Photo by Kira auf der Heide
Pumpkin spice has led the world in a fall frenzy ever since the pumpkin spice latte exploded on the scene way back in the dark ages of 2003.
Unfortunately this craze has caused some distance to form between the full and robust flavors of an actual pumpkin spice blend and the synthetic pumpkin spice flavors you can now find in everything from coffee creamer to Oreos.
Using an authentic pumpkin spice blend in your baking can be a very enjoyable way to celebrate fall. The taste of pumpkin spice is warm, comforting, and sometimes just what you're craving when the cooler fall weather hits.
We have some classic pumpkin inspired baked goods in the bakery this month that we can't wait to share with you! Some of the goodies you can get from us this fall include:
- Pumpkin Pecan Muffins
- Pumpkin Maple Donuts
- Pumpkin Bread
- Pumpkin Cake with Cinnamon Frosting
- Mini Pumpkin Pies
- Pumpkin Cheesecake
Feel free to contact us about what we currently have available!
If you're feeling like doing some of your own fall baking, we have a very simple and delicious biscotti recipe to share with you at the end of this article. You can go with classic biscotti or throw in a little of your own pumpkin spice blend for that extra kick of fall flavor.
But first, let's take a closer look at what pumpkin spice is all about.
What is Pumpkin Spice?
Pumpkin spice is an American spice mix that was developed and primarily used to flavor pumpkin pie.
Usually the recipe includes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. You can experiment a bit with ratios to really emphasize the specific spice flavors you prefer.
Here's a simple pumpkin spice recipe to start you off. Feel free to adjust it however you'd like!
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Pumpkin Spice Biscotti
Speaking of recipes, let's dive into the biscotti recipe we promised.
This recipe uses our premade sugar cookie mix, which makes it very quick and simple to whip up.
Biscotti is a very dry cookie, which means its shelf life is longer than some other baked goods making it the gift that keeps on giving!
For this recipe you will need:
- 1 Sugar cookie mix
- ½ cup of butter (1 stick), melted
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp of vanilla
Optional add-ins:
- Pumpkin spice
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup chopped pistachios
- Lemon zest
- Nuts
- Chocolate
- Dried fruits
How to Make Biscotti
In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients together and add in any additional add-ins.
Add 1 tablespoon of water at a time, as needed while mixing. You want the dough to be firm and less crumbly, but also keep it from getting too wet.
Divide the dough in half and make (2) 8x4 inch rectangles.
Place them on a baking sheet and bake at 350F degrees for 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool for 20 minutes before slicing into lengthwise strips (or shorter depending on how big you want your biscotti).
Cut the strips so that they are ¾ inch wide and then place them cut side down on the baking sheet.
Bake for 8 minutes. Flip them over and then bake for an additional 8 minutes.
Let the biscotti cool completely before moving, as they will still be tender.
Once cooled and dried, melt chocolate of choice and then dip an end in the melted chocolate and let cool and harden.
Enjoy with your favorite hot drink or eat as-is!