As the temperatures start to cool, it naturally shifts what we want to cook and eat. Fall in Ohio and the Midwest is especially exciting because it's harvest season and local farmers markets are full of produce. Fall brings an abundance of apples, squash, and other seasonal favorites that are the perfect way to welcome back the season. From hearty soups simmering on the stove to the sweet aroma of apple desserts baking in the oven, there’s no shortage of delicious ways to enjoy the season.
Make the Most of Apple Season
With so many apple varieties to choose from, it can be tough to discern which varieties work best in different dishes. Some varieties are best enjoyed raw with salads or as a snack but won’t hold up well in the oven, while others are better suited for baking into a pie, crisp or cobbler. We’ve put together a general guide below so you can cook with confidence.
Baking:
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Granny Smith
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Pink Lady
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Honeycrisp
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McIntosh
Look for an apple that’s slightly sweet + tart. Mixing varieties can create a better balance of the sweet and tart flavor in pies, crisps and cobblers.
Salads/Snacking:
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Opal or Envy (they oxidize more slowly)
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If those aren't available, take any other favorite type and use one of these tricks for keeping your slices from browning:
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Salt Water Soak (our favorite): Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt into 2 cups of cold or room-temperature water, stirring until it dissolves completely. Place your sliced apples in the salt water mix and let them soak for 5 minutes. Drain the slices in a colander and give them a quick rinse with fresh water to wash away any salty taste, then pat them dry.
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Let them marinate in a vinegar-based dressing if adding to a salad.
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Soak briefly in lemon water (although the citrus can alter the overall flavor of the apple)
A Classic Fall Dessert: Apple Tarte Tatin
Once you’ve chosen the right apples, it’s time to put them to work. Fall is the perfect season for baking, and there’s something especially satisfying about turning a basket of fresh apples into a warm dessert. One of our favorite ways to showcase them is Apple Tarte Tatin, a classic French dessert that lets the apples take center stage.
Unlike a traditional apple pie, Tarte Tatin is baked upside down, allowing the apples to slowly caramelize in butter and sugar before being covered with flaky pastry and finished in the oven. The result is tender, caramelized apples beneath a golden, buttery crust. Served warm or at room temperature with a dollop of whipped cream, it makes a beautiful dessert for a fall dinner or weekend gathering.
More Than Just a Pie: Put Your Apple Cider to Work
Apples aren't just for baking. Once cider starts appearing at farmers markets and grocery stores, it becomes another delicious way to bring fall flavor into the kitchen—and even into your cocktail glass.
For a simple seasonal drink, combine fresh apple cider with bourbon and lemon juice, then serve it over ice with a turbinado sugar rim. The combination of sweet cider, bright citrus and bourbon makes for an easy fall cocktail that's perfect for sipping as the weather cools.
Cider-Bourbon Cocktail
Rim: turbinado sugar, 1 lemon, cut in half
Cocktail: 4 cups of apple cider, 12 ounces bourbon, 1/2 cup lemon juice, sliced apples for garnish
Instructions: Spread sugar on a small plate. Rub the lemon half around the rim of a rocks glass and dip the rim into the sugar. Into a large pitcher add the apple cider, bourbon and lemon juice. Stir to combine. To prepare the drinks, pour the mixture over ice and garnish with sliced apples.
Welcome Back Soup Season
Once the weather turns cooler, there’s another seasonal favorite we’re always happy to bring back to the kitchen: soup. After taking a break from simmering pots and hearty bowls during the warmer months, those first cool days of fall are the perfect excuse to put a favorite soup on the stove.
For us, New England Clam Chowder is often the first soup of the season. There’s something about a warm, comforting bowl of soup that makes the transition into cooler weather feel official.
But fall is also a great time to experiment with soups that take advantage of the season’s harvest. Sweet potatoes, peppers, onions and other cool-weather vegetables make wonderful additions to hearty soups, and roasting or charring ingredients first can add another layer of flavor.
One favorite is our Chunky Sweet Potato Soup with Roasted Chicken and Poblanos. Sweet potatoes give the soup a subtle sweetness, while roasted poblano peppers add a smoky depth and gentle heat. Tender chicken and a flavorful broth make it hearty enough for a satisfying weeknight meal.
Shop the Season
One of our favorite ways to welcome fall is by visiting a local farmers market. In Ohio and throughout the Midwest, fall is harvest season, which means there’s no shortage of fresh, locally grown produce to inspire what we cook next.
Apples are an obvious favorite this time of year, but don’t overlook the other seasonal ingredients that start appearing at the market. Sweet potatoes, peppers, squash and other fall produce can easily become the starting point for a soup, side dish, dessert or weeknight meal.
Shopping seasonally can also be a great way to break out of your usual cooking routine. Instead of starting with a recipe, start with what looks good at the market and let the ingredients guide you. Pick up a few things you know you love, add something you haven't cooked with before, and see where the season takes you.
There’s something especially enjoyable about bringing home a bag of fresh produce and deciding what to make with it. It’s a simple way to connect with the season—and to bring a little more variety into your kitchen.
Give Your Spice Cabinet a Fall Refresh
As we transition from summer salads and lighter meals to soups, roasted vegetables and hearty comfort foods, fall is also a good time to take a look inside the pantry.
One of the easiest ways to freshen up your cooking is to refresh your spice cabinet. Take a few minutes to check the dates on your spices and replace anything that has been sitting on the shelf for more than a year. While spices don’t necessarily become unsafe after that point, they gradually lose their flavor and aroma—and fresh spices can make a noticeable difference in your cooking.
If we could only choose three herbs and spices to carry us through the entire fall season, we’d reach for rosemary, thyme and cumin.
Rosemary is a natural match for roasted potatoes, vegetables, chicken and other hearty dishes.
Thyme works beautifully in soups, stocks, roasted vegetables and savory dishes.
Cumin brings warmth and depth to soups, roasted vegetables and dishes with Southwestern and other global influences.
A well-stocked spice cabinet makes it easier to turn the season’s ingredients into something delicious, even when you’re working with a simple weeknight meal.
Settle Into Fall
Fall brings plenty of reasons to spend a little more time in the kitchen. It’s the season for crisp apples, fresh-from-the-market produce, bubbling pots of soup and desserts that fill the kitchen with the aroma of cinnamon, butter and caramelized fruit.
Whether you’re picking up apples for a weekend baking project, making your first soup of the season, refreshing your spice cabinet or browsing the farmers market for inspiration, there are plenty of ways to make the most of what fall has to offer.
So as the days get cooler, bring out the Dutch oven, turn on the oven and enjoy the flavors of the season. Fall is here—and there’s plenty to cook.
