By Julia Anne Favaro

Welcoming in the fall season means it’s time to start rewatching Gilmore Girls! The show is packed with all of fall’s fun – including festivals, warm chunky sweaters, and of course – food. With this food guide, you can share in the classic foods of Stars Hollow with an autumnal twist. Join Loreli and Rory for their morning coffee, Luke’s Pumpkin Pancakes, Baked Apple Cider Donuts, and Roasted Veggie and Goat Cheese Pizza.

Salted Maple Oat Milk Shaken Espresso

Photo Credit: Julia Anne Favaro

COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE 

Ingredients:

• Two shots of espresso ( substitute: ½ cup cold brew)
• 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
• 1 cup oat milk
• ⅛ tsp sea salt
• Ice 

Instructions:

1. Add 2 shots of espresso (or other coffee) to a glass with a lid.
2. Pour in maple syrup, oat milk, and sea salt.
3. Add ice.
4. Shake well to combine. 
5. Top with a sprinkle of sea salt and enjoy!

Luke’s Pumpkin Pancakes

Photo credit: iStock

Recipe credit: Eating Gilmore

“Are you in the mood for pancakes?” “Pancakes, sure, yeah. I guess we have enough space for pancakes.” “Cause I’m making pumpkin pancakes and it comes with homemade cinnamon butter.” – Lorelei and Luke

Ingredients:

Pancake Batter:

• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• 1 ¼ cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 3 Tbsp melted butter
• 1 ¾ cup flour
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger)
• ¼ tsp ground clove

Cinnamon Butter:

• ½ cup butter
• ¼ Tbsp cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, add the pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and butter and mix until combined.
2. Add the flour, salt, baking powder, and pumpkin pie spices and mix.
3. Place a pan on the stove over medium heat. Add butter or oil to prevent sticking
4. Pour ¼ cup of batter onto the pan. 
5. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. Flip when bubbles form on the uncooked side.
6. Make the cinnamon butter by combining the butter, cinnamon, and sugar and mixing with an electric mixer until smooth.

Baked Apple Cider Donut’s

Photo Credit: Julia Anne Favaro

“Well, at least grab a donut before you go.” – Lorelei Gilmore

Recipe Credit: Sally’s Baking Recipes

Ingredients:

Batter:

• 1 and ½ cups apple cider
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¾ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp mix of cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg, room temp
• ½ cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup milk, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Topping:

• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¾ tsp mix of cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Instructions:

1. Reduce apple cider: simmer the apple cider in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. After about 20 minutes, it should be reduced to around  ½ a cup. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350℉.
3. Grease donut pan.
4. Whisk together the butter, egg, brown sugar, white sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Add in the dry ingredients and then the reduced apple cider. Whisk until smooth and combined. 
5. Spoon or pipe batter into the donut pan, filling it halfway.
6. Bake for 10-11 minutes until slightly brown.
7. To coat the donut, combine the sugar, cinnamon, and spice in a bowl. In a separate bowl pour the melted butter. Dunk each side of the donut into the butter and then into the sugar.

Roasted Veggie and Goat Cheese Pizza

Photo credit: unsplash

Ingredients:

• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3 oz. soft goat cheese (about 1 small log)
• 1 shallot, sliced
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• ½ head of broccoli, in small florets
• 1 tsp garlic salt

Dough 

• 4 cups all – purpose flour
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast (1 packet)
• 2 cups warm water
• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (divided)

Sauce:

• 1 can (28-ounce) whole peeled tomatoes
• 1 can tomato paste
• 3 Tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp cane sugar
• Freshly ground pepper

Instructions:

Sauce

1. In a food processor, place the garlic until finely chopped. 
2. Add the whole tomatoes, tomato paste, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, sugar, and several grinds of pepper. Process until smooth and season to taste.

Crust

1. In a bowl, combine flour, salt, and instant yeast. Stir well. 
2. Add warm water. Then, with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, mix until combined. 
3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm to rise for 45-60 mins.
4. Drizzle 2 Tbsp of olive oil into a 10×15 inch sheet pan to cover the bottom and sides. 
5. Transfer the dough to the pan and turn to coat with oil. 
6. Spread dough to cover the pan. Cover with plastic and let rest in a warm place for 30 mins. 

Assembling the pizza 

Remove from the oven and serve.

Drizzle dough with 1 Tbsp of olive oil and with your fingers push it in the corners of the pan. Dimple the dough with fingers. Add the sauce.

Allow dough to rest while the oven preheats to 450℉ with the rack positioned in the center of the oven. Once preheated, bake the dough for 18-20 minutes or until pale golden brown

While the dough is baking, in a bowl, combine the veggies,  2 Tbsp olive oil, garlic salt

When the dough is pale golden brown, remove it from the oven. Add shredded cheese, veggies, and large dollops of goat cheese. Return to the oven for another 12-15 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese darts to bubble