Fall Menu. Need Your Advice.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins!

Fall makes me want to take a nap and wait until spring comes. I have no suggestions.

Maybe your treats could don their own halloween costumes! Is food coloring illegal? Maybe a cupcake could moonlight as smurfette in all her blue badassery.

definitely the pumpkin chocolate chip muffins!

hmmmmm...flavors that remind me of fall...apples, smores, pumpkin, pecans, cranberry, molasses, ginger, maple syrup, and cinnamon. i imagine that goodies with any of those flavors would be absolutely amazing! mmmmmmmmmm!

carrot cake muffins

Definitely the pumpkin choco chip muffins! And pumpkin bread? Get out to LA faster -- there is never fall here!

I third the pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (or bread).

Ok, I think the pumpkin chocolate chip muffins is a trend- definitely do those. Can you make something with apples in it? Maybe a fritter like doughnut. Yum.

I am from the south and we love our apples, pears, and figs how about something like a fig newton but using lots of different fillings....also how about nut stuff? I know you must be careful with nuts but we also love our pecan pie. How about winter squash used with spices for a healthy muffin or fruit bar.

the addition of vanilla beans and almonds (extract or the real thing) is underrated

Gluten-free s'mores and anything with butterscotch flavor.

I had a friend who made chocolate chip pumpkin cookies. SO GOOD SO SO GOOD. Might even change your mind about any negative pumpkin associations. I free styled a vega version using WAY too much store-bought pumpkin puree and they were orange as a mo fo, but ate them anyway. Goog luck!

I'm a BIG fan of beetroot in anything sweet! I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I can just imagine now what you might do with that beautiful colour, and of course, everyone else suggested pumpkin already....
BTW saw babycakes on Goop. I'm a big fan, all the way from Perth, Western Australia.

I had some of your pumpkin loaf on Sunday and it was heavenly, so more of that please!
And anything with spices in!
Something using apples, raisins and cinnamon might be nice at this time of year!
What about making the chocolate crumb cake with a chilli twist too - to warm the cockles of your heart on a cold afternoon.

I am with you, Erin! Unfortunately my body's way of dealing is by making me eat everything in sight. UGH! I think I was meant to be a squirrel, or chipmunk, or something.

Filled cookies...so many possibilities (apple, pumpkin, berry, etc.)! Chocolate and cinnamon are a good combo this time of year too.

Ginger and Brandy are great together!
Could you make a ginger/brandy icing? Or Cheezecake?
Maple icing is a must.
Mint and chocolate!
Orange and Chocolate
Chocolate and cinnamon and Allspice and Nutmeg...MMM!

How about something with Chai. It always smells like fall leaves to me.

Aww, erin. And Emily. I was gon' suggest some chai spice cupcakes today. I was about to bring my cardamom, too! Kid you not.

Ok, so you guys are saying you hate fall too and that I should just continue making lemon-y things and strawberry shortcakes? Cool!

Coffee Pecan muffins with Choc chips.
Maple chocolate brownies.
Maple cookies.
Nutmeg & Chai muffins with currants.
Pumpkin & roasted apple muffins.
Marmalade lemon muffins.
Hazelnut spice muffins.
Cranberry anything!

Also I have a question. I have your cookbook & have been trying out the recipes (YUM!)..I'd like to make your cupcake frosting without soy milk....what do you suggest I substitute? ie: hazelnut milk or rice milk?

How about vanilla cake with raspberry marmalade in the middle! You can experiment with Marmalades in general!
Dried fruits also come to mind.... Can't wait!

Hi Erin!
As many already mentione, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins are a great idea. I also love the idea..as we approach Christmas and Winter of making a White Chocolate/Peppermint Scone or Biscotti. You could even attempt a Pumpkin Bread or Panetone Bread Pudding (soooo yummy and sooo comforting). And one last idea would be an Espresso Flavored Cupcake.

Cheer Up! You've created an amazing market of "highly demanded/barely supplied" goods! Each new creation is a process..just think, you've Baby Cakes have been around for 5 years and you JUST made non-fried, vegan, gluten-free Donuts successfully!!

-Angel B.

Cranberry Muffins with Orange Zest
Warm Apple Cider Bread with Yellow Raisins
ANYTHING CHOCOLATE"Y" .. endless possibilities

Yes, Erin...go ahead and make whatever you want. We will eat it any time of year! You do have to admit that Fall foods are yummy and comforting, even if the time of year is dreadful. ;-)

I also meant to add crisps/crumbles in a cup/1-serving size (to my suggestion above of filled cookies & choc. cinnamon suggestion.) I have been experimenting with apple and berry crisps with coconut oil instead of butter, etc...SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD warm or room temp.

Ok, one more thing, and then I promise to go away! You HAVE to do maple glazed doughnuts if you haven't already. Those with hot apple cider were Fall staples growing up in Vermont. I am also curious if you have ever tried baking with maple sugar (granulated). It is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD! I am sure you can get it in lots of places, but I have bought it from: www.morsefarm.com before. Made from 100% pure Maple Syrup. GOOD STUFF!

Ok, one more thing, and then I promise to go away! You HAVE to do maple glazed doughnuts if you haven't already. Those with hot apple cider were Fall staples growing up in Vermont. I am also curious if you have ever tried baking with maple sugar (granulated). It is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD! I am sure you can get it in lots of places, but I have bought it from: www.morsefarm.com before. Made from 100% pure Maple Syrup. GOOD STUFF!

Maybe Vegan Lemon Bars! Or a double chocolate cake/cupcake. Always really good for the holidays!! I'm sure whatever you make will be wonderful!!

I beg you to come to Orange County California and help a mom out!! BTW, if you need any investors let me know

Thanks!

:) If I place the winning idea do I get some??? LOL! Ok so I am thinking chocolate cupcakes with pumkin frosting. apple dumplings. ghost sugar cookies with chi,maple, tea or spice frosting. apple cupcakes with spice frosting. or maybe pear cupcakes with spice frosting. peanutbutter maple brownies. caramel apple tarts. I could go on all day :) have fun cooking and make somthing intresting!

Erin: Fall is amazing! The leaves change and newness is abound. I am a teacher and I love Fall because it is a chance for new beginnings. You should create fabulous maple scones with licorice whips in the shape of a dark moon. Then, I would fall prey to the colors of Fall for inspiration. Pomegranate icing on chocolate cupcakes, dark red raspberry frosting on red velvet cupcakes...use this time of year to reflect on change. Mix things up a bit...go crazy..Rain

What about making pumpkin bread or muffins, but with butternut squash? I've done with with a traditional (i.e. not gluten-free/vegan recipe) and it's fabulous. I think you can do it with acorn as well - those two seem to take best to pumpkin bread-type spices.

Hi! Thanks for asking and letting my mind wander, thinking about yummy desserts....okay how about cinnamon rolls? Apple fritters? And definitely apple and berry crumbs!!

almond chai cookies? yum!

have you ever tried guava spread, it has a very distinct taste but not sure what would balance well with this delicious fruit spread.

a rich, savory Gingerbread cupcake with a gob of marshmellow in the middle and a not too sweet frosting on top? Warm cinnamon rolls with frosting. Everyone does a pumpkin-spiced-something so its got to be something beyond that. baked fruit on top. Mexican hot chocolate of course! How about something with warm cajeta oozing out of it or on top of it? For example during winter celebrations in Oaxaca its common to eat like a pancake with cajeta on top; or a freshly fried churro with hot cajeta inside! Cajeta by the way is Mexican caramel sauce and it beats any US caramel concoction!

oh...fall is so lovely!!
but that's also because I grew up in new england & LOVE the crispyness & the changing leaves & the idea of starting to hibernate for winter...so, how about some apple cidar donuts? and chai spice donuts or muffins? cinnamon rolls & cinnamon/apple or cinnamon/pear bread or muffins...mini pumpkin pies? no one seems to make a really yummy vegan/gluten free pumpkin pie!! also pear or apple tarts...like a galette? pecan apple cinnamon coffee cake?

Whoopie pies and cider doughnuts.

After trying several of the recipes in your book, I can't wait to visit your bakery in November. See you then.

I have a few suggestions -

Dark chocolate & lavender cupcakes

banana & chocolate brownies
(banana is a fall fruit)

sticky buns

molasses cookies (soft, not crunchy)

almond and ginger snaps

blondies with pecans and walnuts?

a chocolate and key lime item, maybe a chewy cookie?
(or crispy)

french vanilla and mocha item.

Orange & clementine cupcakes or tea cakes

cinnamon buns or sticky rolls with some pumpkin in the dough, so that they're a bit orange.

Also,

to get a bit more buzz up about the bakery..

I would do something no one else is doing,

like my own rendition of "butterbeer"

or warm rootbeer floats (spiced or unspiced rootbeer or birch beer and experiment with a whipped cream substitute)

Hope you find something to get you out of your Fall Funk!

P.s - I find that when I'm making something for fall season, robust and well-rounded flavors work very well, keeping aromas in mind works too. Also, dont be pidgeonholed into only "traditional" flavors, think outside the box and make sure it tastes good to you (and others too!)

Erin,
I totally agree I hate fall, winter... I don't even want to hear about it...ugh

I love all your baked goods... love the book tooo;)
I have same stomach issues you have so I understand your fustrations...

Im a fan of pumk. bread that would be great.. too
but maybe do the black n white cupcake but add the pumkin to make it like an all in one swirl.. vanilla pumkin icing..

smores was a good idea too.
bananna cupcakes are good enough for me this time of year too. those were awsome...

maybe a banna cinnamon cupcake or cinnamon roll cupcake

anything with almonds are good too.

Im sure you will do us proud..

Happy Yummm
Bianca

Apple crisp! I ate it all the time in the fall growing up, but I don't know if I will ever be able to have it again with all my allergies (relevant ones in this case: gluten, dairy, sugar, eggs and tree nuts). Pumpkin pie free of all the above ingredients would be amazing, too!

Pumpkin spice bars (like a cake) with a nice creamy frosting on top. Fun to cut into small squares and give as fall-treats to those who also miss the summer! I have an old favorite recipe (full of things we can no longer eat) that I'm missing! Good luck! I'm sure whatever you pick will be delicious!

caramel dipped apples or mini-pumpkin pies!

Pumpkin Bundt Cake with gooey icing.* Sigh *

Pumpkin scones with pumpkin seed garnish
Chocolate pecan pie or tarts
Chocolate chip pecan muffins
Cranberry muffins
Dried cranberry and cinnamon cookies

Apple 'cream-cheese' cupcakes! mmmm.... maybe with 'carmel'

All those above mentioned ideas are great. But have you ever considered using "Stevia" in place of sugar and agave? I have 'Candida' and cannot eat anything with sugar and just a little with agave. Thanks.

i second the butterscotch. anything butterscotch!! and also gingerbread. cookies, or panbread, but gingerbread is great.

Corn muffins, with cranberries.

How about a chocolate/cardamom/coconut frosting
on a chocolate cupcake?

pumpkin angel food cake! light and good for fall :)

Magic cookie bars. I love them so much that sometimes I cheat and just have one. A GF/DF version would be a blessing!!

turkish delights

amaretti cookies

persimmon

dates

dulce de leche

flan

Whatever you're doing, keep doing it! I had your Vanilla Cupcake with Chocolate Fig Ganache yesterday, and lordy LORD, was it good! The cinnamon-nutmeg icing was divine. I'm going to have to go back soon for a shot of that!

I recently adapted a regular cupcake recipe to a vegan pumpkin coconut cupcake, it tasted awesome, especially with added nuts and coconut flakes.

But on the edger front, I like the idea of playing with sweet potatoes and other types of squash besides pumpkin. I think someone else commented on butternut squash, it actually has a great flavor.

Have you ever had a sweet potato turnover? delicious! maybe there is something in that category, I haven't tried converting it to vegan yet, but you are the expert so I'm excited to see what you reveal this fall!

I like autumn, yet it does bring on long twangs of nostalgic sadness and errant longings- it's like the B side to all those luscious blooming spring feelings.
I think of all its wonderful and fleeting bold colors- golds, maroons, oranges, deepest greens, rich yellows, deep velvety wines, and a thousand shades of brown as the lush, verdant harvests time yields quickly to the stark palette of winter.
Shortening days, carved pumpkins, apple fest, kids and their big bags of trick or candy, hot tea, indian corn, and cornucopias, long walks by the river...

Here are some fall comfort foods and flavors that come to mind on this balmy cloudy October day from my front porch in North Carolina with another yummy plate of garlicky greens...

acorns, roasted pumpkin seeds, cranberries, apples, apple crumb cake, rhubarb pie, pecan pie, pomegranates, pralines, ripe figs, butter nut and acorn squash, honey, persimmon, pistachios, oranges with cloves, walnuts, dates, carrots, ginger bread, oatmeal cookies, raisin pie, and sunflower seeds
cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, mint, marjoram, sage, clove, all spice and thyme

You can go nuts with variations on mamoul. It's a middle eastern filled cookie. You could fill it with dried apricots and mace, or pecans and cinnamon. Cover it with sugar and cinnamon. Google them they're very good.

- plum cobbler muffins
- apple crumble muffins
- mincemeat pies (British thing- basically dried fruit, candied peel and spices)
- cranberry carob chip biscotti
- raisin, date and walnut oatmeal cookies
- banana caramel volcanoes

What about a pumpkin and hazelnut gluten free doughnut?

i love fall and am grateful that babycakes is on my way home from work! things that you're already doing definitely taste like fall to me:
frosted pumpkin loaf;
cinnamon sugar toastie;
banana chocolate chip loaf.

what others have already suggested:
definitely chai. perhaps a chai icing on cinnamon cupcakes. also chai icing in cookie sandwiches. (I am not a fan of oatmeal raisin, but chocolate chip, and oatmeal chocolate are fantastic). perhaps a snickerdoodle-type cookie. wait...a snickerdoodle cookie sandwich with chai icing inside!

Pumpkin pie is gross! And I'm a huge fan of fall...so, whatever. Definitely stay far away from pumpkin cliche fall-ish things, and I'm sure you will be far less irked with the whole season. SO if you want to do key lime pie, I won't stop you!

i love the cinnamon-sugar toasties w/apples & cranberries...how about one made with a pumpkin base? i think the apples & cranberries in a cinnamon-y pumpkin cake would be amazing

i am moving away from the city in november and will miss your bakery so much!

oh yum....i think of chocolate and marshmmallows....turn hot chocolate into one of your yummy cupcakes!

I must comment on the pumpkin bunt cake with orange sauce that I had last weekend. It was to die for and would be a threat to my hips if I lived closer! I hope you continue to offer this treat through the holiday season.

Figs are delicious at this time of year, and naturally so sweet, gorgeous baked with a drizzle of honey and served with cold creme fraiche, yum! (from the UK - we're used to this weather it seems to be miserable all year round!)

flavors i like in the fall: figs, dried cranberries and apricots, pomegranate, sage, anjou pears, dark chocolate mint, licorice...

I would personally love to see a cookie similar to the Girl Scout's Thin Mint... I love those little bursts of joy, but cannot eat them any more. :)

Pumpkin spice biscuits servced warm with agave or honey butter with hints of orange/orange blossom. To that extent you could do a cupcake using the same idea :)

I know I'm a little late in the game but here goes:
- Mini Tarts in maple pecan, pumpkin spice, and chocolate espresso cream
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough anything!!!!!
- Little frozen hot chocolate thingys that you could have with hot coffee, yum!