Fall is here! I love Fall. It is by far my favorite season. While the rest of my sun-worshipping family whines and complains about the weather change, I am doing happy dances of joy.
Summer is just so full of guilt. While everyone else is outside hiking, paddle boarding and swimming, I am inside hiding from the heat and feeling guilty because I’m not outside. Fall, on the other hand, is so dark and rainy that I don’t feel the least bit bad about being inside. My pale, introverted self can languish under a blanket with a good book, a cup of tea, and some comfort food.
This is the time for cool days, colorful leaves, and pumpkins just begging to be made into yummy desserts.
Sadly, Fall is also a very busy time for moms (especially those with school-aged children). So, here are some EASY pumpkin recipes to get you into the Fall spirit. They will fill your home with the scents of the season without much effort on your part. You have my permission to pretend they were really hard to make.
CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN MAGIC
(This one is so easy, it’s scary)
Ingredients:
1 box of chocolate cake mix
1 – 15 ounce can of pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
Step 1: Mix these two together (I use a mixer just until blended).
Step 2: Do you want muffins? Spoon the dough into greased or lined muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes for regular sized muffins or 12 minutes for mini muffins (use toothpick test to check for doneness).
Alternate Step 2: Would you rather have cookies? Spoon the same dough onto parchment lined cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes.
Add Ons: Make them your own: Pour in some chocolate chips or chopped nuts. Stir in some m&m’s. Or, like me, press ¼ of a peanut butter cup in the top after baking.
Seriously, could these BE any easier?
NANNY’S PUMPKIN MUFFINS
Ingredients:
3 eggs
¼ cup of water
1 box of carrot cake
1 15 ounce can of pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
Optional add-ins: raisins, chocolate chips, chopped nuts
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Beat eggs and water. Add in the cake mix and pumpkin puree. Mix until smooth. Spoon into lined or greased muffin tins. Bake for 15-18 minutes.
These are the yummiest. I love raisins, but chocolate chips or nuts would be good too. The guys like to take these to work for their coffee breaks.
Well, there you have it; easy ways to celebrate Fall. What are your favorite Fall recipes?
