Baking Bliss
Autumn is the perfect time for baking, and cinnamon is a must-have ingredient for all your treats. Consider making cinnamon-infused cookies, cinnamon rolls, apple crumble, or a classic apple pie with a dash of cinnamon. These recipes not only taste heavenly but also fill your kitchen with irresistible aromas.

Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing
Serves 12

Dough:
200 ml milk
115 g butter
550 g plain flour
140 g caster sugar
7 g dry yeast
2 eggs

Filling:
100 g butter
100 g caster sugar
2 tbsp ground cinnamon

Icing:
115 g full-fat cream cheese
30 g unsalted butter
80 g caster sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


For the Dough
1. In a small pan, warm the milk & butter until it's lukewarm and the butter is melting.
2. Meanwhile, sift the flours into a large bowl, add sugar and yeast through to combine. Add the milk mixture and stir in a little, before adding the eggs. Mix until you have a soft, slightly sticky dough.
3. Transfer the dough to well-floured surface, knead the dough for around 10 minutes, then place it into an oiled bowl (to prevent it from sticking) and cover with a damp tea towel. Leave to rise for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
4. Once your dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and using a rolling pin, roll it into a rectangle around 45cm x 30cm in size.

For the Filling
1. In a small bowl, mix the softened butter, sugar and cinnamon together. Spread the mixture evenly over your rolled dough, bringing it right to the edges.
2. Roll the dough tightly & evenly to create a sausage. Cut it into 12 individual rolls.
3. Arrange the rolls on a lightly greased baking tray with plenty space between each roll & the edges (they need space to grow!). Cover loosely with a damp tea towel and leave to rise in a warm place for 1hour until they look light and puffy.
4. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180°c (160°c for fan assisted ovens or Gas Mark 4) for around 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

For the Icing
1. In a medium bowl beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add the butter and beat until combined, then beat in the sugar and vanilla until combined.
2. Using a knife or spatula, spread the icing over the warm rolls and serve immediately.

Cinnamon-Infused Beverages
Experiment with cinnamon-infused beverages. Add a cinnamon stick to your apple cider, hot chocolate, or chai tea for an extra layer of warmth and flavor. You can even make a homemade cinnamon syrup to sweeten and spice up your drinks.

Savory Delights
Don't limit cinnamon to desserts; it can also enhance savory dishes. Try adding ground cinnamon to your pumpkin soup, roasted vegetables, or a slow-cooked stew. Its earthy, warm flavor can elevate these hearty autumn meals.

Spiced pumpkin soup
Serves 6

Ingredients:
1.5 kg ­ pumpkin
400 g. carrots
1 large red onion
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon paprika plus extra for sprinkling
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 litre chicken stock
4 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper to season



1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Cut the pumpkin into rough medium-sized chunks, removing flesh and seeds.

2. Add the chopped pumpkin, peeled and chopped into medium sized chunks carrots and onion to a large baking tray. Sprinkle all of the spices over the vegetables with a pinch of salt and pepper. Drizzle over olive oil and rub over the vegetables and roast in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until tender.

3. Remove the vegetables from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Remove the pumpkin from its skin using a spoon, it should be very easy to scoop out. Add the carrot, pumpkin and onion to the pot. Add the chicken stock and bring to a bowl then simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Turn off the heat and blend the soup until smooth using a stick blender.

Serve the soup with a dollop of sour cream and toasted pumpkin seeds.