Fall is my favorite season. There is no comparison for me. The endless apple and pumpkin flavored treats are what I live for. I love the crisp, cool air and the beautiful landscapes accented by the changing colors of the leaves. Obviously, you have to live somewhere with deciduous apple trees to fully appreciate fall like I do. There are some great activities you can do with your friends this fall! If you want to discover a new way to eat or drink those fresh apples this fall season, keep reading.
Apple Pie
Apple pie is known as one of the most popular desserts in the United States. Americans love their pie, especially apple pie. There’s not much that can beat the smell of baked apples wafting out of your oven. Even people who don’t care for apple pie love the scent of baked cinnamon, apples, and pie crust. If you have a Thanksgiving without apple pie, does it even count? I know most of my friends and family would say it definitely does not.
Apple Butter
If you have never heard of apple butter before, I am glad to introduce it to you. It is a lovely invention that is somewhat similar to applesauce. It can have hints of different flavors like apple cinnamon or strawberry apple. Apple butter is delicious on crackers, apples, or some tasty bread. If you get creative, you could incorporate it into a dessert of some kind as well. I have never liked applesauce because of the texture, but apple butter is another story. Learn how to make your own apple butter here. If you want to go on a picnic to enjoy the changing colors of the leaves, bring along some apple butter and crackers for your adventure.
Caramel Apples
Caramel apples are another popular apple treat in the United States. Some have different flavors of caramel or are covered in crushed nuts. Most of the time, caramel apples are shelf-stable with some pretty small apples dipped in caramel. During the fall, you can sometimes find orchards or stands that sell caramel apples made with big, crisp, fresh apples dipped in melted caramel. That is the beauty of autumn and an abundance of apples being harvested.
Apple Cider
I am not a big coffee fan myself, but apple cider is something I will always enjoy. I like it hot or cold, but my favorite is when it’s fresh. Have you ever had apple cider with apple chunks in it? I had a homemade sangria with apple cider in it one autumn, and it was delicious. Apple cider donuts are also quite popular. There is something extra cozy about snuggling up with a good book or movie in front of a fireplace with a mug of fresh, hot apple cider in your hand. These crisp, autumn evenings are the epitome of fall and allude to the winter nights to come where we get to bundle up in fluffy blankets and get cozy. Here’s an easy recipe to make some fresh apple cider at home!
Freshly Picked
There is something special about choosing which apples you want to eat and picking them from the tree yourself. Apple orchards are scattered all around the world ready for you to visit. There are rows upon rows of apple trees with different varieties of apples. You can take a stroll through the orchards, inspect the apples, and choose whichever ones you want based on the type, size, color, etc. Some orchards will even let you eat apples as you pick them. Once you have your bundle of apples all chosen, you can decide how you want to eat them. You could make any of the things mentioned above like pie, cider, sangria, or apple sauce. However, you could also just eat them fresh all sliced up perhaps with some peanut butter or caramel sauce on top. Different apple types are best for different recipes. For example, pink lady apples are great in sangria, but granny smith apples provide a sour kick with some caramel sauce. Most apple cider recipes call for honeycrisp apples, so be sure to get a variety and check out your recipe before you go strolling through the orchard to pick your apples.
I understand if fall is not your favorite season of the year. The obsession that some people have with pumpkin spice flavored things and wearing flannels is real, but can you really say that you don’t like all things apple-related? I mean obviously you like them a little bit because you have read this far! Embrace the apples and the crisp, lovely weather before winter hits. Happy fall!