Mia Teal
Marketing Coordinator, Paid Media
As the leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow, and the air becomes crisper, it’s a clear sign that fall has arrived. With the change in seasons comes a whole new world of flavors and spices that can transform your culinary experience. When we think of “spices,” we may just think of pumpkin and apple spices. However, there is a whole lot more out there. Let’s take a look at some useful spices this fall season, and a recipe to go along with each one!
Cinnamon:
Cinnamon comes from a tree known as Sri Lankan Cinnamon Tree. This is a very popular scent this time of year, and you can even find cinnamon-scented candles at Price Chopper and Market 32!
Pumpkin:
There is no doubt that pumpkin spice is a key scent of fall. Everywhere you look, there is pumpkin spice everything! Did you know that pumpkin spice is actually a mixture of different spices including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and clove? There is no pumpkin in pumpkin spice! Be sure to check out our pumpkin spice candles!
Recipe: Maple-Pumpkin Cold Brew
Apple:
Another fall favorite – apple! Apple spice boasts a warm, cozy, and aromatic flavor. It is characterized by a blend of sweet, earthy, and spiced elements. Of course we have an apple crisp candle, too!
Recipe: Apple-Cranberry Slab
Allspice:
Allspice is a unique and versatile spice that is derived from the dried unripe berries of the Pimenta dioica plant, which is native to the Caribbean and Central America. The name “allspice” is attributed to its complex flavor, which is a combination of various other spices, including cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, resulting in a well-rounded and distinct taste.
Recipe: Butternut Squash Bisque
Cumin:
Cumin is a very popular spice used in soups and stews, and derives from the plant Cuminum cyminum. This spice is widely used in India, Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Recipe: Jalapeño, Chicken & Pumpkin Soup
New Items: King Arthur Spices
Espresso Powder: A baker’s secret ingredient for rich chocolate flavor
Now available in the Spice aisle, you can find King Arthur Baking Company’s most coveted test kitchen ingredients for better baked good: Espresso Powder, Vietnamese Cinnamon, Cheese Powder, Everything Bagel Topping, Pizza Seasoning, and Malted Milk Powder.
Imagine a secret ingredient that could make chocolate taste more like chocolate. Too good to be true, you’re thinking, but such a miracle exists: espresso powder.
A pinch of espresso powder greatly enhances and intensifies the chocolate flavor in brownies, cakes, and more — without transitioning your treat to mocha-flavored. Think of it as a supporting actor that helps the star ingredient shine, much like a pinch of salt takes the flavor of cookies from flat to robust, without adding any savory flavor.
Espresso powder is not the same as instant coffee. Espresso powder is made from darkly roasted coffee beans that have been ground, brewed, dried, and then ground to a very fine powder. It’s much more concentrated than instant coffee, which means you only need a teaspoon or so in your chocolate recipe to do the trick.
Don’t let the name fool you; in small amounts, espresso powder doesn’t add any coffee flavor to your baked goods. It merely makes chocolate tastes more intense and rich.
Try baking your favorite brownie recipe, any one you like, without espresso powder and with it. You’ll notice a subtle difference. The batch made with espresso powder will have a more complex, deep chocolate flavor. This is a particularly useful baker’s trick for enhancing less fancy chocolate: If you don’t want to spring for expensive cocoa powder or chocolate, adding espresso powder can help “dress up” the chocolate flavor.
Here are some favorite recipes:
