Now that the weather is finally starting to cool down a bit, it is time to make up for all the baking you missed out on while the weather was too hot to turn on the oven. Fall is a wonderful time of year for fresh-baked breads, cookies, pies and other delicious carb-laden treats.
Before you get your hands full of flour, make sure you have your pantry stocked up with everything you need to be the season’s greatest baker. This checklist will let you know which baking essentials you should add to your pantry to complement the year-round baking staples of flour, baking soda and powder, salt, white sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon and cocoa.
Pumpkin: Pumpkin is a no-brainer in the fall, but it is important that you buy the right kind of pumpkin. Pumpkin pie filling is okay for pies, but most recipes will call for pure pumpkin, which does not contain the sweeteners and spices that pie filling does. You can make your own pumpkin puree, but I like to keep a few cans on hand in case I get the urge for some spur-of-the-moment baking.
Nuts: You may never have thought about it before, but nuts are seasonal. Most nuts come into season in the fall, which might be why we tend to associate nuts with fall baking. Almonds, pecans, hazelnuts and walnuts are all wonderful additions to baked goods. Store opened bags of nuts in the freezer to help them last longer.
Spices: Bust out the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger! These spices are essential to create that comforting fall flavor profile. While fresh spices are great, you can stock your pantry with dried spices, which are generally more potent than their fresh counterparts.
Oats: Oats are a welcome addition to fall cookies, cobblers and breads. Be sure to purchase rolled oats, not quick cooking oats, as most baking recipes will not work with the quick cooking variety.
Maple: Technically, maple trees are not tapped for sap until late winter or early spring, yet maple has still become a classic fall flavor. You can substitute real maple syrup for other sweeteners in your baking recipes to add an underlying autumn sweetness.
Brown Sugar and Molasses: The deeper, caramelly flavors of brown sugar and molasses pair well with the robust spices often seen in fall baked goods. You can substitute them for other sweeteners, but research substitution guidelines before doing so.
I hope this gives you a better idea of what to have on hand before fall baking season gets underway. Does your rental not have a full pantry? Check out this trick for creating your own pantry within your apartment!