This salted butterscotch version of pumpkin pie is just the thing to help spruce up a classic Thanksgiving dessert, keeping true to traditional pumpkin flavors but adding a depth of flavor from homemade butterscotch (with an extra touch of salt to boot). The butterscotch sauce is surprisingly easy to make, and although it’s an extra step in the pie making process, it adds a rich caramelization to the filling that really sets this recipe apart. I recommend setting aside a little portion of the butterscotch out of the filling for drizzling on top and swirling with lightly sweetened whipped cream.

Salted Butterscotch Pumpkin Pie

For the salted butterscotch

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 3/4 cup cream

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1 teaspoon salt

For the pie crust

• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed into 1/2 inch pieces

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 cup ice water

• Egg wash (1 egg plus 1 tablespoon cream, whisked)

For the pie filling

• All but 1/4 cup of the butterscotch (reserve the 1/4 cup for drizzling over the pie)

• 15 oz pumpkin purée

• 3 eggs

• 1/4 cup milk

• 1 tablespoon all purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. To make the pie dough, mix the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor, pulsing until combined. Add the butter, pulsing just until there are small bits of butter throughout, resembling sand. Add the water, a tablespoon at a time, until the dough just begins to come together. Wrap in plastic wrap and tuck away in the fridge to chill.

While the dough chills and the oven is heating, make the butterscotch. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and add the brown sugar, stirring until the butter is melted and the sugar has dissolved. Add 1/4 cup of the the cream and allow the sauce to bubble, not stirring for 2 minutes. Add the rest of the cream, salt, and vanilla, whisking until fully incorporated. Allow the sauce to thicken over low heat for 2 minutes. Set aside to cool. Reserve 1/4 cup separately to drizzle over the finished pie.

Take the dough out of the refrigerator and on a floured surface, roll out the dough. Transfer it to a 9 inch baking dish, trimming the edges and adding crimps or using a fork to press lines into the crust. Prick the bottom of the dish a few times with a fork. Cover the dough with parchment paper and pie weights (or uncooked beans) and place in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes, remove the parchment and pie weights, then bake another 5. Remove the baked pie crust from the oven and allow to cool while you assemble the filling.

To make the pie filling, whisk together all of the cooled butterscotch (omitting the 1/4 cup reserved for drizzling), the pumpkin purée, the milk, and the eggs. Add the flour, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Pour into the baked crust (you will have a bit of extra filling left over), brush the egg wash onto the crust, and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until the filling is set. Cover the crust with aluminum foil if it browns too quickly. Allow to cool completely before serving, topping with some whipped cream and the reserved butterscotch, along with a little pinch of Maldon salt if you wish.

This honeycrisp French apple tart is simple and seasonal baking at its best. With just four main ingredients — flour, butter, sugar, and apples — this autumnal dessert proves that sometimes less truly is more. Serve slices with a dusting of powdered sugar and a pinch of cinnamon to top it all off.

Honeycrisp French Apple Tart

adapted from Ina Garten’s French Apple Tart

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter for the pastry - cut into cubes, plus an additional 2 tablespoons for scattering on top

• 1 tablespoon sugar for the pastry, plus 1/3 cup for sprinkling on top

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup cold water

• 2 large honeycrisp apples, cored and thinly sliced

• Powdered sugar and cinnamon, for sprinkling

Make the pastry dough:

In a food processor, mix together the flour, the 12 tablespoons of cold cubed butter, 1 tablespoon of sugar and the salt until the butter is the size of peas. Then, while the motor is running, add the cold water and process until the dough just begins to come together. Dump out onto a floured countertop, shape into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and set in the fridge for an hour or two.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Take out the pastry from the fridge and roll out into a rectangular shape on a floured countertop, trimming the edges to make it more square if you’d like. Place on a parchment covered baking sheet. Fan out the apple slices on the pastry and sprinkle with the 1/3 cup sugar. Bake for approximately 45 minutes, rotating once halfway through so the pastry is evenly browned.

Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar and cinnamon.

These maple donuts are made of fluffy pastry flour and buttery almond flour held together with maple syrup and almond milk, among other things, to really bring home this almond and maple flavor combination. This is a healthful, baked version of a commonly fried treat sporting a slathering of maple glaze and crunchy almonds on top. Serve a plateful of these as a sweet treat for a weekend brunch or whenever your next donut craving hits.

Maple Almond Vegan Baked Donuts

makes 12 donuts

For the donuts:

• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 2 tablespoons water*

• 3/4 cup almond milk*

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar*

• 1 cup almond flour

• 1 cup pastry flour

*For a non-vegan version, you can swap the ground flaxseed and water mixture for 1 egg and the almond milk for cow’s milk.

For the glaze:

• Maple syrup, starting with 1/2 cup

• Cornstarch, starting with 2 tablespoons*

• Powdered sugar, starting with 2 tablespoons*

• Shaved almonds, for topping

*Equal parts cornstarch and powdered sugar helps thicken this maple glaze without making it too sweet to account for the sweetness of the maple syrup, however, you can use just powdered sugar if you like.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease two 6 count donut pans.

Mix the ground flaxseed and the water in a small bowl and allow to thicken for a few minutes. Combine the almond milk with the thickened flaxseed mixture and vanilla. Add the salt, baking powder, baking soda, and apple cider vinegar and mix until combined. Fold in the almond flour and pastry flour until it’s just combined.

Spoon the batter into a pastry bag or a ziplock bag if you don’t have one (if using a ziplock bag, snip off a corner of the bag once it’s filled). Pipe the batter into the greased donut pans. Bake the donuts for 25 minutes and allow to cool a bit before removing from the pans with the help of a butter knife. Allow to cool completely before adding the glaze.

To make the glaze, begin with 1/2 cup maple syrup and equal parts cornstarch and powdered sugar, starting with 2 tablespoons of each. Whisk until combined, adding more syrup if you prefer a thinner consistency or more equal parts cornstarch to powdered sugar for a thicker consistency. Double these amounts if you desire more glaze. Dip the top of the donuts into the glaze mixture, then set on a wire cooling rack and immediately sprinkle with the shaved almonds. The glaze will set in a minute or two.

These can be served immediately or made the night before and stored in the refrigerator for the next day. Bring to room temperature before serving.

These brownie-like cakes baked in a donut mold offer a lighter version of the fried stuff, batter whisked with coconut oil and coconut milk along with all the chocolate to create a rich and tropical flavor combination. Those following a vegan diet or with food intolerances will be happy to know these treats are completely egg and dairy free. Drizzle them with a bit of melted chocolate and shower with a handful of dried coconut flakes after they’ve cooled, if you like. I think they’re lovely served with hot coffee on a special Saturday.

Chocolate and Coconut Vegan Baked Donuts

makes 12 donuts

• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 2 tablespoons water

• 3/4 cup coconut milk at room temperature

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

• 1 cup pastry flour

• 1/3 cup dutch cocoa

• Melted chocolate and coconut flakes, for topping

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease two 6 count donut pans.

Mix the ground flaxseed and the water in a small bowl and allow to thicken for a few minutes. During that time, melt the coconut oil and chocolate chips together in a microwave or double boiler, whisking until combined. Pour into a mixing bowl and add the coconut milk, the thickened flaxseed mixture, and vanilla. Add the salt, baking powder, baking soda, and apple cider vinegar and mix until combined. Fold in the flour and cocoa.

Spoon the batter into a pastry bag or a ziplock bag if you don’t have one - if using a ziplock bag, snip off a corner of the bag once it’s filled. Pipe the batter into the greased donut pans. Bake the donuts for 25 minutes and allow to cool a bit before removing from the pans. Once they've been removed and have cooled completely, Drizzle with a bit of melted chocolate and top with some coconut flakes.

Serve immediately, or bake the night before and store in the refrigerator for the next morning. Bring to room temperature before serving.