Ree Drummond's Top 10 Favorite Fall Recipes
It's officially apple dumplings season.
Fall is Ree Drummond's favorite season and it's easy to see why. It's a time of year for all things cozy, including cute sweaters, scenic drives to go leaf-peeping, and apple picking at the local orchard.
As it is for everyone else around the country, it's a return to routine on Drummond Ranch. With Todd enrolled at college in South Dakota and most other kids moved out of the house (Paige is the lone cowgirl!), being an empty-nester means that Ree is busy cooking, baking, and working on projects around the house. "I've said it before, but I'm really feeling it right now: Fall is my favorite!" Ree says, adding that "there are so many reasons to get excited about this wonderful, glorious, nostalgic, and fun-filled time of year."
If you're feeling that same motivation, Ree's favorite fall recipes have everything you need to embrace the new season. It's a time for pumpkin spice and everything nice, which is why there are so many baked goods on this list: pear crisp, salted caramel cookies courtesy of The Mercantile bakery, and "magic" apple dumplings all fresh from the oven. It's also prime time for the Drummond kids' favorite meals: pumpkin spice muffins for a grab-and-go breakfast, Bryce's favorite broccoli cheddar soup, and Ree's classic chicken spaghetti. "Per his humble request, I made loaf pans of this last week, froze them, then put them in a cooler and drove them up to Todd at South Dakota last week!" she says. "They're now in his dorm room freezer (they have full size fridges and freezers in their dorms up there!?!) so now I just have to cross my fingers he will actually thaw and bake them. Pullin' for ya, Todd!"
On the first day of fall, bookmark this list of PW-reader favorites. Share which ones you're excited to try in the comments!
Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Enjoy these homemade muffins for breakfast or dessert: Just add a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar or a dollop of frosting. As Ree says, it's your call. "Unfrosted, these are positively yummy for breakfast," she adds. "Well, they're yummy for breakfast with frosting, too. But that totally goes without saying."
Get Ree's Pumpkin Spice Muffins recipe.
Homemade Applesauce
Oh, and if you're wondering what to make with it... Ree has suggestions for that, too: muffins, pancakes, pork chops, or a slab of French toast.
Get Ree's Homemade Applesauce recipe.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Soup season is here at last! This one is Bryce's favorite. It's creamy, cheesy comfort in a bowl. Speaking of which, follow Ree's easy tip if you're feeding a family: "Don't have a fancy, crusty bread bowl? Just use a Kaiser roll. Your kids won't care one bit!"
Get Ree's Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe.
Skillet Cornbread
Growing up, this recipe introduced Ree to the glory of cooking with cast iron. "My favorite cornbread on the entire planet!" she says. Serve with softened butter or a drizzle of honey.
Get Ree's Skillet Cornbread recipe.
Apple Cider Margarita
Toast to the new season! This is a new favorite drink of Ree's—mixed with apple cider, rimmed in apple pie spiced sugar, and garnished with an apple slice. As she says: "The rim on this drink is delightful!"
Get Ree's Apple Cider Margarita recipe.
Butternut Squash Risotto
Late September is the start of squash season. The hardest part is cutting up the butternut squash; luckily, Ree shares step-by-step photos of the process. The result? A creamy dish that's so good, Ree couldn't help eating it cold out of the fridge. "It was so irresistibly good, I just couldn't get enough."
Get Ree's Butternut Squash Risotto recipe.
Chicken Spaghetti
Here it is in all its glory: Chicken spaghetti. "This really is one of the all-time greatest 'make before' comfort foods," Ree says. "Our cowboys love this dish. Marlboro Man loves this dish. My kids love this dish. Therefore, I love this dish."
Get Ree's Chicken Spaghetti recipe.
Salted Caramel Cookies
"My new favorite cookie!" as Ree says of this baked bestseller you'll find at The Merc. Browned butter gives them a rich, nutty flavor with a thick drizzle of caramel and flaky salt on top.
Get Ree's Salted Caramel Cookies recipe.
Pear Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream
Pears are also in season during the fall, so bake this crisp dessert. Serve it warm and bubbly alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream. "You won't believe how delightful this is," Ree says. "Such a nice change of pace from the typical (albeit delicious) apple dessert."
Get Ree's Pear Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream recipe.
Apple Dumplings
Of course, you wouldn't be here if not for Ree's all-time favorite apple dessert! The recipe calls for Granny Smith apples, Pillsbury crescent rolls, and a can of Mountain Dew. As Ree says, that's when the magic happens: "I only make them a handful of times a year because they are completely irresistible!"
Get Ree's Apple Dumplings recipe.
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