What is the flavor of fall? When prompted with this question, a few things likely come to mind: pumpkin spice, cinnamon, or apples. But these flavors aren’t inherently autumnal.

“Everyone says the pumpkin spice, but, I mean, you can use that year round,” FHN Foods teacher Becky Just said. “I can’t really think of flavors. I think more of foods.”

It seems that fall is characterized not by flavors, but by dishes that incorporate them in a way unique to fall. This autumnal quality of dishes is difficult to define, but the following dishes are a great place to start.

Apple Cider Donuts

Nothing quite compares to digging into some sweet apple cider donuts on a cool autumn morning. These criminally underrated treats take the classic apple cider flavor that is near-synonymous with fall and combines it with the soft and cakey texture of a baked donut. These donuts being baked rather than fried is an important detail, for this keeps them from retaining oil that may upset the stomach early in the morning. This paired with these donuts’ fairly simple recipe makes them perfect for whipping together on a quiet October morning.

Apple Fritters

With the Granny Smith apple being freshly harvested around this time of year, now is the perfect time to make some delicious apple fritters. These iconic apple treats are fairly simple to make, usually consisting of a yeast-risen dough that has apples folded in before being fried and glazed. The simplicity of this recipe makes adjusting and adding t the recipe easy, allowing everyone to put their own unique spin on it. Chopped nuts, lemon zest, cinnamon sugar and dried berries are just a few of the many possibilities when it comes to personalizing one’s apple fritters.

Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie is admittedly an obvious example for a fall food, but its ubiquity only serves to prove just how well it captures the spirit of fall. The soft and smooth pumpkin curd paired with the iconic, almost warm- tasting pumpkin spice offers a coziness that is more than welcome in the cool autumn weather. All this seated on a decadently buttery crust and topped with whipped cream makes for an ideal comfort food that is sure to please anyone.

Pumpkin Spice Bokkenpootjes

The bokkenpootje isn’t very well known in the United States, but it is sure to be a hit with just about anyone. This Dutch baked good consists of a French buttercream flavored with a touch of pumpkin spice and sandwiched between two meringu

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 biscuits coated in sliced almonds, which are then dipped in melted chocolate. The egg yolk-based buttercream brings an umami flavor that makes these biscuits surprisingly filling for their size, and the chocolate-dipped ends make these go especially well with a warm coffee in the morning. These qualities come together to make bokkenpootjes a perfectly indulgent treat for a chilly autumn morning. While the pumpkin spice in the buttercream gives the recipe an extra fall kick, it can be left out. The buttercream itself can even be left out and replaced with another stable filling like custard or ganache.