Favorite Fall Foods: 30+ Recipes You Must Make This Fall!

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Dive into the ultimate collection of fall foods! Experience autumn, one bite at a time. From savory sensations to sweet delights and tempting cocktails, this curated list captures all the top flavors of the season. It’s the only guide you’ll need to fully savor autumn’s best.

As the days become shorter and nights cooler, our cravings shift towards warm, comforting, and hearty dishes. This collection of recipes isn’t just another roundup; it’s a handpicked selection of dishes that epitomize the essence of autumn.

From the farm-fresh ingredients to the symphony of spices, these recipes are crafted to deliver the authentic taste of fall right to your table. Moreover, to ensure you get impeccable results every time, we’ve put together a list of essential tips to master these fall recipes. So, before you dive into the magic of autumnal cooking, let’s set you up for success.

If you’ve been following Inspired by Charm for a while, you know I share LOTS of fabulous foods for each season. To make the recipes easier for you to find, every so often I round up a bunch and post them together. Today’s collection is my Favorite Fall Foods. This isn’t a collection of all of my fall recipes. This list just consists of recipes that have my highest recommendations. If you can only make a handful of recipes for fall, these would be it!

The Best Fall Recipes / Favorite Fall Foods #pumpkin #recipe #fall #fallbaking #easy #apple #applecider #appetizer #desset #best

This roundup has three categories of fall foods: sweet, savory, and drinks. Many of the recipes are things I make year after year. To name a few: the pumpkin baked oatmeal, apple strudel, everything bagel cheeseball, and caramel apple martini. No matter what you decide to make from this collection, I’m positive you’re going to enjoy my Favorite Fall Recipes.

Why You’ll Love These Recipes

  • A Culinary Hug for the Soul: Every bite of these fall foods is like wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket, invoking feelings of warmth and nostalgia. As you taste the delicate balance of spices and seasonal ingredients, you’re transported back to cherished autumn memories.
  • The Ultimate Fall Bucket List: With both classics like Pumpkin Bread and unique twists like Everything Bagel Cheeseball, this list is a culmination of autumn’s culinary best. There’s something to cater to every whim and fancy.
  • Variety is the Spice of Life: This collection encompasses the vast range of flavors fall has to offer, ensuring that you’ll never tire of your options. From the sweet allure of pumpkin to the savory goodness of harvest vegetables, there’s a flavor profile for every mood and occasion.
  • Innovative Yet Authentic: While the classics are timeless, innovation keeps our taste buds excited. This list masterfully balances tradition with creativity, ensuring that your autumn meals are both familiar and refreshingly new.

And with that, I think we are ready to get into this list of delicious fall foods. Let’s do it!

Easy Snacks

As the leaves turn and the air crisps, quick and convenient bites become all the more important. Whether you’re hosting a game day, prepping for a cozy movie night, or just looking for an afternoon pick-me-up, this selection of easy snacks is sure to satisfy. Filled with seasonal ingredients and flavors, each recipe is designed to deliver maximum taste with minimal effort.

Sweet and Salty Fall Snack Mix in a bowl.

Sweet and Salty Fall Snack Mix

Sweet and salty come together in this delicious and easy-to-make fall snack mix. It’s a wonderful medley of flavors that is all treats with no tricks. I know you’re going to love it as much as I do. 

hand dipping a chip into an everything bagel cheese ball.

Pumpkin-Shaped Everything Bagel Cheeseball

You may already be familiar with this ever-popular IBC recipe. The shape and flavors of this cheeseball make it perfect for almost any autumn event. Your family and friends will be impressed with your creativity and culinary talents.

Hand dipping a Baked Delicata Rings into  Creamy Herb Dip.

Baked Delicata Rings

These gorgeous rings are impressive but not hard to pull off. The flavor secrets are the buttermilk mixture and savory Parmesan bread crumbs you dip them in before baking and the creamy homemade herb dip you serve them with. Delicata squash is sure to have a permanent place on your grocery list this fall.

three apple shaped cheese balls on a plate.

Fall “Apple” Cheeseballs

If you’re looking for other “wow-worthy” cheeseballs for fall celebrations, you can stop searching. These apple-shaped cheeseballs are formed from a mixture of cream cheese and white cheddar. After you roll the cheeseball in paprika, ground pistachios, or finely chopped bacon and walnuts, you insert a small twig for the “apple stem.”

pumpkin dip in bowl with apples and cookies.

Creamy Pumpkin Dip

Celebrate the season with this easy-to-make Creamy Pumpkin Dip. Made with cream cheese, marshmallow fluff, pumpkin, and seasonal spices, this dip is creamy, fluffy, and full of fall pumpkin flavor. 

red pepper jelly with cream cheese served with crackers.

Red Pepper Jelly

Learn how to make red pepper jelly. It’s delicious in a variety of ways including this easy this easy appetizer served over cream cheese with crackers. No matter how you serve it, this homemade red pepper jelly is a hit every single time.

Savory Favorites

As the days get shorter and the nights cooler, our cravings naturally lean towards heartier, more comforting dishes. This collection of savory favorites is a celebration of all the comforting flavors that autumn has to offer. From soups and stews to roasted vegetables and hearty pastas, these recipes are perfect for weeknight dinners, Sunday lunches, or any time you need a little extra warmth.

a long white plate with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and sliced apples.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples

As I’ve said before, if you like Brussels sprouts, you will thank me for this recipe. After roasting the Brussels sprouts and apple slices, you drizzle them with red-wine vinaigrette. The flavor is divine!

Large bowl of beer cheese dip garnished with bacon and served with pretzel bites.

Beer Cheese Dip with Bacon

This fall party food is the bomb! It’s loaded with essentials of the season: beer, cheese, and bacon. I make this dip in a slow cooker and offer it with pretzel bites or cubed bread.

Fall Harvest Pasta Salad served in a large white bowl.

Fall Harvest Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is another specialty on Inspired By Charm, and this delightful version combines multi-colored pasta with roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli, dried cranberries, pine nuts, red onion, and poppy seed dressing. My advice is to make plenty! (You can find more of My Best Pasta Salads HERE.)

fork into a plate of Roasted Carrots with Candied Pecans and Goat Cheese

Roasted Carrots with Candied Pecans and Goat Cheese

Your reputation as a gourmet will be sealed when you serve this fall food from Inspired by Charm. Roasting brings out the sweetness of the carrots, which are complemented by the salty-savory goat cheese and crunchy pecans.

Sweet Potato Shepard's Pie served in individual pumpkin dishes.

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

This “healthier” take on the hardy fall dish makes my heart and tummy happy. I like to make individual “pies” and finish them with a sprig of rosemary and sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. Both are welcome counterpoints to the sweet potato topping and savory vegetable and meat filling.

Creamy Pumpkin Tortellini in a pan.

Creamy Pumpkin Tortellini

This Creamy Pumpkin Tortellini is an easy and tasty fall dinner idea you can whip up with little time or effort. Store-bought tortellini is coated in a cheesy and creamy pumpkin sauce that will have you going back for seconds. 

Sweet Treats

Fall is synonymous with indulgence, and what better way to embrace the season than with a collection of delectable sweet treats? From apple cinnamon goodness to pumpkin spice delights, this section is a tribute to the flavors that define autumn. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or simply treating yourself, these recipes will bring warmth and joy to your kitchen and your taste buds.

Baked Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal served in a bowl with milk being poured into it.

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

This first sweet favorite of mine offers a warm and flavorful start to the day (after coffee, of course). You simply bake pumpkin and seasonal spices with rolled oats and milk. If your mornings are super busy, you can do everything the evening before and reheat the oatmeal in the morning.

loaf of pumpkin bread with caramel glaze and chopped pecans.

Really Good Pumpkin Bread

The name says it all! This amazingly moist quick bread is covered with caramel glaze and crushed pecans and loaded with pumpkin and the spices many of us seem to crave when the weather turns cool.

pouring maple syrup onto a slice of pumpkin frech toast casserole.

Easy Pumpkin French Toast

Filled with the flavors of fall, this breakfast casserole is simple to put together. Refrigerate it overnight and bake it the next morning. I have a feeling it will become a fall favorite for you as well. I like to serve a generous square with cinnamon maple butter and pure maple syrup.

Salted Caramel Honeycrisp Apple Pie served on a plate with the whole pie in the background.

Salted Caramel Honeycrisp Apple Pie

I am putting three of my favorite ingredients together to create one incredible apple pie. The combination of salted caramel, Honeycrisp apples, and a flaky homemade crust are winners in this Salted Caramel Honeycrisp Apple Pie.

pumpkin cinnamon rolls in a metal baking pan.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

What takes cinnamon rolls to the next level? You guessed it – pumpkin and the spices of the season. This is the perfect sweet to enjoy on a crisp fall day. Everyone will love the rich flavors and inviting colors.

Pumpkin Pull-Apart Bread with a glaze served on a plate.

Pumpkin Pull-Apart Bread

Packed with pumpkin spices, this is a bread you’ll enjoy for brunch or breakfast or even dessert. The cinnamon glaze is an especially nice touch. I promise that you (and any lucky people with whom you share this fall favorite) will keep coming back for “just one more slice.”

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cookies with Espresso Frosting Recipe on a plate with on cookie that has a bite taken out.

Frosted Pumpkin Cookies

I created these soft pumpkin cookies during my second fall cookie week. They’re smothered with cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with additional cinnamon. Calling them delicious is an understatement! (If you want to know more about my fall cookie weeks, click here. https://inspiredbycharm.com/salted-caramel-shortbread-cookies/)

spatial taking out a piece of Pumpkin Cake with Crumb Topping in a white baking dish.

Pumpkin Cake with Crumb Topping

If you’re a fellow cake lover, this one’s for you. Pumpkin and the spices we associate with it are also delightful in this cake that’s crowned with a super-easy-to-make, autumn-inspired crumb topping. (In case you’re looking for more pumpkin goodies, check out My Favorite Pumpkin Recipes HERE.

close up of sliced homemade apple strudel.

Homemade Apple Strudel

The last, (but not least,) of my favorite sweet fall foods in this roundup is this apple strudel. This recipe relies on store-bought puff pastry dough which you roll out, cut, and braid. I used a classic glaze and cooked Granny Smith apples for the filling. You can’t miss!

Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Swirl on a white plate.

Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Swirl

Classic pumpkin quick bread is taken to the next level with a creamy and tangy cream cheese swirl right through the center. This Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Swirl will quickly become your new and preferred fall sweet treat.

If you like pumpkin recipes, then be sure to check out this collection of the best pumpkin recipes for fall.

Delicious Drinks

Autumn is the season of coziness, and nothing says cozy like a warm drink in your hands. But fall beverages are not just limited to hot cocoa and tea. This section features a variety of drinks, from steamy hot chocolates and teas to soothing cocktails and ciders. Whether you’re looking for something to warm you up after a brisk walk or a drink to enjoy by the fire, these recipes have you covered.

Homemade Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate in glass mugs.

Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate

Fall just isn’t fall without hot cocoa and pumpkin spice. Put the two together and, for a change of pace, use white chocolate. The resulting drink will make you wish for cooler weather.

hot apple cider served in a glass mug with a cinnamon stick garnish.

Hot Apple Cider

Embrace the essence of fall with every warm sip of this hot apple cider. This quintessential drink, brimming with the flavors of fresh apples and aromatic spices, promises to be your cozy companion during crisp autumn evenings. It’s easy to make and can be enjoyed by all!  If you like this recipe, you’ll also love my Cider Milled Wine recipe too!

Caramel Pear Cider served in glass mugs with pear and cinnamon stick garish.

Caramel Pear Cider

The caramel and pear flavors of this fall cocktail are beyond description. Like other mulled drinks, this cider is served warm. I like to garnish it with a cinnamon stick and pear slice. So elegant!

Autum Harvest Fall Sangria served in two wine glasses with cinnamon stick garnish.

Autumn Harvest Fall Sangria

Sangria is a go-to at my house so I create different ones for every season and reason. This special fall version combines pomegranate seeds, chopped apple and pear, and orange slices with apple cider, pear brandy, and red wine. It looks like autumn in a glass.

homemade apple pie moonshine served in a large canning jar.

Apple Pie Moonshine

I always warn folks that this stuff packs a punch because of the grain alcohol and vodka, but it sure is a fun way to warm up from the inside out on a cold autumn day.

caramel apple martini with a caramel rim and floating apple slice.

Caramel Apple Martini

This fall libation is beautiful to behold, and it only requires three ingredients: apple cider, caramel vodka, and butterscotch schnapps. For garnish, I use a thin slice of apple, or you could rim the glass with cinnamon and sugar. (There’s also a creamy version of this recipe which you will love. Check out this apple pie martini.)

cider and maple old fashioned in a rocks glass with a cinnamon stick garnish.

Cider and Maple Old Fashioned

 I took a classic old fashioned and added seasonal flavor with apple cider and pure maple syrup to create this sensational Cider and Maple Old Fashioned. I know you’re going to love this combination as much as I do.

If you like bourbon drinks in the fall, check out this collection of my best bourbon cocktails and learn about my favorite bourbon for an old fashioned.

Apple Pie Sangria served in copper mugs.

Apple Pie Sangria

This Apple Pie Sangria is like sipping on a slice of homemade apple pie. Made with apple cider, caramel vodka, and crisp white wine, this fall sangria is a delicious way to savor the flavors of the season.

Fall Foods Tips and Tricks

Ready to get into the kitchen? Here are a few final tips to make your favorite fall food recipes the best they can be.

  • Seasonal Ingredients: Always opt for fresh, in-season ingredients. They not only offer the best flavors but are also packed with the nutrients that nature intended for that time of year.
  • Spice Storage: Fall recipes often call for warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Ensure your spices are fresh for the best flavor. Store them in a cool, dark place and consider buying whole spices and grinding them yourself for the most intense flavors.
  • Roasting Veggies: When preparing fall vegetables like squash, carrots, or Brussels sprouts, roasting can enhance their natural sweetness. Drizzle with olive oil, season, and roast at a high temperature until caramelized.
  • Slow Cooking: As the weather cools, slow-cooked meals become more appealing. They not only warm the home but also allow flavors to meld beautifully. Consider stews, braises, and slow-cooker recipes.
  • Nuts and Seeds: Toasting nuts and seeds before adding them to dishes can amplify their flavor. Whether it’s pecans for a pie or pumpkin seeds for a salad, a quick toast can make all the difference.
  • Balance is Key: While indulging in rich fall flavors, remember to balance heavier dishes with lighter accompaniments like a crisp salad or a tangy vinaigrette.
  • Presentation: The beauty of fall is unmatched, so let your dishes reflect that. Garnish with fresh herbs, use colorful autumn produce, and don’t shy away from rustic presentation styles that echo the season’s charm.
  • Experiment and Personalize: Fall is all about comfort. Don’t hesitate to tweak recipes based on your personal preferences or what you have on hand. Maybe add some cocoa to your pumpkin bread or toss some cranberries into that pasta salad.
The Best Fall Recipes / Favorite Fall Foods #pumpkin #recipe #fall #fallbaking #easy #apple #applecider #appetizer #desset #best

More Delicious Fall-Inspired Recipes

Wow! Now that was quite the collection! Don’t you think?

I hope you’re as excited about these favorite fall foods as I am. Here’s to a season filled with delicious moments and cozy gatherings. Happy cooking!

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11 Comments

  1. Hi Michael,

    I made your Really Good Pumpkin bread yesterday and have one suggestion. You should change the name to Really Great Pumpkin bread. I love to cook and bake and this one by far is the best. Thank you for sharing!