As Gossip Girl once said, “there’s nothing quite like autumn in New York”—aside from the fact it’s not Central Park and the Upper East Side, but maybe the Meadows and walks around Stockbridge. It’s basically the same. Since the moment the first leaves turned orange and fell in Princes Street Gardens, my friends and I can be found at least every other day hunched over the surfaces in our kitchen, whipping up another bake. I have constructed my life on the genuine belief that baking will solve everything, and if half a jar of cinnamon is thrown in there, then all the better.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that cinnamon buns are the best food of autumn, and any variation is guaranteed to be a success. Whilst I love a classic bun slathered in cream cheese frosting, if you’re feeling like an upgrade, add in some maple syrup and pecans to really prove to everyone that you have your life together and can show it through the pastries you’ve created (despite the fact that you might consume three in one sitting).
Chai cookies—the perfect snack beloved by everyone from broke uni students to Taylor Swift herself—are the perfect blend of autumnal spices and a fun variation away from gingerbread or oat and raisin, which, don’t get it twisted, are excellent options.
If you’re anything like me, when autumn comes around and you get caught in an unexpected rainstorm, the one thing I crave more than anything is a hot mug of soup, probably under ten blankets in my lounge, sounding like Keanu Reeves muttering “good soup.” It is the perfect versatile dish—you can make it completely to your own tastes with whatever veggies are left in your cupboard—but my personal favourite is roasted garlic cheddar cauliflower soup, which I made this week and spent the next four lunches heating up every day.
What better to pair with a hot bowl of soup than a loaf of bread, especially if you spring for the salted butter, which probably costs more than all the other ingredients together. Whilst it takes a bit longer than cookies or cakes as you have to leave it to prove, I think bread is one of the easiest recipes to make, and it’s the perfect excuse to fit in a couple of episodes of Gilmore Girls whilst it proves. Whilst simple brown or white loaves have a beauty in their simplicity, you can get creative by adding some cheddar or rosemary. Or if you want to save some money, make your own focaccia sandwiches so you can stop spending all your money at Alby’s or Mootz.
Overall, all of these goods will guarantee that your flat is left smelling like a Yankee candle you can’t afford and offer the perfect inside activity when the unpredictable weather leaves you trapped indoors and you find yourself procrasti-baking. So, in the words of Paul Hollywood, on your marks, get set, bake.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash.