It’s finally here! It’s officially okay to recognize the fall season. In celebration, I have this Apple Spice Crumb Cake recipe you’ll want to play with. Toss some of the rules out the window and use what’s growing at your local orchard. I’ve prepared it with both apples and pears and had great success. Peaches and raspberries might be nice too…just a thought.
It makes for the perfect breakfast, brunch, house guest or weekend snack cake. The recipe is vegan but I shared easy substitutions for a non-vegan baking option.
I’ve also put together a fall inspiration list. It’s chock full of local events to get your family or partner out and about in Berks and a bit beyond. I’ve got you covered from a Haunted Homestead Tour at the Daniel Boone Homestead to the Mast Maze in Morgantown.
I placed my favorite events at the top of the list, but did ask my Facebook follower friends for their suggestions too. Check out the list and be sure to click through to the links for details. Some events are free and others are very affordable - cheaper than a movie ticket! Let’s savor the season and create some family memories. Just in case you haven't, be sure to never miss a recipe or local event by subscribing to my website.
Happy baking!
Apple Spice Crumb Cake
vegan with *non-vegan options marked with asterisk
Recipe by Phoebe Canakis, PhoebesPureFood.com Serves 12-16
Crumb Topping Ingredients
- 1/2 cup organic spelt flour or whole wheat white flour
- 1/2 cup organic rolled oats
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup raw, organic coconut oil/vegan butter, melted and cooled (*butter, non-vegan option)
Cake Ingredients
- 2 1/2 organic cups spelt flour or whole wheat white flour
- 2/3 cup organic sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1/2 cup raw, organic coconut oil, melted and cooled (*butter, non-vegan option)
- 1/2 cup organic unsweetened applesauce (*2 medium eggs whisked, non-vegan option)
- 1 cup non-dairy milk (*milk, non-vegan option)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (5-6 ounces) chopped apple
Instructions
- Prepare the crumb topping by mixing the flour, oats, sugar and oil until pea sized clumps form. Refrigerate while you prepare the cake.
- Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and orange zest.
- Whisk the coconut oil, applesauce, milk and vanilla extract.
- Stir the coconut mixture into the flour mixture, stirring until just combined. Fold in the apples.
- Spoon into a greased, 9-inch round, springform baking dish. Spread with the crumb topping.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Fall Events
The 50th Annual National Apple Harvest Festival
When: October 4-5 and 11-12 Hours are 8am to 6pm daily, rain or shine! Where: 615 Narrows Rd., Biglerville, 717.677.9413 How much: General: $10, Seniors 60+: $9, Ages 12 and under: Free
The National Apple Harvest Festival, which is held during the first two full weekends in October, has been celebrating beautiful crafts, great music and wonderful food for 49 years. The festival has something for everyone with hundreds of arts and crafts dealers, demonstrations, contests, food stands, and entertainment. All admission prices include parking in one of several parking fields and shuttle bus or wagon service to the festival grounds. Also included in admission price is all live entertainment, attractions, exhibits & orchard bus tours.
Guts And Glory Digestive And Wellness Expo
When: Oct. 4, 10am-4pm Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Reading How much: Free admission.
We believe beauty starts on the inside. Even the most beautiful beach bodies can be hiding ugly, unhealthy guts. We invite you to join in on an exciting journey of wellness education, nutritional awareness, and health consciousness that will teach you how to treat your insides well for a healthy, balanced life. Food and merchandise for sale. The Expo will include: Group Exercise Presentations • Live Cooking Demonstrations • Expert Lectures • Farmer’s Market • Massage Tent • Yoga Hut • Live Music • Kids’ Obstacle Course • The Colossal Colon/Crawl: The Colon is a project of The Colon Club.
Mast Maze's 13th Season: Theme is a Conestoga Wagon
When: Through Nov 8. Open Friday: 3-9pm and Saturday: 9am-9 pm, Closed Sundays
Where: 610.286.9315
How much: Ages 3-99: $11.50, 2 years and under: Free | All you can carry pumpkin challenge $18.95 or $0.35/lb.
Included in admission: Three fun mazes in 12 acres of corn fields (one of the largest in Eastern PA), Lil Sprouts soybean maze, After Dark Flashlight Mazes (Please bring Flashlights for maze after 6pm)
• NEW Jumbo Jumping Pillow
• Hay Jump, Hay Tunnels, Hay Ride, Tube Slide
• Straw Mountain, Farm Animal Exhibit
• Obstacle Course, Good Tasty Food
• Pumpkin Painting, Private Party Areas
• Pig Train Ride, Sandbox and more...
Fall Family Fun Days at Weaver’s Orchard
Where: Weaver’s Orchard, 40 Fruit Lane, Morgantown, 610.856.7300
When: Saturdays through Oct. 25th and Columbus Day Monday, Oct. 13. Special activities from 10am-5pm
How much: Children ages 3-12 $8, Adults ages 13+ $4. Children under age 3: Free. Hayrides $5 per person.
Join us for food, hay rides, pick-your-own fruit and plenty of kids’ activities including face painting, obstacle courses and a clown.
(be sure to stop by our very own Frecon Farm’s booth)
When: Sept. 27, 1-5pm
Where: Philadelphia Navy Yard, 4747 South Broad St., Philadelphia
How much: A sell-out is expected so buy your tickets early. Once the event sells out, no additional tickets will be available. Get details and tickets here.
Love apples? Then, drink apples! Gather with fellow apple enthusiasts, hard cider aficionados, fermentation zealots and craft beverage fanatics at the Philadelphia Navy Yard for the second annual Pour The Core: Philly.
When: Oct. 25th, 10am-7pm Where: Boyertown Rail Yard, Boyertown How much: Adults: $14, Children: $7. Buy tickets online
A Celebration of Americana. Bring the family out for some bluegrass, cider, yummy handmade food, pick-your-own apples and pumpkins and more! Frecon Farms has donated their annual fall festival to the town of Boyertown to be used as both a community awareness initiative and a fundraiser for both Building a Better Boyertown and the New Secret Valley Railroad. The festival will maintain its original focus on agricultural and music, but expand the coverage to include other wonderful Americana attributes native to our area.
When: Oct. 4, 1-5pm Where: Our Town Foundation, 335 State St., Hamburg, 610.562.3106 How much: $10 prior to Sept. 30; $12 after Sept. 30th
When: Saturday, Oct. 4 & Sunday, Oct. 5, Noon to 5pm
Where and How much: Purchase your tickets at any of the 8 Berks County Wine Trail wineries. Early bird ticketing $12/person is available NOW through Oct. 3rd. Tickets the day of the event: $18/person.
The Artisan Cheese & Wine Pairing Event weekend is a fantastic opportunity to experience and enjoy an array of different cheeses and wines. Spend a glorious Autumn weekend visiting eight different wineries and tasting nearly 20 different cheeses paired with many different featured wines of the Berks County region of Eastern Pennsylvania.
When: Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 4 & 5, 11am-4:30pm
Where: The Berks County Heritage Center is located at 1102 Red Bridge Road off Route 183, 1/2 mile south of the Rte. 222 exit.
How much: Admission is free with a $5 parking donation.
Come and recapture your past at this festival dedicated to celebrating our area's history and transportation heritage through demonstrations, exhibitions, music, lectures, walks and arts & crafts. Bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the many performances throughout each day. A variety of refreshments will be available both days.
When: Oct. 1-5, weekdays 5-10 pm, weekend hours vary; check website for details, www.readingliederkranz.com. Where: Reading Liederkranz 143 Spook Lane, Reading How much: Cost: $5, under for 21 and members are free (visit the website for details)
Join us for the oldest and largest Oktoberfest in Pennsylvania! Great food and fun for the whole family.
Family Cooking Night (Outdoor Baking) South Mountain YMCA
When: Oct. 5, 4-6pm Where: South Mountain YMCA, Wernersville, 610.670.2267 How much: $50 per family for each class, or $160 per family for the entire series of 4 nights.
When: Oct. 5, 1-6pm
Where: Stoudt’s Brewing Company, 2800 N. Reading Rd., Adamstown, 717.484.4386
How much: General admission: $8; General admission plus 3 drinks: $20; General admission plus 3 drinks and a mug: $28
When: Oct. 19, 1-5pm Where: Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center, 101 Doe Mountain Lane, Macungie, 610.641.7101 How much: Tickets are $25 in advance online or $30 at the door. Pumpkin and Pizza Party When: Oct. 22, 4:30-6pm Where: Antietam Lake Park, 230 Angora Rd., Reading, 610.372.8939 How much: Free, For all ages. Registration required.
Meet at Angora Fruit Farm. Bring a pumpkin to carve and donate, carving tools, and a drink. We'll provide the pizza!
When: Oct. 24 and 25, 7-10pm Where: Daniel Boone Homestead, 400 Daniel Boone Rd., Birdsboro, 610.582.4900 How much: Adult (8+): $6.
-The Friends of the Daniel Boone Homestead are offering an exciting and thrilling Halloween-themed, guided, walking tour of the historic area, Bertolet Log House and Boone House. You never know what you might encounter along the way – colonial highwaymen looking for a prisoner, a witches’ lair, and maybe even a distraught Hessian soldier from beyond the grave. You don't want to miss this rare opportunity to see the Homestead "after hours" and witness all its creepy happenings as night falls.
Fall Festival at the South Mountain YMCA Camps
When: Oct. 26, 2-4pm Where: South Mountain YMCA, Wernersville, 610.670.2267 How much: Free
-Bring your family to the mountain for a fantastic afternoon full of fall crafts, pony rides, climbing, wagon rides & much more! This event is free, runs rain or shine, & is open to the public.
Brecknock Orchard Fall Festivals 2014 Fall Festivals
When: Saturday, Sept. 27; Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25; Nov. 1 and Columbus Day, Oct. 13
Where: 390 Orchard Rd., Mohnton
How Much: Prices for all activities details below but visit the website for details, they offer group tours - Open to the public on Saturdays without reservations.
Featuring:
- Hayride orchard tours, Activities for all ages, free samples and lunch available.
- Hayride Orchard Tours
- Straw Maze In the Big Barn
- Mini Milo Maze and Children's crafts
- Trike Bale Trail
- Make a caramel apple
- Free Samples of Apple Butter, Apple Cider, and Apples
Berks County Pumpkin Patches and More events website
Looking for a family event? You will want to click through to this website. Is it chock full of local farm destinations hosting fun fall family style events! Too much info to just post here!
