The weather is getting cooler and leaves are changing colors. As the seasons change, many of us look forward to having favorite seasonal treats. Fall is here and you can’t go far without seeing or smelling pumpkin spiced goodies. My grocery store has an entire section dedicated to pumpkin flavored products. You can find cookies, oatmeal, pancakes, coffee, pudding, and even marshmallows.

It’s fun to try these new products each year, but I prefer to make my own pumpkin recipes to save money and to control the ingredients used.

On a cool, fall morning, there’s nothing better than starting your day with a warm bowl of pumpkin oatmeal. You can buy pumpkin spice flavored oatmeal packets, but by making your own flavored oatmeal, you can control the amount of sugar and other ingredients used. The Good and Cheap Cookbook has a great pumpkin oatmeal recipe that you can make for only .75 per serving.

On weekends, I like to indulge in a pumpkin spice latte. This popular drink is on every coffee shop menu right now, but it will easily cost you $4. You can save lots of money by skipping the lines and making your latte at home. At .40 per drink, this recipe from Good Housekeeping costs a fraction of the amount you’ll pay at a coffee shop.

Both of these recipes include ingredients that you likely have in your pantry. You can also use your Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Program benefits to buy these ingredients. Not familiar with FNS? Learn more here.

Do you have a favorite fall recipe? Share them with us in the comments section!

PUMPKIN OATMEAL

Makes: 2 servings

Price per serving: $0.75

1 cup rolled oats

½ cup canned pumpkin

¾ cup milk (or almond / soy milk)

1¼ cups water

2 tbsp. brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ginger powder (optional)

¼ teaspoon clove powder (optional)

Maple syrup (optional)

Whisk the pumpkin, milk, and water in a pot. Add the oats, salt, sugar, and spices, and water. Cook on medium-low until it bubbles. Turn to low for 5 more minutes. Add syrup or more sugar to taste.

COPYCAT PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE

Makes: 4 cups syrup (32 to 64 lattes)

Price per latte: $0.40

FOR THE SYRUP:

2 cups granulated sugar

2 cinnamon sticks

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/4 cup canned pure pumpkin

FOR THE LATTE:

8 ounces milk

4 ounces strong brewed coffee or espresso

Whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, for garnish (optional)

1. Prepare the syrup: Bring the sugar and 2 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking, until the sugar dissolves. Add the cinnamon sticks, pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin. Simmer, whisking occasionally, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Set aside 5 minutes, then strain twice through a fine-mesh strainer into an airtight container. Refrigerate until cool. Store in the refrigerator for about 1 month. You’ll end up with about 4 cups total.
2. For each latte: Microwave the milk on High about 1 minute or until very hot. (Transfer to a blender and blend 20 seconds for extra frothy milk, if desired.) Put 1 to 2 tablespoons pumpkin spice syrup (to taste) in the bottom of a mug. Top with the coffee and warm milk. Garnish with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, if desired.