Fall means the air turns crisp and cool and the leaves become festive shades of brown, orange, and gold. And of course, it also means that delicious seasonal foods, like pumpkin, maple, gingerbread, and apple, are top of mind when you’re whipping up comfort food ideas that will put your entire family in the fall spirit.
The best comfort food will stick to your bones and be rich and filling (since the temperatures drop, you might notice a greater appetite and need for calorie dense options!), and it’ll also feature the best fall foods that are at their peak in quality and price. Get those seasonings ready and get to work in the kitchen to make easy comfort food recipes fit for fall that the whole family will want to dig into.
Gingerbread Apple Crisp
Apple crisp is hot, tender, crumbly, and sweet, and if you use Granny Smith apples there will be a bit of tartness to make it a fun fall comfort food recipe that’s not overwhelmingly sweet. Plus, the gingerbread is right in season and gives it a festive feel to work well with other great fall ingredients like cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Try this delicious apple crisp gingerbread recipe for a delicious fall treat that has some good nutrition and fiber!
You can also try a gingerbread oatmeal crumble for breakfast—the oats will keep you nourished for longer and it’ll be a way to satisfy a sweet craving while getting in great nutrition for that morning meal! Simply use half of a Bobo’s Gingerbread Oat Bar and crumble into pieces. Then top with nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon for fall comfort food spices that complement the rolled oats and maple syrup.
Cheesecake
As temperatures drop, the need for comfort food, like cheesecake, goes up. Yet, cheesecake can be pretty unhealthy and loaded with sugar and fat, unless you have a healthier makeover. This fall comfort food recipe uses chocolate and avocado to make a slimmed down chocolate cheesecake bar (good for portion size too!) that kids will go crazy over. The avocado makes it silky and increases good fat and protein content!
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie is a real treat in fall—Thanksgiving is not the only occasion when you want to enjoy a slice or two! Yet, pumpkin pie is often high in sugar and fat, and eating it too often might not be so good for you. A solution? A banana pumpkin pie smoothie that uses vanilla protein powder, banana, pure pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice to give you the fuel you need in the morning (or for a post-workout snack) without the excess sugar.
If you’re looking to make your own crust for some traditional pumpkin pie, try this gingerbread pie crust recipe for a fun twist. It uses just three ingredients!
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Nut butter tastes great with fall comfort foods, like spices, pumpkin, maple, and more, and peanut butter is a classic that never gets tired. (Though you could go for almond butter, cashew butter, macadamia nut butter, and more!)
Peanut butter is super comforting, and you can use it in a variety of ways. You can make s’mores for a fun dessert by the campfire (or just to enjoy at home snuggled up in blankets by the fireplace or television), or you can pair the peanut butter with chocolate to make little, easy chocolate covered peanut butter bites.
Last but not least, use peanut butter and jelly as a comfort food combination for adding flavor to a smoothie bowl for breakfast or a hearty snack. You can use cauliflower to keep the sugar low and make a great bowl that is high in nutrients and has that delicious PB & J taste.
