Autumn is a time to get excited! Halloween and Thanksgiving are just around the corner, watching the leaves turn different shades of red and orange, getting to break into your sweatshirts and binging Halloween movies with your roommate and all the delicious food that comes with it.
It’s never officially fall until Starbucks and Dunkin’ release their signature fall menu. Shamefully, I love spending $9 on a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks and occasionally a pumpkin muffin too. I think their lattes are sweet in a way that appeals to both black coffee drinkers and those who prefer to not taste the caffeine like myself. However, I cannot in my right mind rank it at the top of my fall foods list because of how pricey it is. Therefore, I am putting Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Tier 5.
Pies are a traditional fall staple, with apple pie entering the scene in September, and pumpkin pie joining in around Thanksgiving. The great thing about pies is how customizable they are; you don’t have to do just pumpkin or apple. I’ve seen someone make a carrot pie before, though I’m not sure how good it turned out. It just goes to show that you can make anything into a pie. It’s fairly simple to bake, especially if you buy a premade crust from the grocery store. What’s even better is that if you aren’t feeling like making a whole pie, grocery stores typically sell mini snack-sized ones. I had to rank it lower though because pies are an acquired taste and they’re really only a dessert. I believe there are foods out there that you can have all day which is why I put pies at Tier 4.
Entering back into the drinks category, I have to say, I can not have a successful fall without having apple cider at least once. Apple cider is sweet and tastes crisp, almost like it matches the newly windy weather of September. It can be served hot or cold depending on your mood. There are even websites online with recipes to make your own, though I have to admit, I’ve never tried to make my own because it seems complicated. But the option is out there if you want to try! Apple cider also goes great with pretty much every other fall-themed food, I would say best with apple cider doughnuts. The reason it ranks in the middle is because it can be very hit-or-miss with people. Some find it too bitter and some find it too sweet, so there’s a middle group that likes it. I believe there are other foods that are enjoyed by a larger amount of people which is why I put apple cider at Tier 3.
This one might seem unusual but I’m putting Pillsbury Halloween Cookies at Tier 2. Making these have been a signature part of my autumn bucket list for years now. I genuinely can not watch a Halloween movie without them, whether they are cooked or just dough. I stand by my statement that I could have a package of these cookies raw because of how good the dough is. Because the cookies are relatively small you can have several in one sitting, and they only take 10 minutes to bake. I was debating making these Tier 1 but then I saw that these cookies aren’t allergen friendly, knocking them down one tier..
For Tier 1 can we have a drum roll, please … I believe pumpkin muffins/bread are the best fall food. Now that may seem a little generic, but I have my reasonings. First of all, you can make them from home or you can buy them if you so please. They’re also customizable in terms of making allergy swaps and even add-ons. Personally, I love a good pumpkin bread with cream cheese, but I’ve seen people make chocolate chip pumpkin muffins, cinnamon pumpkin bread and some people even put coffee in it. If you want to make it more of a dessert, you can put some frosting on top to convert it into more of a cupcake. I had pumpkin bread the other day that had a glaze over it, and I honestly think it was the best pumpkin bread I have ever had. They’re easy to make in terms of steps and cooking time, and there are not a ton of ingredients you need to buy. You can even adjust the pumpkin taste if you don’t like how strong the flavor is just by adding less pumpkin puree. Overall, muffins/bread are a delicious and common food that is perfect for any occasion which is why I believe it is the best treat for autumn.
Leave a Reply