogurt gives it a protein boost, making it a great snack for when you get back from your hike to see the changing leaves.
Fall Wines
The cool weather foods of fall make pairing our favorite wines so much fun. Sure, we can drink rosé year round, thank you, but the hankering for juicy, dark red fruit and plush textures of Southern Oregon red wines, such as Royal Crest blend and cabernet sauvignon paired with hickory-smoked Pekin duck and ribeye steak, kicks in once the leaves change.
Come November, reach for the bright fruit and fresh acidity of an award-winning reserve pinot noir for roasted Thanksgiving turkey and holiday fixings. Wine-based cocktails, such as pear lover's sangria made with pinot gris or rosemary and cinnamon-infused Bellini with sparkling wine, are a perfect toast.
Edible Fall Flowers
Some flowers were made for picking…and eating! Microgreens, petite greens, and edible seasonal flowers, ranging from peppery to sweet and soft to crisp, make gorgeous garnishes that tell the story of the fall season, enhancing your dishes with beautiful detail. Add blooms to yogurt or oatmeal; use them as cocktail garnishes or steep them in tea. Each one offers a unique property and brings you closer to nature.
Royal Riviera Pear and Butternut Squash Soup
Low-calorie and fiber-rich butternut squash meets fresh, juicy Royal Riviera pears to make this velvety sweet and savory soup. What else could anyone ask for on a cool fall day?
Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
Creating a Thanksgiving meat and cheese board featuring fall's colors and flavors is a breeze when you reach for various hard and soft cheeses to please everyone's palate. Add pepper and onion relish, spreads, pears, and grapes to enhance salty and sharp cheeses. Arrange cured meats, dried fruit, and nuts around the cheeses, and get the party started with sparkling wine or the crisp, stone fruit-forward pinot gris.
Baked Brie with Pumpkin Butter and Candied Walnuts
We love this easy recipe for entertaining that features a wheel of soft-ripened cow's milk brie. Since you can eat the cheese's fluffy, white rind, go ahead and place the entire wheel in store-bought puff pastry dough and top with a thick layer of rich pumpkin butter —pumpkin puree cooked down with vanilla and warm spices. The crunch of chopped candied walnuts covers the wheel before wrapping it like a package and baking it to a golden brown. Decadent, gooey, crunchy, and sweet. Wow.
Game Day Pull Apart Bread
Pull-apart-style bread — meaning the dough is shaped and scored, marking a spot where everyone can grab an individual piece — is a perfect recipe for game day get-togethers. It bubbles over with melty cheese and piquant flavors, the result of slathering pepper and onion relish across the dough before baking. Make the dough from scratch or use your favorite pizza dough in a pinch.
Wild Rice Salad
Sweet pears, creamy and tangy Rogue Creamery Oregonzola blue cheese, toasted maple walnuts, and tart dried cranberries are a chorus of fall flavors in this naturally gluten-free rice salad that will have you rethinking the need for holiday stuffing. You'll want to make the creamy maple dressing again to drizzle over roasted seasonal vegetables.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
When the back-to-school hustle and long workdays collide, it pays to plan meals ahead of time. Add a boneless pork shoulder to your slow cooker in the morning, along with apple cider vinegar and liquid smoke, set it to low, and let it do the work for you. Create deeper flavor by adding Oregon Trail BBQ Sauce, rendering that shoulder into soft, tender, comforting pulled pork sandwiches for dinner.
Cherry-Glazed Pan Seared Lamb Chops
We have two words for you: double cut. That's right, folks, these lamb chops are double cut — that's like getting two for the price of one! — and are prepared with sweet and tart cherry preserves. They're great for a cozy date night dinner, so skip the restaurant and cook up these babies instead.
Chilean Sea Bass with Artichoke-Lemon Pesto
Chilean sea bass is in season from October through December, making this the perfect time of year to prepare this buttery-rich, large-flake white fish. We love this recipe that pairs the bass with earthy, nutty artichoke flavor and bright lemon from artichoke lemon pesto. This spread works beautifully in pasta dishes and over toasted bread for entertaining.
Oven Roasted Fall Vegetables
Farm-fresh fall gems, such as parsnip, carrots, sweet potatoes, and beets, love a good roast, since it brings out their deep flavor and natural sweetness. Season with salt, olive oil, and your favorite woody herbs, such as rosemary, lavender, sage, thyme, or a spice mix of your choosing, and make a gorgeous fall vegetable spread to serve with herby yogurt dip.
Pumpkin Cupcakes
These fluffy and moist pumpkin cupcakes made with rich pumpkin pecan butter and the deep molasses of brown sugar are a joyful ode to fall. You'll bite into the cinnamon-laced cream cheese frosting layer and discover a gooey chocolate center. We're hard pressed to find a better autumn dessert ambassador than these cupcakes.
Homemade Apple Donuts with Apple Butter
Homemade donuts are easy to make. Aside from a donut pan to create the classic shape, this recipe comprises pantry staples that you probably have on hand, including flour, butter, eggs, and fall spices. But the addition of creamy apple butter — a beloved topping for oatmeal, toast, and pancakes — and brown sugar and cinnamon makes these donuts an extra special fall treat for weekend brunch or an afternoon snack with coffee after you get back from picking apples and pumpkins.
