Kelli Avila January 23, 2026

Well, hello!

Have you started to feel the change in pace lately, like I have? By the end of September, I always welcome this shift after the intensity of back-to-school, especially for our family this year (more on that below). The schedules are still full...but things feel more predictable. The rhythm is steadier now, which thankfully leaves more room for celebrating the best baking season.

Today I wanted to share a few simple recipes that match the season we’re in: unfussy, comforting, and steadying in its own way.

Here are 5 Recipes That Feel Just Right, Right Now:

Apple Turnovers ​ Using store-bought (or homemade if you are up for a challenge) puff pastry, these turnovers are stuffed with a simple apple pie filling and drizzled with a cinnamon cider glaze at the end. ​ Get the recipe!

More Apple Recipes:

• ​Apple Tart​
• ​Apple Hand Pies​
• ​Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie​

Incredibly Fudgy Brownies (made with almond flour) ​ For when you need to be hit over the head with chocolate, this is the recipe I turn to. Made with all almond flour and two types of cocoa, these (naturally gluten-free!) brownies have a deep, nuanced chocolate flavor and an amazingly fudgy texture. And they're super simple to make. ​ Get the recipe!

More Chocolate Recipes

• ​Easy No-Bake Chocolate Pie​
• ​Chocolate Pudding​
• ​Buckwheat Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies​

Cinnamon Pie Crust Cookies Craving cinnamon rolls but don't want to wait for hours? These Pie Crust Mini Cinnamon Rolls deliver the best cinnamon roll flavors in a buttery, flaky cookie in minutes. ​ Get the recipe!

More Cinnamon Recipes

• ​Cinnamon Ice Cream​
• ​Cinnamon Custard Pie​
• ​Puff Pastry Cinnamon Twists​

Butterscotch Pudding As in, the real deal butterscotch pudding. It's so creamy, with a uniquely sweet and slightly smoky flavor. I'm always blown away when I have it because, despite the simplicity of its ingredients, it's a complex-tasting dessert. ​ Get the recipe!

Apple Pie Filling Every fall, this filling earns a permanent spot in my refrigerator (and freezer), and I love hearing from all of you that do the same. Making apple pie filling is one of the best ways to use up any large quantities of apples you might have and I use it on everything: oatmeal, cheesecake topping, cake filling, hand pies, turnovers, etc. ​ Get the recipe!

What's Coming Up:

I'm still catching up on a few late summer / early fall recipes to share with you (if you've still got lots of stone fruit laying around like I do, you'll be happy!), but I'm also getting ready to ramp up with all the best recipes and tutorials for pie season too!

A Personal Note from Me:

Before I sign off, I wanted to share a quick note about my absence these past few weeks. Shortly after I sent my last email saying I was back from summer break, my mom unexpectedly passed away. My family and I are still trying to make sense of it. It still doesn't feel real. And while this grief is personal and feels almost impossible to talk about, I know that I'm not the only one holding this feeling. It actually feels like grief is everywhere, showing up in different ways for different people. So many of us are carrying something. I think we’ve all been living in a steady state of hard for a while now. Society feels like it’s shifting under our feet, between the rise of AI, the way social media has reshaped our lives, the sharp divides in politics, and the constant stream of tragedy in the news.

Losing my mom, while also navigating ongoing health issues here at home and everything that has come before, really has broken something in me. But not necessarily in a bad way. I’ve been reminded to lean into all the things that actually matter: the love we have for one another, the ways we nourish ourselves and those we care for, and the small, everyday rituals that bring comfort to the people around us and to ourselves. I hope you find a small moment this weekend to make something for yourself or the ones you love.

Thanks for being here.