Whole Story

Ahhh, fall! There is no other season that has me wanting to jump into the kitchen and bake up something scrumptious. After all, what’s more comforting than the aroma of a freshly baked pie or loaf of bread wafting through the house?

Fall baking means classic fall flavors – pumpkin, apple, cinnamon, sage, gingerbread and more. And between quick bread, pie, cookies, pie, biscuits, pie and cake (and did I mention pie?) there are plenty of recipes to warm your house and tummy. Think of it as a test run for all the holiday baking to come!

Before you start grabbing bowls and spoons, check your spice stash! Ground spices lose some of their potency over time, so if you’ve had a jar of pumpkin pie blend kicking around since 2007, it’s time for a new one. Load up on these autumn favorites:

• Cinnamon (whole or ground)
• Ground ginger
• Nutmeg
• Allspice
• Mace
• Ground cardamom
• Cloves
• Anise
• Pepper

Don’t forget to take stock of your other baking staples: flours, sugars, chocolate chips, vanilla and almond extracts, baking powder, baking soda and dried fruits, just to name a few. When the holidays roll around, you’ll be glad you did!

Need any more push to get you baking? Here’s just the tip of our proverbial fall baking iceberg:

What are your favorite recipes for fall baking? I’d love to know!