5 Favorite Fall Treats
This week I am sure that many of you are preparing your favorite fall treats for those who may be knocking on your door or gathering for a party. If that shoe doesn’t fit, perhaps you can pin these favorite recipes for when you need them.
Do you have a list of favorites that you pull out each year?
There seems to be a bit of familiarity and celebration of sharing old favorites and then adding new ones to it….
Thought you might need more inspiration as we move deeper into fall gatherings.
Here’s my list…
Favorite Fall Treat List
Now, if you have littles who will appear at your door this week…now more than ever, you probably know those little ones.
Long have we left the world of creating our own special treats for strangers…and that makes me sad. If you feel that you can create them for those who knock on your door?
Please do.
For starters?
1. Popcorn Balls
This first recipe is a favorite here. Some of these made their debut on the VUE and have been loved by many. Are you a popcorn ball fan?
You can find the recipe for them here…either with M & Ms…
Fall Festival Popcorn Balls
Equipment
- Stove
- sauce pan or Dutch oven nonstick preferred
- Mixing bowl
- silicone or rubber spatula
- measuring cups
- popcorn popper microwave or stovetop
- parchment paper
- cellophane storage bags
- twine or curling ribbon
Ingredients
- 1/2 C popcorn, unpopped
- 1 10 oz bag miniature marshmallows
- 1 stick butter
- 1/2 C M & M candies Reese's pieces, candy corn and peanuts are also great to use.
Instructions
- Gather and measure all of your ingredients.
- Pop your popcorn, using your favorite method. I use my glass popcorn popper. No oil or salt needed. TIP: This may require two popcorn poppers if you use the microwave popcorn popper. Stovetop popcorn popper will be one load.
- NOTE: When removing the popcorn, make sure to remove all the kernels that did not pop. It was easy to tip my glass popcorn popper over and leave the kernels in the bowl as I removed the popcorn and added it to the mixing bowl.
- Add popcorn to a large mixing bowl.
- In a large Dutch oven, add butter and melt slowly on a low temperature.
- When butter is completely melted, pour in marshmallows and stir continually until all are melted and smooth.
- Pour the marshmallow mixture over the popcorn and gently stir with a rubber or silicone scraper to coat.
- TIP: Make sure that the mixture is cool enough to not melt the candy when added so that they don't lose color in the mixture. Adding M & M's in when you scoop and make the balls works well, too. If adding candy corn and peanuts, add them directly into popcorn mixture and stir before scooping.
- Place parchment paper on baking sheets or the counter where you want to place the popcorn balls to harden.
- With non stick cooking spray on your hands, begin to scoop out one half cup at a time and form into balls gently, pressing the mixture together. Spray your hands periodically to help with not sticking to your hands.TIP: I use a metal 1/2 C spoon shaped scoop so that all the balls will be closer to the same size.
- When shaped, place the popcorn balls onto the parchment paper to sit at room temperature until they completely cool and set.
- During the "setting" process, you may need to pack a few of them again to make sure that they don't loosen in the setting process and stay in a round shape.
- After the popcorn balls have set and keep their shape, add to a cellophane bag and tie with ribbon or twine for a festive look. Because of the marshmallow mixture, these may continue to be a bit sticky. TIP: Bags will keep the bags fresh and easy to transport to your event, or for guests to take home with them.
- These should be kept at room temperature after wrapping and should still stay fresh for up to 5 days, depending on your humidity level. Bags also help with this!
- Serve in a cute and festive way!
Notes
Or with candy corn and peanuts…
Candy Corn Popcorn Balls
Equipment
- 1 popcorn popper microwave or stovetop
- 1 Stove
- 1 Dutch oven or stock pot
- 1 parchment paper
- 1 nonstick scraper
- 1 1/2 C metal measuring cup/scoop
- bags and ribbon for packaging optional
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- 1 10 oz. miniature marshmallows
- 1/2 C unpopped popcorn
- 4 oz. candy corn
- 1/2 C dry roasted peanuts
- nonstick spray for hands when rolling balls.
Instructions
- Measure out all of your ingredients.
- Use your favorite method to pop popcorn and add to a large mixing bowl.
- Add butter to Dutch oven or stockpot and melt on low temperature.
- Add in marshmallows and stir until they are melted and smooth.
- Pour over popcorn in bowl and stir with a nonstick scraper until well mixed.
- Add in candy corn and peanuts and stir to evenly distribute.
- Take a metal 1/2 C measuring cup/scoop and fill to make balls all the same size.
- Spray your hands with a nonstick spray and roll each scoop of mixture into a ball.
- Place onto parchment paper evenly spaced to "set". As they "set", you may need to compress them again so they don't lose their shape before setting.
- When set, add them to cellophane bags and tie with ribbon or twine.
- TIP: A tag with ingredients are always a helpful addition to avoid food allergies if taking them somewhere to fall festivals or trunk or treats.
Notes
2. Oreo Popcorn
This second recipe is a favorite fall treat. A great gathering recipe for parties or movie night, this one is SURE to please the chocolate lovers in your life!
Oreo Popcorn
Equipment
- 1 large bowl to mix ingredients
- 1 oven
- 1 food processor, optional
- 1 baking dish
- 1 microwave
- 1 microwave popcorn cooker
Ingredients
- 1 C unpopped popcorn
- 24 oz white almond bark
- 20 reg. Oreos
- flavacol or popcorn seasoning salt
Instructions
- Add almond bark to a baking dish and melt in a preheated 200° oven for 20-30 minutes until completely melted.
- Add Oreos to a food processor and process into crumbs. TIP: You can use a zip close bag and a rolling pin if you don't have a food processor.
- Add 1/3 C popcorn to the microwave popcorn maker and pop. You will need to make 3 batches of the popcorn. When popped, add to the large bowl and season with popcorn seasoning.
- Pour melted chocolate and Oreos over popcorn and stir to combine.
- OPTIONAL: Add parchment paper to a cookie sheet with sides and lay the popcorn out to dry out a bit to set the chocolate before bagging or adding to a serving bowl.
Notes
3. Caramel Apples
Now, this recipe is a new one that I haven’t shared with you before. You see…this one comes with a little commitment of stirring and careful attention to getting the caramel perfect!
With apples still available at local orchards, this one will be reminiscent of falls at a park or fall festival.
Caramel Apples
Equipment
- 1 saucepan
- 1 Stove
- 1 candy thermometer
- 1 set measuring spoons and cups
- parchment paper
- 1 Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 8 large apples- your choice- Granny Smith or red
- 8 wooden skewers
- 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 C light corn syrup
- 1 C unsalted butter
- 2 C brown sugar, packed
- 2 t vanilla
Instructions
- Wash each apple well. NOTE: Local apples from orchards will not have the wax coating that often prevent caramel from holding onto the apples.
- Measure all ingredients before beginning.
- Insert skewer into the center of the top of each apple and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Attach a candy thermometer inside the saucepan.
- Add the milk, corn syrup, brown sugar and butter into the saucepan, stirring ingredients while heating on a medium heat.
- While stirring constantly, bring the mixture to a boil. At this point you may want to turn the burner down to prevent burning.
- Keep stirring constantly until the candy thermometer reads 248 which will take about 30 minutes.NOTE: Make sure that you don't overcook the caramel or it will harden and be difficult to eat later!
- Remove immediately from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Dip each apple into the caramel, completely coating and place back onto the parchment paper to cool.
- Cool completely before eating.
Notes
4. Nuts and Bolts
Party mixes are always at the top of my list. In a few days, my roaster will launch the first recipe of these for friends.
Then, before Thanksgiving, the roaster will create another batch for the family “jar” that will remain filled through the holidays. It’s simply one of those recipes that begins in the fall and continues through the holidays.
Nuts & Bolts
Equipment
- Roasting pan
- saucepan
- measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 container salted, mixed nuts you may add more peanuts, if desired
- 1 large cheerios
- 2 small bags pretzel sticks
- 1 large rice chex
- 4 T Worcestershire sauce
- 6 shakes Tabasco sauce
- 4 T garlic salt
- 1 lb butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
- In saucepan, mix together Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, garlic salt and butter until melted.
- Mix together dry ingredients in a large roasting pan that has a lid. Pour over butter mixture and stir well.
- Place into preheated oven, covered for one hour and uncovered for the last hour. Stir every 20 minutes.
Notes
Now…many of you may add fall candy or different ingredients to make yours your own…you go for it! I love enjoying different versions that just suit the gathering!
5. Hot Cinnamon Apple Juice
Fall gatherings always need a great warm drink to have on hand. Although you probably won’t be handing cups of this out the door…(although my husband has been known to do this!)…gathering always needs a great fall drink.
This one is an easy recipe that a dear friend shared with me early in my teaching career. Who knows how many gallons of this have been made. This recipe even had it’s own designated coffee warmer where gallons were added for gatherings at one time!
Hope you’ll add this to your favorites.
Red Hot Cinnamon Apple Juice
Equipment
- dutch oven
- 1 cup measuring cup
- Stove
Ingredients
- 1 gallon apple juice
- 1 C red hot cinnamon candies
Instructions
- Add the red hots to the apple juice in a dutch oven.
- Heat and stir until all of the red hots are melted.
- Serve immediately or cool and store in the refrigerator back in the apple juice container to warm in the microwave one cup at a time.
Notes
So, what favorite fall treats will you be preparing for gatherings soon?
I’d LOVE to know in the comments!
Happy Fall Gathering, friends! The season is upon us!
4 Comments
Cindy
These are all yummy selections!
Leslie J Watkins
Hope you enjoy them!
Cindy Walker
Your recipes have “saved the day” many times! A million thanks because they are so delicious! I love sharing them with others too.
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you! That makes my heart soooooo happy! Happy Sharing!