It’s almost a misnomer to call this recipe simply “pumpkin chili.” While there is an entire can of the stuff (the kind you’d use for pumpkin pie) in the hearty stew, it’s also chock-full of ground beef, canned beans, and enough flavorsome ingredients that any prominent pumpkin flavor all but disappears. What’s left is velvety richness, body, and an autumnal hue. During the season when you’re likely to have an extra can of pumpkin purée on hand for baking purposes, this is a great way to repurpose it into a speedy, filling, extremely cozy weeknight meal. (Canned butternut squash purée would make a great substitute for the pumpkin if you happen to have one in the pantry!)

If you are an adult craving a little magic in your life, maybe a little potion making, then make your own mulling spices. Yes, you can buy pre-made mulling spices if you prefer. But you won’t feel like an autumn witch like I do. Plus, if you make your own you can customize them to your own preferences.

What are mulling spices for? To mull something simply means to heat it as well as sweeten or flavor. You can mull wine, hot toddies, cider, tea, yourself in a bath I suppose, etc. I mostly use these homemade mulling spices in mulled wine, wassail or apple cider. They also would be perfect for a stove simmer or as a homemade gift.

Related: homemade Starbucks Medicine Ball and Cinnamon Dolce Syrup

Ingredients

• Cinnamon sticks
• Cardamom pods
• Allspice berries
• Whole cloves
• Star anise
• Dried orange peel
• Whole black peppercorns

You can add other spice ingredients like whole nutmeg or other dried citrus rinds like lemon peel. This is one of those ‘recipes’ that is super customizable, but I do give a detailed list in the recipe card below if you prefer to follow something exact you can!

How to make Mulling Spices

In a large ziplock bag add the cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, allspice berries, cloves, star anise and black peppercorns. Use something heavy, like a rolling pin, to smash the mixture a few times. Then add the dried orange peel to the mixture.

You can store the mulling spices all together or in individual bottles or bags. You can also easily double or triple this recipe if you are making a bunch for gifts.

Tips and Notes

• The goal with smashing the spices is to break them into small pieces, but not necessarily pulverize it. The mulling spice mix should still be the consistency of potpourri.
• Use 1/4 cup of this mix (or more) to one gallon of apple cider.
• Use 2 tablespoons of this mix (or more) to one bottle of wine.
• Add the mulling mix, in a small cheesecloth bag, to the liquid and simmer for 15-20 minutes or more. The longer the mixtures simmers the strong the flavors will become.

More Hot Drink Recipes

Celebrate the start of the best season of the year with our Apple Pie Shot recipe. This tasty dessert shot is made using apple cider, vanilla vodka, cinnamon whiskey and whipped cream. It’s the perfect fall drink. This shot tastes just like a slice of apple pie—get ready for some magical fall flavors!

More Fall Shot Recipes: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot, Chocolate Cake Shot, Oatmeal Cookie Shot, Appletini.

Ingredients in an Apple Pie Shot

• Apple Cider – Fresh or bottled are both great for this recipe. You may also use apple juice mixed with some pumpkin pie spice if you don’t have apple cider on hand.
• Vanilla Vodka – Adds a bit of vanilla flavor to our shot.
• Cinnamon Whiskey – Such as Fireball whiskey gives a nice cinnamon flavor.
• Whipped Cream – An optional garnish.
• Cinnamon Stick – Another optional (and very cute!) garnish idea.

Bar Tools Needed

You will need a cocktail shaker and a shot glass for this recipe. I actually used brandy/whiskey glasses, which are larger than an average shot glass. They work well for a dessert shot like this with whipped cream and garnish.

Instructions

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the apple cider, vanilla vodka and cinnamon whiskey. Shake for 10-15 seconds until well chilled.

Strain and pour into a shot glass.

Garnish with whipped cream. Optionally, add a stick of cinnamon and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or pumpkin spice if you like.

Tips for Making

• When to Serve – This is a great shot idea for a fall party such as a bonfire or a dinner party. This is also a great recipe to serve at Thanksgiving and holiday parties. It’s festive and cozy.
• Mason Jar – If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can use a mason jar.
• Hot Apple Pie Shots – You can heat these shots and serve them warm (I would use an espresso mug instead of a shot glass to serve). You only need a little heat—do not bring it to a full boil.
• Apple Pie Cocktail – To turn this shot into an apple pie drink, simply double the recipe and serve it in a mug (warm) or a cocktail glass (chilled). I love it as a shot, but it makes a great larger cocktail as well.
• Garnish Ideas – Use an apple slice, a sprinkle of cinnamon or other warm spices like a star anise as your garnish.

More Autumn Recipes

More Recipes to Try

Let’s celebrate the cooler weather with a stack of warm apple pancakes! These apple-flavored pancakes are the perfect autumnal breakfast treat. They’re a simple weekend breakfast project that keeps well for quick weekday mornings (they freeze and thaw well, too).

This apple pancake recipe is made from scratch with freshly grated apple, which is enhanced by a touch of ground cinnamon. Tart apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith offer the most impactful flavor. You’ll see that I used Honeycrisp apples in this batch—they’re our family’s favorite, and they yield terrific pancakes.

You might already have everything you need to make these pancakes in your pantry. Let’s make some.

Apple Pancake Tips

You’ll find the full recipe below. Here are a few tips to help achieve pancake success.

Flour options include white whole wheat flour, regular whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour. I try to use whole-grain flours when I can, but all-purpose flour offers the most neutral flavor, allowing the apple to shine. Otherwise, you can use white whole wheat flour (now called “golden wheat” by King Arthur Flour) for all of the nutrition of whole wheat without the nutty flavor.

Lightly coat your griddle or skillet with oil. I cook my pancakes with avocado oil because it offers a high smoke point and neutral flavor (butter burns quickly). Whichever you use, be sure to wipe off the excess with a paper towel so it doesn’t start smoking.

Start by cooking just one pancake. Once you’ve practiced with one pancake and ensured that your skillet is adequately preheated, you can make more at once. Leave a couple of inches between each pancake to allow for easy flipping.

The pancakes are ready to flip when about 1/2-inch of the perimeter has turned from glossy to matte. The underside should be nicely golden at this point. If you’re uncertain, it’s best to wait a little longer than end up with a doughy mess.

As time goes on, dial down the heat. The skillet gets hotter the longer it’s on the stove. If your pancakes are burning on the outside before they are cooked through on the inside, your skillet is too hot. Turn down the heat a bit after every few pancakes.

Watch How to Make Apple Pancakes

Pancake Serving Suggestions

These apple-infused pancakes are lovely with a drizzle of maple syrup, but even better with something extra. Here’s a list of toppings or sides to consider:

More Apple Recipes to Enjoy

Here are a few more classic apple recipes to make this autumn:

Please let me know how your pancakes turn out in the comments! I love hearing from you. You can find more pancake recipes here.

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It’s one of my favorite months of the year, and I’m so excited to share the 30 Recipes to Cook in September! This collection pulls together the most popular recipes you all love this time of year, along with a handful of my personal favorites too. After almost 13 years of creating recipes, there are just so many September gems to choose from!

Think of this as a cozy mix of everything September brings — early autumn drinks, game-day appetizers, family-favorite dinners, my famous fall salads, fun back-to-school-inspired recipes, and of course, plenty of apple treats. We’ve got something delicious to make every single day of the month (plus a few extras because I just couldn’t narrow it down).

Happy September! These next few months — September through December — are always my favorite. Each one has its own unique kind of magic that feels so special. Somehow, I find myself falling in love with this time of year more and more.

I’ve been so excited to put this list together. I truly LOVE the recipes below. This list combines your most-cooked, most-baked, and most-loved recipes with my personal top picks. I know you’ll find plenty to make (and remake!) all month long.

My most popular September recipes of all time:

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole, Crockpot Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo, Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad, Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper, and my Thai Peanut Chicken Ramen (this is THE MOST popular recipe on the website – period).

Plus, the desserts too, the well-loved Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze and Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze, as well as the Chewy Brown Sugar Maple Cookies. And then of course, the  Cream Cheese Swirled Pumpkin Bread.

I like to think I really know how to do fall right! Over the next few months, I’ll be pulling in so many of these reader-favorite recipes while also sharing plenty of new ones. I don’t ever want to forget about the classics that we all love, but I’m equally excited to bring fresh inspiration to your kitchens this season.

When it comes to cooking in September, I focus on what feels most cozy and seasonal: big fall salads, hearty crockpot meals, maybe a chili or two, and I’m already craving fresh-baked beer bread. The air has turned chilly here in the mountains, and it has me reaching for all the fall flavors. And of course — apples! You all know I can’t resist them. I’m making a fresh batch of apple butter today, and I have so many new apple recipes coming your way.

So, let’s dive in! Here are the 30 Best Recipes to Cook in September.

Here are my favorite 30+ recipes to cook in September!

drinks and appetizers

Fig Dark and Stormy

Salted Honey Butter Jalapeño Cheddar Rolls

Honey Whipped Feta with Garlic Herb Roasted Olives

Everything Ranch Cheese and Pretzel Snack Mix

Pull Apart Parmesan Sage Butter Brioche Rolls

Baked Sweet Potato Parmesan Tater Tots

cozy dinners and salads

Apple Cider Smothered Chicken

Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Dumplings

Harvest Brie and Cheddar Apple Kale Salad

Crockpot Creamy French Onion Chicken and Orzo

Garlic Butter Chicken Meatball Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Creamy Butternut Squash Butter Chicken

Cider Braised Chicken with Caramelized Onions

Crockpot Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole

Slow Cooker Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo

Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad

4 Cheese Roasted Garlic Alfredo Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper

Butternut Squash Pasta Carbonara with Rosemary Bacon

Sheet Pan Sticky Ginger Sesame Chicken and Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Garlic Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats

Roasted Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Salad

Slow Cooker French Wine and Mustard Chicken

Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins

Creamy Butternut Squash Alla Vodka Pasta

French Onion and Apple Grilled Cheese

30 Minute Thai Peanut Chicken Ramen

Fall Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Kale Salad

30 Minute Butter Chicken Meatballs

Pumpkin Beer Broccoli Cheddar Soup

autumn sweets

Cinnamon Crunch Swirled Banana Bread

Pumpkin Spice Pecan Latte

Glazed Honeycrisp Apple Fritter Cake

Toasted Marshmallow Caramel Rice Krispie Treats

Baked Cinnamon Crunch Apple Cider Doughnuts

Cinnamon Spiced Sugar Cookies with Browned Butter Frosting

Cinnamon Apple Puffed Pancake

Pumpkin Coffee Cake Muffins with Cinnamon Honey Butter

Cream Cheese Swirled Pumpkin Bread with Salted Maple Butter

Cinnamon Spiced Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Glaze

Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze

Salted Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookie Snickers Bars

Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze

Chewy Brown Sugar Maple Cookies

Chai Latte Cupcakes with Caramel Brulée Frosting

Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Maple Icing

Cinnamon Sugar Swirled Apple Butter Bread

Fluffy Pumpkin Butter Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Apple Cider Doughnut Cookies

Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Lastly, if you make any of these 30 Recipes to Cook in September, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love hearing from you and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!