6 Fall-Inspired Treats Perfect for Halloween!

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There’s something about the first signs of fall that make me so happy. The air has a refreshing crisp to it, the leaves turn all manner of red and gold, and the holidays peek shyly around the corner. We trade out our swimsuits and flip-flops for jeans and boots; we sip on pumpkin spice lattes instead of lemonade. Autumn glory is here.

As the seasons change, my mind inevitably drifts to delicious fall-inspired treats like pumpkin bread, caramel apples, and roasted pumpkin seeds. These autumn indulgences have become traditions in our house and mark the shift from summer to fall.

Here are a few of our favorite fall treats:

Caramel Apples

Nothing screams fall more than sticky, buttery caramel apples. My kids look forward to these apples all year long. We save our summer popsicle sticks to put into the apples. Yes, they are big and bulky and hard to bite into but seeing little mouths chomp the apples is half the fun. For toddlers, you can make this salted caramel dip and serve with sliced apples instead.

Pumpkin Pie Dip

This dip is creamy, and sweet, and has that perfect blend of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg that fall is famous for. You can serve it with graham crackers or gingersnaps. These Trader Joe’s gingersnaps are delish.

 Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

With Halloween lurking at the end of October, these cookies are spooky and yummy. Don’t be intimidated: they are easy to make and worth all their peanut butter glory. You can use Lindt chocolate truffle balls for the spider body, or even malted milk balls. Hobby Lobby and Michaels have edible eyes. For a shortcut, you can use refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough.

Apple Smiles

This is another Halloween treat that kids love. Apples, peanut butter, and marshmallows all mashed together make for some cute grins. These are labor intensive, but I promise you will get lots of smiles for all your efforts. Plus, it’s apples, so it’s relatively guilt-free (minus those toothy marshmallows).

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting

I made these the other night and got lots of oohs and ahhs. The cupcakes aren’t too sweet and have just the right amount of pumpkin pie spice, and the marshmallow fluff frosting takes these over the top. They pair perfectly as dessert after a warm bowl of chili.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

These are by far the biggest hit in our household. After carving the pumpkin, I start hearing the desperate chants for roasted pumpkin seeds. They are the perfect combination of crunchy, salty, and spicy. Rinse the pumpkin seeds in a colander and dry them with paper towels before tossing them in the butter and seasoned salt. I only use half the butter (or even less) that this recipe calls for.

As the seasons shift and we welcome fall, I love creating memories and traditions with my family. I hope you enjoy these autumn treats as much as we do. Happy Fall, y’all!

To see all the fall & Halloween fun going on around Charleston, don’t forget to check out our Ultimate Guide to Fall & Halloween!