As the leaves start to turn fiery shades of red and orange and eventually become a colorful carpet on the ground and a gentle chill creeps into the air, it can only mean one thing - fall has arrived. My absolute favorite season. One of my most beloved aspects of autumn is the apple harvest, a time when local orchards burst with ripe juicy fruits waiting to be plucked. But what truly makes the season special are the delightful fall activities that go along with a trip to the orchard; from making a delicious batch of apple butter to indulging in caramel apples and apple nachos and the scent of spiced cider and drying apples wafting through the house, it's a seasonal comfort that is the rite of passage from summer to winter. Below are a few of our favorite ways to enjoy it.
Apple Picking Adventures:
The best way to kick off the fall apple season is by a trip to a local orchard to pick your own. With a variety of apple types to choose from, each offering a unique flavor profile, it's an experience that helps you appreciate those last few days of sunshine and warmth. From sweet and crisp Honeycrisps to tart and tangy Granny Smiths, there's an apple for everyone to enjoy.
Homemade Apple Butter:
Every couple of years we all come together and make a big kettle full of apple butter. Usually, we make it in my mom’s large copper kettle but this year we lit the fire and used my great great grandmother’s old iron kettle. The stories that thing could tell! It’s an all day adventure but one that we all love. The weather couldn’t have been better for our apple butter day this year and the time spent around the fire talking about everything important (and sometimes nothing important) is time that you just can’t take for granted. So very thankful to have had our dad with us this year, just a month after his stroke and a daily reminder of just how much we have to be grateful for as we head into Thanksgiving.
Caramel Apples:
There are few treats that scream “fall” quite like caramel apples. These sweet and gooey delights are an indulgent way to use some of those Granny Smiths that you picked up on your trip to the orchard. Any variety that has a tart flavor makes an amazing caramel apple. You can make your own caramel or use caramel candies microwaved with a couple teaspoons of evaporated milk until smooth and melted. Then top with chocolate, nuts, toffee bits, sprinkles and a little more caramel sprinkled with sea salt for a mouthwatering treat that you can’t really go wrong with.
Don’t have the time to pull together a whole batch of caramel apples? Sometimes, we just do apple nachos…just slice the apples and drizzle the caramel and toppings from above across the plate of sliced apples for a quick and easy fall dessert that everyone will love.
Spiced Apple Cider:
There’s something comforting about walking into a house with the smell of spiced apple cider scenting the air. It’s warm and inviting and just a bit nostalgic, kind-of like bottling up the essence of autumn’s cozy vibe. From November through January I make the recipe below every couple of weeks. It’s a great transition drink from fall into Christmas and as the days move from crisp to cold, it has a certain appeal that a cup of hot tea just can’t match. For us, it’s a timeless tradition that evokes the feeling of time with loved ones, sharing stories by the fireplace and celebrating the beauty of the season.
Ingredients:
1 gallon apple cider
5 cups pulp free orange juice
5 cups cranberry juice cocktail
3 cups brown sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 naval orange, washed and dried
Instructions:
1. Push whole cloves into the peel of the naval orange; set aside.
2. In large stove top pot over medium-low heat, combine cider, orange juice and
cranberry juice. Mix well.
3. Add in brown sugar and stir until completely dissolved.
4. Drop in both cinnamon sticks and orange; turn heat down to low and let simmer for
1 – 2 hours or until heated through and cider takes on a deep cranberry color.
Oven Dried Apples:
Another favorite way to use our apples is by oven drying them with a little cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg. Core and slice the apples, then dip them in a bowl of water and lemon juice and lay on a paper towel to dry. In a separate bowl mix together about ¼ cup sugar, 3 Tablespoons cinnamon, the beans from 1 vanilla bean pod and 1 teaspoon nutmeg. Spread the apple slices on a tray lined with parchment paper and sprinkle with the cinnamon mixture; bake in a 200 degree oven for 2-3 hours, turning over halfway through and leaving the oven door cracked slightly to help air flow in the oven.
These apples are amazing in a salad with roasted chicken and pecans but honestly, they don’t last long enough for that because we all tend to snack on them!
Apple season is a time of abundance, warmth and a simple joy of fall. It kickstarts the holiday season and brings us into Thanksgiving, a time of family and fellowship and cozy warm fires. So this year, grab your flannel shirt and on the next pretty day, grab some friends or family and go find an orchard to explore.
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