Autumn is absolutely the most glorious time to bake! It’s all about comfort. I love the warmth of the spices, and how we use harvest produce to capital benefit. Everything I baked up this season has been made with fruit or veggies! And a huge theme this year: Apples! My kids’ school did a fundraiser selling B.C, orchard apples, and that was amazing. But I also found myself with a giant box of apples that needed to be eaten. So I snuck apples into … basically everything.

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Apple Cookies

These were a treat. Oatmeal apple cookies that were chewy and sweet, reminiscent of an apple crisp. They came together really easily, and these were gone so quick, guys, so you know it was good. A definite redo. The other great thing about them is the recipe is designed for all kinds of health alternates, like gluten-free and dairy-free. For this version, I used Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Baking Flour, and honestly you could not tell the difference between this and the real, floured thing! The recipe can be found at Mile High Mitts, a cute baking blog with an emphasis on healthy (sometimes, haha).

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Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins

Okay, I get these don’t look the prettiest, but don’t let that fool you. My mantra when it comes to baking is Looks Terrible, Tastes Great. These are an example. I’m not exactly what you would call a “perfectionist,” especially when it comes to how food looks. I’d rather focus on the taste! And, I rush through the presentation part of it, to be honest.

The way the flavours come together is truly a work of art, you can find the recipe here. I would expect nothing less from my favourite baking blogger Sally’s Baking Addiction.

I made up a maple vanilla glaze, slightly different from the one used in the recipe. It’s simple to whip up.

Maple Vanilla Glaze

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

2 tbsp heavy cream

1 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Whisk together. You can adjust the consistency by adding more sugar (to thicken) or more cream (to thin). So perfect on top of these muffins, it makes for a truly decadent treat.

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Pumpkin Cookies

Pumpkin spice cookies that are light, fluffy, and … good for you? It exists! Guilt-free treats to get you through the autumn season. They are grain-free, dairy-free, and taste like a slice of pumpkin pie. You can find the recipe here at Ambitious Kitchen, a cooking and baking blog that offers tons of tricks and treats for the holiday season.

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Pear Chocolate Hazelnut Cake

This cake was a show stopper. It was fudgy and delicious. I wish I were eating a piece right now, but alas, it was gone within moments. I’m a sucker for cardamon, it’s my favourite spice! The mix of hazelnuts, pear, cardamon with the chocolate makes a to-die-for combination. This is great to serve to guests as it is elegant and tastes amazing. Will be repeating this every fall! The recipe can be found here, at Olive & Mango, a new recipe blogger I’ve recently found!

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Apple Oatmeal

I thought I’d end with something simple. I think there is nothing more comforting than a bowl of warm oatmeal on a chilly morning, especially when it is spiced to perfection! This is what I normally eat on a lazy Sunday.

Apple Oatmeal (makes one serving)

1 cup almond milk

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 tsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp cardamom (or cinnamon, if you prefer)

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp coconut oil

1/2 apple, peeled and diced

Bring almond milk in a pot to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Add oats, maple syrup, vanilla extract, spices and salt, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until the liquid has reduced to your taste.

Meanwhile, mix diced apples and coconut oil in a microwave-safe dish, then heat on high for 45 seconds to soften the apples. Stir, and if you want you can add cinnamon or nutmeg to the apples.

Pour oatmeal into a bowl and top with apples. Enjoy!

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I got tons more recipes where that came from! For seasonal treats that are healthy (or, let’s face it, sometimes entirely decadent), sign up for the monthly newsletter! Exclusive content for members!