When the temperature drops to a crisp breeze and the season starts to change, so does one’s palette. Hot lattes and warm drinks are now the most ordered off the coffee shops' menus, and iced drinks are drifting back into popularity for August and September. With more time inside during the colder seasons, novelties and new recipes tend to become a trend in the dorms.
Overnight Oats
Many students rave about Thrive Coffee’s seasonal overnight oats with warm cardamom and twists of cinnamon flavor, which signal Auburn’s transition into fall.
“I’ve found a recipe that I can make in my dorm, and it reminds me of the amazing overnight oats on campus,” said Olivia Clark, a junior studying finance.
Clark shared her unique recipe inspired by Thrive and explained that she likes to include a combination of fruits and spices, which brings out a myriad of flavors in her breakfast. Her suggested dorm recipe is as follows:
- ½ cup of oats (gluten-free or regular)
- ½ cup of almond or oat milk
- ½ tablespoon of vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- 1 sliced apple
This recipe allows Clark to try new things while cooking, such as adding different spices or using other kinds of milk to achieve a nuttier or more neutral flavor. As a college student, Clark appreciates that there is no need to go to the grocery store every time before she makes this, as most ingredients she uses, other than the fruit and milk, can be kept in the cupboard and put away for saving.
“I really recommend that everyone try making these overnight oats for breakfast,” said Clark.
On-campus housing and dorms can create difficulties when making meals, but this easy and efficient recipe can help students pivot and embrace the fall season when spending time on campus.
Apple Chips
Air fryer appliances are a popular commodity with most Auburn students since the appliances can be put to use in every season.
“Even though we don’t have a Trader Joe’s in Auburn, I’ve figured out a way to get creative and make my own apple chips in the dorm,” said Lane McMillan, a sophomore studying marketing.
This is McMillan’s favorite fall dorm snack and serves as a campus-friendly replacement for the apple chips she likes to buy at Trader Joe's when she's home.
Convenient to eat while watching fall movies, taking bites to go or sharing with friends, this seasonal snack provides a way for students to embrace the convenience that some never thought they had in their dorm. McMillan’s crafty recipe is as follows:
- 2 apples, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Apple Cake
Although there can be limited stores in each college town, apples are always a staple, and they are typically easy to find. Audrey Smith, a junior studying hospitality, shares her newly created apple cake recipe. She suggests slicing apples into rounds using a cutting board, combining yogurt and peanut butter as a healthy spread and adding honey or chocolate chips for the perfect twist of flavor.
“This recipe is super easy to use, because it’s a combination of a lot of the groceries people have in their fridge,” said Audrey. Her recipe is shared below:
- 1 sliced apple in rounds
- 1 cup yogurt of choice
- ½ cup peanut butter
- Handful chocolate chips
- Drizzle honey
Smith recommends using unflavored yogurt and salty peanut butter, so the consistency of the spread is just right. She says the addition of peanut butter combines with the apple flavor to taste just like the fall season.
With these fall dorm recipes, students can be creative while also making an effort to stay healthy and modify their meals as needed. This opportunity to embrace the fall season in the dorm reveals an entirely different aspect of possibilities when making food at Auburn.
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