Fall is in the air, and with the changing of the seasons brings crisp weather, varieties of leaves, fuzzy sweaters, and delicious autumn foods. To make the most out of this season, we are recommending four fall treats that will be sure to impress your coworkers!
Caramel Apples
When we think of fall, we think of caramel apples. And what makes caramel apples even better is the recipe is super simple with only three ingredients: apples, caramels, and heavy cream.
Recipe
To begin, line a 13 by 9-inch baking sheet or baking dish with a sheet of parchment paper, spray parchment paper with non-stick cooking spray, and set it in the fridge. Place the caramels and heavy cream in the bowl and put them in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, taking them out every 30 seconds to stir. Next, dip the apples one at a time into the caramel mixture at an angle to cover the entire apple. Once you are done coating your apples, place them upright on the baking sheet in the fridge, and repeat the process. Let your apples sit in the fridge for 30 minutes, and wallah, it’s ready to enjoy!
Protip: elevate your caramel apples with toppings like sprinkles, nuts, M&Ms, etc.
Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies
These buttery shortbreads are sure to be a fall favorite in the breakroom. This mouth-watering recipe needs 2 cups of all-purpose flour, ¼ tsp of salt, 1 cup of unsalted butter diced into pieces, 6 Tbsp of granulated sugar, and ½ tsp of maple extract. For the glaze, 1 cup of powdered sugar, 3 tbsp of maple syrup, 1 ½ tsp maple extract, milk, optional toppings.
Recipe
To start, you need to mix the flour and salt in a bowl, and separately, in an electric stand mixer, stir the butter and sugar. Once well-combined, add the maple extract and flour mixture with the butter and sugar at low speed. When the dough is thoroughly mixed, divide it into 2 portions and shape each into a disk that is around 5 inches on a sheet of plastic wrap. Wrap the plastic around the disks and transfer to the fridge. Chill for 30 minutes.
Remove one disk from the fridge, flour the surface, and rough out the dough to ¼ inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter to shape the dough into a maple leaf, and transfer to an ungreased baking sheet. Let the baking sheet sit in the fridge for 15 minutes, and preheat the oven to 350. Transfer the dough to the over for about 14-16 minutes. While that is in the oven, it is time to start the glaze! In a medium bowl, whisk the powdered sugar, maple syrup, and maple extract. Add in ½ tsp of milk at a time to thin it out (glaze should be similar to icing consistency). Once cookies are done, spread the glaze over the cookies and top with sprinkles or nuts.
Protip: Let cookies rest at room temperature to allow glaze to set. Store in an airtight container.
Pumpkin Pie Bites
If you are looking for a quick, easy, and healthy fall recipe look no further. These pumpkin pie bites take 10 minutes to make and last up to two weeks! For the ingredients, you will need ¼ cup of pure pumpkin puree, ¼ cup of honey, ½ cup of pumpkin spice peanut butter or regular peanut butter, ¾ cup old fashioned oats (grind in food processor), 1 tbsp of chia seeds, ½ tsp of ground cinnamon, and 2 tsps of pumpkin pie spice.
Recipe
First, in a large mixing bowl add the pumpkin, honey, and peanut butter. Stir. Then, add the oats, chia seeds, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice. Stir well. Roll the combined ingredients into a small ball. Refrigerate for 15-30 minutes, until firm.
Protip: If you used the Jif Whipped Peanut Butter, there is no need to melt it first, as it’s light and relatively thin by itself. If you use regular creamy peanut butter, then you will need to melt it slightly.
Apple Pie Protein Bars
Another easy 10-minute healthy fall treat are these delicious no-bake apple pie protein bars. Perfect for those who are gluten-free, vegan, or paleo. All you need are 1 cup of coconut flour, ½ cup almond flour, ½ cup protein powder, 2 tbsp granulated sweetener, 1 tbsp cinnamon, 1 tsp mixed spice, 1 tsp nutmeg, ¼ cup of almond butter or any nut butter, ½ cup of keto maple syrup, ½ cup of unsweetened applesauce, and 1 tbsp of any kind of milk.
Recipe
Start by lining a large baking dish with greased paper. In a large bowl, mix flour, protein powder, granulated sweetener, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mixed spice. In a separate bowl, microwave the nut butter and maple syrup until melted. Combine the wet and dry mixture and stir. Then, add the applesauce and stir. The batter should look crumbly. Using a spoon, add the milk until thick, firm batter is formed. Transfer to a lined baking sheet and press firmly. Lastly, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Protip: These protein bars are freezer friendly and keep well for up to 6 months.
Ready to treat yourself somewhere new? Check out our list of Travel Nursing placements here to get started on your next adventure.
