Spiced Seasonal Treats to Make at Home

Pumpkin spice season has descended upon us once again. A season entirely dedicated to transforming ordinary recipes into cozy treats chock full of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. The best part? You don’t need a bakery or a fancy setup to enjoy this season’s spiced delights. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up seasonal treats right in your own kitchen.

Enjoy spiced seasonal treats at home

Here’s a roundup of fun, easy and delicious spiced seasonal recipes. These are perfect for chilly afternoons, family get-togethers or simply just because you deserve it.

Cinnamon-sugar roasted nuts

If your home could smell like “cozy,” it would smell like cinnamon-sugar roasted nuts. These crunchy bites are addictive and come together quickly.

Ingredients:

2 cups mixed nuts (almonds, pecans or cashews)

1 egg white

½ cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.

Whisk egg white until frothy. Toss in nuts until coated. Mix sugar, cinnamon and salt; sprinkle over nuts. Stir to coat. Spread evenly on the baking sheet and bake 25–30 minutes, stirring halfway, until golden and fragrant. Cool slightly before serving (they’ll crisp as they cool).

Mulled apple cider

Apple cider on its own is delicious, but when it’s simmered with whole spices, it becomes a cup of comfort.

Ingredients:

1 quart (4 cups) apple cider

2 cinnamon sticks

4 whole cloves

1 star anise (optional)

1 orange, sliced

Directions:

Pour cider into a medium pot. Add spices and orange slices. Simmer gently for 20 minutes; don’t let it boil. Strain and serve warm. Add a splash of bourbon or rum for an adult twist.

Pumpkin spice muffins

These muffins are moist, fluffy and smell like aromatherapy in the oven.

Ingredients:

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon ginger

¼ teaspoon cloves

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup pumpkin purée

2 large eggs

½ cup vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a muffin tin with papers.

In one bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices and salt. In another, whisk pumpkin, eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla. Combine wet and dry ingredients gently until just mixed. Divide batter into muffin cups and bake 20–22 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Spiced hot chocolate

Forget the packet mix. Homemade spiced hot chocolate is easy and indulgent.

Ingredients (for 2 mugs):

2 cups milk (dairy or oat)

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 tablespoons sugar

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch cayenne or chili powder (optional)

Whipped cream, for topping 

Directions:

Warm milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in cocoa, sugar, cinnamon and cayenne until smooth. Pour into mugs, top with whipped cream and dust with nutmeg or cinnamon.

Spiced pear crisp

Pear crisp is a simple dessert loaded with fall spices, cranberries and a juicy filling that is perfect for autumn.

Ingredients:

8-10 small pears cored and thinly sliced

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (or more to taste)

¼ cup dried cranberries optional

1 teaspoon cinnamon

⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

⅛ teaspoon ground ginger

⅛ teaspoon ground allspice 

Crumble topping:

½ cup oats

½ cup flour

½ cup brown sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

4 tablespoons butter, chilled and cubed 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Toss pears with maple syrup, cranberries and spices. Place in a greased 8x8 dish. Mix oats, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle topping over pear filling. Bake 35–40 minutes, until bubbly and golden.

Vanilla chai shortbread cookies

These slice-and-bake cookies are lightly sweet with lots of warm spices and vanilla icing.

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter - cold and cubed

2 teaspoons chai tea leaves

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cardamom

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

⅛ teaspoon ground clove

⅛ teaspoon ground allspice

½ cup powdered sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon heavy cream or water

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream butter, chai tea leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, ginger, clove, allspice and ½ cup powdered sugar together and mix until incorporated.

Add flour a little at a time and mix for about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to a large piece of parchment paper and shape into a log about 12 inches long and 2 in diameter. Chill the dough log for at least 4 hours.

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Use a very sharp knife to cut the log into 24 cookies and place them 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.

Once cooled, whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract and cinnamon until smooth. Dip the top of each cookie in the icing then place on wax paper until the icing hardens.

Spice it up!

So, what are you waiting for? Pull out your spice jars from the back of the cabinet and let cinnamon and cloves work their quiet magic. With every bite, you’ll be reminded that the sweetest part of the season is always found at home.

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Photo courtesy Pixabay/u_1tc58100sf