As the weather gets colder, a warm fall treat is a great way to warm up your day. Apples, pears, and pumpkins are all ripe and easy to use to make irresistible deserts. Check out the rest of this article to find the savory recipes for Caramel Apple Cupcakes and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies!

The first recipe for Caramel Apple Cupcakes is from “Life Love and Sugar”. This spiced apple cupcake with caramel icing includes many flavors and is sure to impress your friends!

To make the cupcakes you will need:

Spiced Apple Cupcake with caramel buttercream icing! Photo courtesy of Life, Love and Sugar.

• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ sugar
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• 1 ¼ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 3 egg whites
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ milk
• ¾ cup salted butter (slightly melted)
• 1 large apple peeled and chopped

To make the caramel buttercream icing you will need:

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup shortening
• 8 cups powdered sugar
• ¾ cup caramel sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Whisk together flour, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large mixing bowl
3. Add egg whites, vanilla extract, sour cream, milk and butter and mix on medium speed just until smooth
4. Stir in chopped apples
5. Fill cupcake liners about ¾ full
6. Bake 17-19 minutes
7. Allow to cool for 1-2 minutes, then remove to cooling rack to finish cooling
8. To make the buttercream, combine butter, shortening and mix until smooth
9. Add 4 cups of powdered sugar and mix until smooth
10. Add caramel sauce and mix until smooth
11. Add remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth
12. Top cupcakes with icing and a drizzle of caramel

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, another delicious and easy treat to make is courtesy of “Chelsea’s Messy Apron”. These cookies stray away from the typical chocolate chip cookie by adding a to-die-for pumpkin taste, but still retain the chewy and soft texture every good cookie has.

To make one batch of 18 cookies you will need:

Big and Chewy bakery style Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. Photo courtesy of Chelsea’s Messy Apron

• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 cup white sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spic
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 cups white flour
• 1 cup semi-sweet miniature chocolate chips
• 1 and 1/3 cups milk chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, add canned pumpkin, white and brown sugar, vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla
2. Beat until completely smooth
3. Add in cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, salt, flour, and chocolate chips
4. Beat together ingredients until combined
5. Cover tightly and chill dough for 1-10 hours. (This step is not necessary but provides a better tasting cookie)
6. Preheat oven to 350, line trays with parchment paper, and place 6 balls of cookie on each tray.
7. Bake for 12-15 minutes are

These fall treats are sure to bring about the fall spirit and get in the mood for a great season!

By: Emily Gyongyosi’19, Staff Writer