Friends, hello! I don’t know about you but I am absolutely counting the days until October. I don’t know exactly why. September is a lovely month of transition. But October! October means we can lean all the way into apples and browned butter and Halloween candy (so so many fun-size Snickers, please), and I can start to work through my canned pumpkin hoard. Here are the 10 best things to bake in October.
• Gather ye apples and make Ina Garten’s Apple Pie Bars. This is the easiest way to an apple pie moment and I like this ratio of crust to apple filling better than a whole pie.
• As a child I would store my Halloween candy in a giant bowl on top of the refrigerator. I think my mom and dad both ate a good amount of it but that’s just part of parental rights. These days, any Halloween candy that doesn’t go in a Trick or Treater’s bag goes into these Candy Bar Blondie Brownies.
• My favorite cookie has gone pumpkin. These Pumpkin Black and White Cookies are tender little cakes covered with frosting. While we’ve got pumpkin on the brain, Deb of Smitten Kitchen has the best pumpkin bread recipe I’ve tried.
• It’s soup season and I love a pot of homemade chicken soup. BUT – soup is better with dumplings and dumplings are even better with pumpkin so – we did it! Chicken and Pumpkin Dumplings
• Add this to the list of things to make as you practice your pie crust techniques. This dinner pie is meat free but so hearty filled with squash and greens: Vegetarian Pot Pie.
• Can you think of anything better than brioche and custard, a splash of booze and dried cherries? Bread pudding is up there with rice pudding on the list of comfort foods. Toasted Bread and Butter Pudding
• Chocolate Orange Conchas are holiday flavored Mexican Sweet Breads. What I love most about these little buns is that they’re even better a day after baking and perfect for dipping in coffee. They’re a perfect weekend baking project.
• Pizza is forever and this is my favorite sort Detroit Style Pizza. My ideal toppings are pepperoni, pineapple and jalapeno. You?
• I make these Pumpkin Pecan Scones with Browned Butter Glaze every year. They’re like sweet and doughy little drop biscuits topped with a sweet glaze. Perfect with strong coffee and a game of dominos.
• Deep dark brownies but add GUINNESS. The light bitterness compliments the chocolate and the batter is sweet glossy chocolate. Make friends with these Guinness Brownies.
I hope you find some some inspiration in the 10 best things to bake in October. There are no bad bakes this time of year but there are some warm and comforting flavors to play with. Be well and happy baking, friends! xo
Karen
Ina Garten apple pie bars are to die for. They freeze well too .
Phyllis C Bailey
These recipes look delicious
I prefer to home cook food as my Mother did. She cooked everything from scratch. I was raised on good food. My mom was old fashioned.
Caroline Lee
I will make this recipe “Chocolate Orange Conchas ” in the mid of this month. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us.
tracey
Admittedly, I’ve only made your double crust chicken pot pie and the biscuit pot pie (which is one of my all time favorites)! Haven’t made this one yet. But, I’m planning a pot pie group dinner for friends and am wondering how you think the veggie pot pie filling would taste with the chive biscuit topping? Trying to come up with a good vegetarian option without all the work and wondering if the flavor profile would work together. The pie is for me and only me! (Maybe my partner if he is nice … lol). Thanks for this list. Fall has me wanting to eat/cook all the things and now I’ve got quite a few to add to my list. Happy Autumn, Joy!
Jenna
So many “open link in a new tabs” happened reading this. I wanted so much to make the Ina Garten apple pie bars from a couple of posts ago and it sat open on my tablet since then. And then a pumpkin pie cheesecake recipe crossed my path and the orphan friends group sure loves their darn pumpkin pie (although I am not a fan, but you can’t go wrong with cheesecake so…) so that will please the masses on T-giving just as fine.
I have followed your blog since I don’t know when… a good ten years ago and it is always, ALWAYS a treat.
Jenna
So many “open link in a new tabs” happened reading this. I wanted so much to make the Ina Garten apple pie bars from a couple of posts ago and it sat open on my tablet since then. And then a pumpkin pie cheesecake recipe crossed my path and the orphan friends group sure loves their darn pumpkin pie (although I am not a fan, but you can’t go wrong with cheesecake so…) so that will please the masses on T-giving just as fine.
I have followed your blog since I don’t know when… a good ten years ago and it is always, ALWAYS a treat.
Lauretta
Between this post and the Spice Loaf Cake from a few days ago, I want to bake it ALL! These recipes sound amazing! Can’t wait for your new holiday magazine!
Amy
I, too, am SO excited for your holiday magazine!!
Janet George
Thank you for all the great fall recipes!