Recipe: Apple dishes for the fall season

With the changing of seasons comes the changing of cravings. As summer seems to fade, and fall begins to rise, our sweet tooth seems to get a little sweeter.

This fall, let yourself indulge in your guilty pleasures that have been holding you back in the past. Fall into fall with a taste of nature through healthy desserts centered around plump, juicy, golden apples.

“Apple Pie in a Cup” smoothie. Credit: Brooklyne Shepherd/The Foothill Dragon Press

“Apple Pie in a Cup” Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1 diced apple in small chunks
• ½ tsp. cinnamon
• 1 cup milk
• 1 ½ tbs. maple syrup
• 2 tbs. chia seeds
• 1 cup ice

Directions:

1. Combine apple, cinnamon, milk, maple syrup, chia seeds, ice and nutmeg and blend until smooth.

2. Serve and enjoy!

This “Apple Pie in a Cup” smoothie will satisfy your taste buds and fool you into thinking you’ve just devoured an apple pie without spending a high amount of calories.

Apple à la Mode:

Ingredients:

• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp. cinnamon and nutmeg mixed together
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 apple sliced into cubes and divided into two portions
• 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
• ¼ cup milk (also try almond milk for a healthier alternative)
• ½ cup ice cubes

Apple à la Mode. Credit: Brooklyne Shepherd/The Foothill Dragon Press

Directions:

1. Combine unsweetened applesauce, cinnamon and nutmeg, a banana, one half of the apple, vanilla protein powder, milk and ice in a blender and blend until a thick and smooth consistency is created.

2. Pour mixture into a large bowl, stirring in the leftover portion of apple cubes.

3. Place mixture in the freezer for two hours, stirring every 30 minutes or until your ice cream has a thick and lightly frozen texture.

4. Sprinkle on top some cinnamon, and garnish with a few of your leftover apple chunks.

You can’t go wrong with ice cream, just stick it in the freezer and this mixture will sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Homemade Crispy Apple Chips. Credit: Brooklyne Shepherd/The Foothill Dragon Press

Homemade Crispy Apple Chips:

Ingredients:

• 2 large apples
• ½ tsp. cinnamon
• 1 ½ tsp. white sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 225 degrees.

2. Slice apples thinly.

3. Arrange apples on a baking sheet.

4. Mix cinnamon and sugar together, sprinkling lightly over each apple slice.

5. Bake for 45 minutes or until edges curl up and apples are dry.

6. Remove apples from oven and let cool for 15 minutes.

These mouthwatering recipes will make you “fall” in love this season.

-Brooklyne Shepherd