Friends, hi! I’m ready for October (even though it fully snuck up on me this year). The air has shifted, I’ve taken the shortsleeved sweaters out of hiding (long sleeve sweaters are still a ways away), and suddenly the kitchen feels like the best place to be again. It’s the month for cinnamon sugar everything, slow mornings with coffee and cake, and a big pot of chili simmering on the stove. If you’re looking for a little baking inspiration, I’ve gathered a few of my favorite Joy the Baker recipes that feel just right for October. They’re cozy, spiced, nostalgic, and just the thing to make the house smell incredible.
Can’t Miss Pumpkin Bakes
October is basically Pumpkin’s Super Bowl, and we’re not sitting on the bench, babes! The offering is to start your weekend mornings with Pumpkin Pecan Scones with Brown Butter Glaze or Cozy Pumpkin Muffins – they’re tender, nutty, and drizzled with the kind of glaze that will have you licking the parchment paper (we don’t judge here). If you want to impress your co-workers or your dog walker, bake up a batch of Pumpkin Black and White Cookies – half chocolate, half vanilla frosting, and honestly, I don’t want a cakey pumpkin cookie without the glazes now. When you’re feeling fancy (or you have company coming), Pumpkin Tarte à la Bouille is the elegant cousin to pumpkin pie with a silky custard filling and buttery sugar cookie crust that feels très French and très cozy. It’s SO good. And when you want something classic, nostalgic, and made to feed a crowd, Pumpkin Texas Sheet Cake has you covered. It’s plush, warmly spiced, and slathered with brown butter frosting as the good Lord intended.
Ok, But What About Pumpkin For Dinner?
Pumpkin doesn’t clock out after dessert, friends — she’s here for dinner, too. When the day’s been a lot and you need something cozy in a bowl, Chicken and Pumpkin Dumplings is a perfect bowl with a biscuit topper. If you’re feeling veggie-forward Double-Crust Vegetarian Pot Pie is stuffed with tender squash, green beans, and creamy filling tucked under a golden crust (and then another one because we don’t mess around). Or call a friend, pour a glass of wine, and toss together Pumpkin Pasta with Sausage and Goat Cheese – it’s weeknight-easy but feels fancy enough for a little impromptu dinner party. Pumpkin’s doing it all, and we love her for it.
Bread for the Weekend
Weekend baking is therapy, plain and simple. A little flour on the counter, a rise on the counter, and suddenly everything feels right again. If you’re craving something savory and shareable, Erin’s Roasted Garlic and Herb Pull-Apart Bread is a warm, garlicky masterpiece, like a bouquet of buttery rolls that disappear one by one. It’s also great if you’ve been invited to a dinner party and want to bring something that smells irresistable. For something sweet (but still totally acceptable as breakfast), Overnight Apple Fritter Focaccia brings all the apple-cinnamon doughnut love with none of the deep frying. Classic Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread is pure nostalgia and must be sliced extra thick, toasted and slathered with salted butter on a Sunday. And if you want a loaf on the more savory side, I love this Cheddar Scallion English Muffin Bread toasted, topped with an egg and fresh cracked black pepper.
Cozy Cakes, Too!
Some cakes are weekend projects, some are weeknight treats, but every single one of these is worth cranking on the oven for. Aunt Dede’s Araby Spice Cake is a vintage treasure turned easy loaf. I especially love it with an afternoon cup of tea (or coffee, obviously). Mom’s Cinnamon Swirl Bundt Cake might whisper “Christmas,” but don’t you dare wait! It’s an old school SockItToMe Cake that’s actually timeless. i When you want something a little more dramatic, Chocolate Stout Cake is rich and celebratory. And for a devilishly easy indulgence, the Mini Burnt Chocolate Basque Cheesecake bakes up with a dark caramelized top, a custardy center, and just begs to be topped with softly whipped cream and a tumble of fall fruit. Everyday cake or special occasion? You decide, but the answer is yes.
Whether you’re kneading bread dough, whisking up something pumpkin-y, I hope you find a recipe (or a few) that feels like the right kind of cozy this month. Tell me, friends – what are you inclined to bake this month?
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