Fall Favorites: A Wild Twist on Traditional Comfort Foods

The leaves are changing, the pumpkin spice lattes are flowing, and sweater weather is finally here to stay. While it may not be the longest season, fall is for sure the coziest – and pairs perfectly with so many favorite comfort foods – from fluffy waffles to hearty soups to everyone’s favorite glazed donut. While you might be used to seeing pumpkins and apples as the stars of the fall food lineup, we believe the tiny Wild Blueberry, in all its antioxidant-rich glory, deserves a seat in the spotlight as well, bringing a unique, intense and perfectly sweet taste to so many seasonal favorites. The healthy brain-boosting benefits of anthocyanins (the plant compound responsible for giving them their pretty purply blue hue)  found in Wild Blueberries are a nice perk as well.

And just in case you thought you could only find Wild Blueberries in the summertime – think again. Wild Blueberries are available in the freezer section of your grocery store year-round. They’re harvested and frozen at the peak of freshness when they’re perfectly ripe and chock full of nutrients

Ready to get wild? Try one of these twists on your favorite fall staples.

Breakfast

Belgian Waffles with Wild Blueberry Cream

Homemade waffles are such a treat and this Belgian Waffle with Wild Blueberry Cream is seriously next level. Loaded with deliciousness, this dream breakfast includes a perfectly cooked Belgian waffle topped with creamy mascarpone Wild Blueberry spread and homemade no-bake granola. Even with the beautiful Belgian waffle and super-simple no-bake granola, the Wild Blueberries are really the star of this dish. Their intense color and flavor add the perfect amount of sweetness to the mascarpone cheese. You only need just a little bit of maple syrup to sweeten it just right. For best results, pair this dish with an oversized sweater, a good book, and a hot cup of coffee on the back deck. #dreamy

Lunch

Butternut Squash Soup with Wild Blueberry Relish

There’s nothing more comforting than cozying up with a big bowl of freshly made soup, and this butternut squash soup with Wild Blueberry relish literally tastes like fall in a bowl. The perfectly sweet and savory flavor combination makes for a healthy, hearty meal – and the Wild Blueberry relish adds the perfect amount of texture and pop of color to this blended fall favorite. You could also use this relish as a topping for bruschetta or even roasted turkey.

Dinner 

Twice Baked Sweet Potato with Wild Blueberries

This twice-baked sweet potato recipe is sure to elicit “oohs” and “ahhs” from your friends and family. After scooping out the flesh of the baked sweet potato, it’s mixed with creamy ricotta cheese, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, vanilla, and a little bit of real maple syrup. The velvety mixture is then stuffed back into the cooked potato shell to be heated again, only to be smothered with warmed Wild Blueberries. In addition to its great sweet and savory flavor, this show-stopping side is also loaded with nutrients. Wild Blueberries have twice the antioxidants and more fiber than regular blueberries, and the sweet potato boasts beta carotene, vitamin C, and fiber.

Dessert

Wild Blueberry Baked Doughnuts with Wild Blueberry Glaze

It wouldn’t be fall if you didn’t at least eat a couple of doughnuts. This fall, take it up a notch and make your own! The only special equipment you’ll need for this recipe is a pair of standard doughnut baking pans. (No need to go all out, the cheap ones work like a charm.) Once you’re done whipping them up, toss them in powdered sugar, brush with warm butter and dip them in cinnamon-sugar or take it to the next level and drizzle them with some of this homemade Wild Blueberry Glaze.

Do you love making (or eating) comfort foods? Which dishes do you look forward to most every fall?