Who Says Eating with Braces is Boring? Braces-Friendly Fall Recipes!

Are you someone who looks forward to the yearly return of pumpkin spice drinks and sweets? Maybe you take Halloween decorations and spooky classic movies a little too seriously?

If so, this one’s for you! Light that fall-scented candle, turn on your favorite Halloween classic, and let’s celebrate the change of seasons! (And by “change of seasons” in Florida, we mean it’s no longer 99 degrees out… only 90.)

What better way to celebrate than with some braces-friendly, undeniably-delicious, fall-inspired recipes? Eating with braces doesn’t have to be boring.

Check out these delicious, fall-inspired recipes that won’t require a braces repair.

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Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

Ingredients:

• 4 large sweet potatoes
• ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 bag (10 oz) mini marshmallows

Directions:

1. Boil sweet potatoes for about 20 to 25 minutes until soft.
2. When sweet potatoes are soft, peel them.
3. Place peeled sweet potatoes in a mixing bowl and add brown sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs, and melted butter. Mix until well blended.
4. Transfer the filling into a greased 2 quart baking dish.
5. Bake in the oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
6. Remove from the oven and sprinkle mini marshmallows on top.
7. Return to the oven for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.
8. Let the casserole cool for at least 15 minutes.
9. Enjoy!

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Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Cookie Ingredients:
•  1/2 Cup Butter
•  1 Cup Sugar
•  2 Eggs
•  1 Cup Canned Pumpkin
•  2 Cups Flour
• 4 tsp. Baking Powder
•  1 tsp. Salt
•  2 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. Ginger
• (Optional) 1 Cup Chopped Walnuts or Pecans

 

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup Butter (Sweet Cream Salted)
• 8 oz. block of Cream Cheese
• 3 tsp. Vanilla
• 4 cups Powdered Sugar
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon

Baking Instructions:

1. Mix butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs and pumpkin; mix thoroughly!
3. Mix flour, baking powder, salt and spices together
4. Add the two mixes together and mix until blended.
5. Once fully blended, drop a spoonful of the cookie batter onto a cookie sheet.
6. The cookies will expand in the oven! Create as many cookies as the batter allows.
7. Bake in a 350 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes.
8. Wait 15 minutes for them to cool.
9. Ice the cookies with the cinnamon cream cheese frosting!

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

• Mix cream cheese, butter and vanilla until blended.
• Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and continue to mix until sugar is blended.
• Add cinnamon!

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Home-Made Apple Pie (Recipe by Erin Merhar)

Ingredients for the pie crust:

• 2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 c. cold, unsalted butter (cubed)
• 6 tbsp. very cold water
• 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

Ingredients for the apple pie filling:

•  8 large apples, such as Granny Smith or McIntosh (about 4 pounds total), peeled and thinly sliced
•  1/2 c. granulated sugar
• 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 tbsp. heavy cream

Directions:

1. For the pie crust: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
2. With a pastry cutter, gradually cut the cold butter into the flour until pea-sized pieces form.
3. In a small bowl, combine the cold water and apple cider vinegar.
4. Add the vinegar mixture to the flour/butter mixture 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing gently in between each addition. Stir together until all of the ingredients are incorporated and the mixture holds together when pinched with your fingers.
5. Turn the mixture out onto a clean countertop and knead 4 to 5 times until combined.
6. Divide the dough into two evenly sized balls and flatten each to a disk shape, about 1/2-inch thick (with minimal cracks).
7. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours (or up to 2 days).
8. Remove one disk of pie crust from the refrigerator and let it temper for 20 minutes until it is soft enough to roll.
9. Roll the pie dough into a 13-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Transfer the crust to a 9-inch deep dish pie plate and trim any overhang to ½-inch. Refrigerate for 20 minutes, while you prep the filling.
10. Preheat the oven to 425˚ and place a baking sheet on the bottom rack.
11. For the apple pie filling: In a large bowl combine the sliced apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. Add the filling into the chilled pie crust, arranging the apples tightly together so that there is little space in between. Top with the butter pieces.
12. Roll out the remaining disk of dough on a floured surface into a 13-inch round. Carefully lay the dough over the filling, fold the overhanging dough under the overhang from the bottom crust, and crimp the edges of the crust using a fork.
13. Cut a few 1-inch slits in the top crust (to release the steam). Brush the top of the pie with heavy cream.
14. Place the pie on the preheated baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350˚ and bake, rotating halfway through, until the filling is bubbly and the crust is golden brown, 50 to 60 more minutes.
15. Transfer to a rack and let cool about 2 hours before slicing.

Enjoy!

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Try out one of these recipes. Or try all three recipes in one night… No one’s judging. Carve out some family time and enjoy any of these fall recipes with your loved ones!

Clean teeth reminder: Don’t forget to brush and floss your teeth after eating sweets. It’s important that you clean your teeth and braces thoroughly to prevent bacteria from building up between your teeth, and around your brackets or wires. Excessive sugar can also wear down your enamel, and your enamel is essential for maintaining strong teeth.

If you’re looking for a top orthodontist in St Petersburg, or Seminole, we’d love to meet you! Request your in-person complimentary consultation or an at-home virtual consultation to get started today.