Cinnamon Apple Breakfast Cake

 

Christmas brunch is the same every.single.year.  Egg and sausage breakfast casserole and monkey bread.  This year, we decided to switch out the monkey bread for something new.  This cake, which we decided was perfectly acceptable for brunch, was delicious.  The recipe comes from Cooking Light but you would never know that its light. 

 

I am calling it a breakfast cake (nothing wrong with cake for breakfast!) but it would be great as a dessert, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  We all decided this recipe is a keeper! 

Mini Caramel Apple Tarts

These little tarts got lost in my photo archives.  So upon re-discovering them tonight, I decided they were too cute not to share.  They were adapted from the Dutch Caramel Apple Tart recipe that I posted a while back -- probably my favorite Fall recipe to date.  Is it too soon to be excited for Fall 2012? 

For Thanksgiving, I decided to make these mini tarts at the last minute.  I would post the ingredients and step-by-step instructions, BUT seeing as I was hosting my first Thanksgiving ever in my tiny little apartment kitchen, I may have been a little frazzled and forgot to take notes.  Not to worry -- I will make them again and share a recipe.

Apple Cinnamon Butterscotch Muffins

Here is a sweet little treat to start your day off right.  Apple muffins studded with butterscotch chips and toasted pecans -- so maybe it is more like dessert.  Regardless, these muffins are great and best served warm, in my opinion.

In case you are not a fan of butterscotch, feel free to eliminate the chips all together or substitute cinnamon chips.

Dutch Caramel Apple Tart

I have waited far too long to share this recipe with you!  In case you are looking for a dessert to make for Thanksgiving, look no further.  A buttery crust, caramel apple filling, topped with a streusel topping = the perfect Fall treat.

Apple Crumb Pie

This is a family recipe; we happen to be German, and Germans know their pie...trust me, so you should definitely give this a try!!  It is very simple and the apples really are the star; it is not too sugary like a lot of apple pies are. 

I used a combination of three apples: Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, and Honey Crisp.  This gives the pie more flavor and texture.  And I really think that using a combination of apples is a must.  

I served homemade cinnamon whipped cream with this and it was delicious!  It would be perfect on just about any pie, especially with pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.  I will post the recipe later this week. 

Applesauce-Spice Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

Applesauce-Spice Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting.  Enough said.

 I received an adorable Halloween cupcake kit in the mail from my mom last week (thanks!) and couldn't wait to put it to good use.  As soon as I received the kit I started contemplating what kind of cupcakes to make.

I have been baking with a lot of pumpkin lately so I decided to go with my next favorite Fall flavor, apple!!  The spice in these cupcakes is just the right amount and the frosting is the perfect complement, not too sweet, just right.

These just might be the most perfect Fall cupcake.  

Apple Pie Greek Yogurt Parfait

I went from hating greek yogurt to becoming obsessed.  I actually ate it twice today -- for breakfast and lunch.  I've come to realize it can be so versatile -- used as a base for a dip or play a key role in baked goodies.  I tend to eat it plain and simple -- or sometimes I throw in some fruit or oats.  However, today I was inspired by one of my favorite fall treats -- Apple Pie.  Actually, I take that back -- I was inspired by How Sweet It Is, where she whipped up Apple Pie in a glass with greek yogurt in the mix.

Layer...

Layer some more...

A nice little treat to start the day!

Apple, Brie and Honey Quesadilla

I love sweet and savory and I love quesadillas -- and that is why I love this recipe.  I saw a recipe for Pear, Brie and Honey Quesadillas on Two Peas and their Pod and decided to switch up the pears for apples because fall is here and I can't stop buying Honeycrisp apples.

I didn't use a lot of cheese because I was trying to have a healthy dinner but I didn't miss it with the combination of the apples, red onion, honey and rosemary.  I just didn't get the cheesy quesadilla effect.  One more tip -- next time, I will saute the apples and onions first to soften them up.