Herbs and Spices Best for Fall Flavors
Fall, or autumn, is probably the best time of the year, offering a bounty of fruits and vegetables as well as two of the biggest holidays — Halloween and Thanksgiving. All these festivities come with signature foods and drinks made with unique ingredients characteristic of the season. And spices make up an essential part of fall cooking.
Herbs and Spices to Cook With in Fall
With their robust aroma and unique flavors, each of these spices is irreplaceable in its own way. The table below gives an overview of their taste, primary uses, and some traditional fall recipes.
| Name | Flavor Profile | Used in | Fall Recipe to Try |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon | Warm, sweet, and spicy | Baked desserts (cakes, cookies, pies), hot beverages, spiced dishes | Apple Cinnamon Pie |
| Nutmeg | Warm, nutty, slightly sweet | Sweet and savory baked items, beverages, soups | Pumpkin Bread |
| Cloves | Strong, sweet, and slightly bitter | Baked desserts, meat dishes, beverages, pickling | Spiced Apple Cider |
| Allspice | Warm, sweet, and peppery | Baked desserts, stews, soups | Pumpkin Cookies |
| Ginger | Spicy, warm, and slightly sweet | Baked desserts, beverages, curries | Gingerbread Cookies |
| Cardamom | Citrusy, spicy, and slightly sweet | Baked desserts, sweet breads, hot beverages | Cardamom Apple Crisp |
| Star anise | Sweet, warm, and aromatic | Infusing liquids, pickling, stews | Five-spice Pumpkin Soup |
| Cumin | Warm, sweet, and similar to nutmeg | Stews, roasted vegetables | Butternut Squash and Cumin Soup |
| Sage | earthy, peppery, and savory | Stuffing, roasted meats, soups | Sage and Sausage Stuffing |
| Thyme | Earthy, peppery, and savory | Roasted meats, stews, soups | Roasted Butternut Squash |
| Rosemary | Earthy, lemony, and slightly sweet | Roasted meats, stews, breads | Rosemary Roasted Potatoes |
| Mace | Woody, piney, and slightly minty | Baked desserts, stews, pickling | Mace-spiced Apple Butter |
A couple of other spices that are available during the season are juniper berries and saffron. Both fresh and dried juniper berries are used for meat dishes and to flavor alcoholic drinks. Saffron is an exotic spice sometimes used during the season in both savory dishes and desserts.
Common Fall Spice Blends
The above spices and herbs can be mixed together to create a whole new spice or spice blend. While there are no rules when making such blends, some traditional spice blends have made a niche in the kitchen. Out of these, the following 2 specific blends are irreplaceable in this season’s cooking.
| Name | Flavor Profile | Used in | Fall Recipe to Try |
| Pumpkin Spice Blend (Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves) | Earthy, nutty, and slightly smoky | Baked desserts, beverages | Pumpkin Spice Latte |
| Mulling Spice Blend (Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice) | Warm, aromatic, and spicy | Infusing beverages, cider, wine | Mulled Wine |
Sometimes, a pumpkin spice mixture can also contain allspice, while some variations of mulling spices include star anise, cardamom, and peppercorn along with the 4 above basic ingredients.
The deep association of the autumn herbs and spices and their aroma with the season makes them useful for more than just cooking. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice are often used in homemade potpourris, simmered with citrus peels, fruit slices, and vanilla to make the house smell like fall – a wonderful way to welcome your guests for a Thanksgiving dinner.