Fall brings with it a certain magic. Leaves change, temperatures cool, and steaming food encourages welcome. Here are 35 recipes to help you do just that!
Fall Is the Best Time of the Year
I love FALL! In my humble opinion, October is the perfect month and the best month to live in New York. The apples are ripe, the leaves are stunning, the weather is cool, and my house is cozy. It is the perfect time for steaming mugs of cocoa, coffee, and hot apple cider. My stove is often bubbling with stew, soup, and chili. The smell of homemade bread wafts through the air as our blood begins to thicken for the coming winter. Freshly baked cookies force people together. Apple and pumpkin become staple ingredients in my kitchen and cooking just seems like a lot more fun. I love fall!
In the spirit of spreading my absolute obsession with all things fall, I have compiled a list of recipes to help you as you seek to open your table and your heart to those who need shelter from the blowing winds of cold and loneliness. There is nothing like hot food and sweet dessert to encourage sitting long at the table for conversation. This is the season for s’mores and fires and laughing over board games as the nights get longer (check out this post for How to Plan an Awesome Game Night).
Related: Free Guide – 15 Gatherings You Can Plan in 15 Minutes
Here are some of my favorite recipes for fall gathering. I am placing a ** next to the ones I have tried already and I am excited to try the others as well! PLUS many of these recipes come from dear blogger friends of mine and I’m so excited to introduce you to them!
Fall Recipes forWelcome and Warmth in Your Home
Main Dishes:
- ** This chili recipe from The Welcoming Table is so very similar to the one I regularly use that I feel completely confident recommending it. It is easy and a perfect meal to keep simmering in the crockpot on a Sunday morning so lunch is all set after church (actually we hosted using this meal just last Sunday!).
- This Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie recipe from my friend Angela at Everyday Welcome looks absolutely amazing! I am such a huge fan of sweet potatoes and it makes shepherds pie look even more delicious! Plus, this post even includes hospitality suggestions!
- Any meal that includes bacon thrills my husband and this Roasted Potato Bacon Soup recipe from Come Home for Comfort looks like a tasty way to bid farewell to the cold.
- This recipe from Sweet Pea Lifestyle is such a fun idea because it is hospitality centered! Grab some friends and whip up this super simple Baked Potato Bar! PLUS this post also points you to a pumpkin fondue which couldn’t be more perfect for fall!
- This One Pot Cowboy Soup from The American Patriette is a recipe I will definitely be trying because it looks so hearty!
- This recipe is another take on chili and I love how unique it is! Stephanie at Read Cook Devour actually puts cocoa powder in and I’m confident it is delicious!
- This recipe uses two fall favorites – pumpkin and butternut squash! Pumpkin Squash Soup from Cara at The Nourished Body and Soul is both healthy and filled with fall flavor!
- This Beef Stew from The New York Times must be amazing because it has more than 2000 5-star reviews plus it looks super simple to make!
Desserts:
- This Apple Galette from Sweet Pea Lifestyle is a simple recipe that has a big effect. It is stunning! Whip up a few and invite friends for dinner!
- **This is my go-to recipe for Apple Crisp! It is gluten free and refined sugar free (which I need!) and delicious! I top this recipe from Texanerin with some homemade whipped cream and it makes a perfect fall treat!
- This Pumpkin Muffin recipe from Cookie + Kate is pretty good for you and it has a ton of great reviews! It looks like it would work perfectly for breakfast or dessert!
- This Pumpkin Snickerdoodle recipe from Cooking Classy looks like such a fun take on a classic recipe!
- Looking for a recipe that also serves as a beautiful decoration? Check out these Apple Roses! They are simple, stunning, and a perfect addition to a ladies tea or other fancy fall gathering!
- ** I made a version of this Apple Turnover recipe many times early in my marriage. There is something special about having something like a mini apple pie all to yourself that just screams the best of all things fall in New York!
- This Caramel Apple Bar from Craftberry Bush just screams fall hospitality and it will absolutely be included in some of my fall gatherings! My kids will go crazy over this idea! Now to find some healthier toppings to include…
Drinks:
- It doesn’t get much simpler than this recipe from What’s Cooking Love?! Apple Cider Floats have my husband’s name all over them!
- This Autumn Harvest Punch is such a unique drink recipe from Served Up With Love! It looks like the perfect pairing with a fall themed meal.
- Because this Sparkling Ginger Aid Apple Punch from Paleo & Gluten Free Eats is sugar free I could actually enjoy this recipe along with everyone! What a refreshing way to add to your festive gathering without spiking your blood sugar!
- This recipe literally starts from apples! It is completely Homemade Hot Apple Cider and I am quite sure it is amazing! For several years we joined a group of our friends to make apple cider and it was by far the best cider I have ever had! I may have to strike a similar tradition with my children using this recipe from Hint of Vanilla!
- This is a perfect recipe for a fall morning gathering! Crockpot Pumpkin Spiced Lattes from Thriving Home sound just about perfect to pair with some of the breakfast/ brunch ideas we have listed below!
Snacks:
- These Pumpkin Spice Krispie Treats from Mom Makes Joy are a super quick snack that look full of fall flavor!
- Just the photos of these Pumpkin Beer Pretzels from Half Baked Harvest will inspire you to make them right away! What a delicious snack to welcome with!
- This Harvest Caramel Corn from Two Sisters looks like the perfect fall guilty pleasure treat to keep on hand and pull out to encourage fun conversations and a lighthearted gathering.
- This Fall Harvest Chex Mix recipe from Cooking with Libby looks like a perfect thing to pull out for an afternoon or late evening snack.
- In the spirit of welcome, this super simple Popcorn Bar idea from Happily Hughes goes perfect for a cool fall evening spent cozy with friends inside.
For information about planning a gathering like this, and other great options, check out our latest freebie – 15 Gatherings You Can Plan in 15 Minutes
Breakfast:
- This overnight Apple Pie French Toast from Baker By Nature looks like an amazing option for breakfast or brunch hospitality. Most of the prep can be done ahead of time and they even give suggestions for how to make it not get soggy (my only criticism of some overnight french toast recipes…).
- I can’t help myself here… pumpkin, paleo, gluten-free, AND protein filled?! How much better does it get? These Gluten-Free Paleo Pumpkin Protein Muffins from Paleo & Gluten Free Eats look like a perfect way to start a morning with friends!
- If you have a waffle maker, you should rush to try this one! I personally think many baked goods can be improved with some apple cider but Waffles isn’t one I had thought of. What a great idea for breakfast from Add a Pinch!
- ** These Cinnamon Sugar Donuts are gluten-free and can be made with coconut sugar! They use applesauce and work great in a muffin tin if you don’t have a donut pan (like me!). I served these when a few women from our church came for the afternoon and it was a nice treat in the middle of the day!
- For a less healthy donut option, check out this Apple Cider Donut recipe from Country Living. Apple Cider Donuts are a great seasonal treat!
- I love Apple Cider Donuts, like the ones listed above but now that I am gluten-free this is a hard thing to accomplish. However, Smashed Peas and Carrots came up with a solution that looks delicious and I am adding it to my fall baking bucket list! It looks like coconut sugar could be a great option for the granulated sugar as well!
- These Pumpkin Donut Holes from Paleo & Gluten Free Eats look absolutely delicious and they are paleo! These are great things to keep in your repertoire even if you aren’t paleo yourself because you never know when you will be hosting someone who is!
Bread:
- This Apple Butter Cinnamon Swirl Bread from Baking a Moment looks absolutely stunning and delicious! Now to find a way to make it gluten free…
- ** This Gluten-Free Bread from Feed Me Phoebe has excellent flavor! I made it a few weeks ago and it was by far the best flavor I have had with a gluten-free bread although I made some substitutions that left the bread a little on the hard side… I will be trying it again exactly as written!
- ** I am literally making this Gluten-Free Paleo Bread from Paleo & Gluten Free Eats TONIGHT! I have made it a million times and I share with others often! My husband and children are not gluten-free like I am but they LOVE it too! We are seriously lucky if a loaf lasts more than one night. My husband usually has a slice or two before it even makes it to the table.
There you have it, some inspiration for your fall hospitality efforts! Do you have any favorite fall recipes or gatherings you like to host? Let me know in the comments below!
If you haven’t already, be sure to grab our free guide for hosting – 15 Gatherings You Can Plan in 15 Minutes!
