Fall Into Flavor: A Fruitful Fall Baking Guide

BY Bree Lauder-Williams ★ October 11th, 2025

Photo credit: Bree Lauder-Williams

When I hear fall, I think of Halloween, changing leaves, and Gilmore Girls. However, some of my favorite fall activities are baking and cozying up with a delicious, festive drink. I know that most of us are familiar with fall flavors like pumpkin and apple,  but there are a multitude of in-season fruits and vegetables that we can use during this delightful season. This guide is not only here to encourage sustainable baking, but also to share all the other fun flavors that can spice up this fall season.

Sustainability: Not as Hard as it Seems 

We all know that Nara Smith's kids must request a snack weeks in advance. Let’s be real, cooking or baking sustainably is not and shouldn’t be that hard or elaborate. No one is perfect; you don't have to cook everything from scratch or turn into Ballerina Farm. To practice food sustainability, all it takes are some small changes here and there that definitely add up. Small adjustments not only benefit the environment but also enhance the flavor and quality of your baked goods, making your fall treats even more enjoyable. 

Fresh Flavors: Not Just Pumpkin Spice and Apple Cider

There is more to fall than just our favorite pair of Uggs and the annual pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. While yes, pumpkins and apples are in season for the duration of fall, so are sweet potatoes, ginger, and interestingly enough, mangoes. While many of us think of fall as the season when everything begins to die, there is a multitude of produce growing and in bloom. Here is a fall produce guide to help you branch out to more festive fall flavors. 

Harvest Home Baking

The fall is for incorporating the season's flavors into delicious baked goods. There is nothing better than the wonderful smell of freshly baked goods filling your home (or dorm). 

• Poached pear ginger cake: A perfect showstopping dessert with a warm ginger cake layered with wine-poached pears and a cream cheese frosting. 

• Almond croissants: Nuts have seasons the same way fruits do! A  perfect use of almonds are these minimal effort croissants. 

• Swede Squares (Rutabaga): An unexpected veggie dessert that you won’t be able to put down. This literally tastes like heaven. 

• Caramelized Plantains with Ice Cream: A tropical twist on a classic, where you replace bananas with plantains and top it off with ice cream.  I personally prefer the Earl Grey flavor — it’s delicious! 

Cozy Up With a Cup 

Fall drinks are more than just something warm to hold—they’re little rituals of comfort. Whether spiced, creamy, or sweet, the right cup in your hands makes rainy days feel cozier and chilly mornings easier to savor. Also, they’re cheaper than Starbucks. 

• Sweet Potato Latte: A delicious Korean classic that will warm you up on a chilly fall day.. 

• Maple Chai: A dirty chai sweetened with maple syrup. Can be served hot or cold!

• Spiced Pear Cider: Your delicate and tasty rendition of an apple cider. Simmering pears the way you would simmer apples is an easy way to craft this drink. 

• Ginger Apple Tea: I love tea, and this drink is slowly becoming one of my favorites. As a bonus, you could just use the apple peel to make it. 

The Second Act

Half-used fruits and veggies don’t need to go to waste; this season is about creativity as much as comfort. With a little repurposing, those leftovers can transform into entirely new treats that taste just as festive as the first bake.

• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread: After you carve up that Halloween pumpkin, use the scraps to make this moist bread. 

• Apple Butter Thumbprint Cookies: Use up your apples for the filling of these thumbprint cookies for some cute, bite-sized treats. 

• Caramelized Banana Muffins: Those bananas on your counter that are getting too ripe? Mash them into muffins and add some spices for a nice little sweet treat.

• Sweet Potato Brownies: I know it sounds weird, but mashed sweet potatoes can make the fudgiest and most delicious brownies. 

Fall is the season to slow down, savor flavor, and make the most of what we have. Whether it’s a half-used potato, a fresh bowl of apples, or a girl's night baking with your friends,  utilizing seasonal produce and experimenting with unexpected ingredients can create new memories — maybe you’ll find a new favorite! So light a candle, grab a cozy sweater,  and let the oven/kettle do the rest.

Edited by: Riana Desai & Ava Ascenzo