Once again, that time of year has arrived. The weather is beginning to take a turn. Leaves are changing colors and falling swiftly to the ground. Even the days are beginning to get shorter. This all can mean only one thing. Autumn is finally here, and thus, the time has come for everyone’s favorite festive recipes.   Caramel Apple Cider (4/5) From Starbucks to your kitchen countertop, this drink is sure to knock your socks off. With a few simple ingredients, anyone can make this treat sure to warm you up on those cold autumn days.   Ingredients: 3 cups of apple cider ¼ cup of heavy cream ¼ cup of brown sugar ½ cup of water   Instructions: In a medium saucepan, combine cream and brown sugar and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the apple cider and water to the saucepan and raise the heat to medium-high. Stir the mixture continuously. After about four minutes, the cider will begin to steam, at which point you will be finished!   If you want to take it one step further, go ahead and put a little in your favorite mug and top it off with a little bit of whipped cream.    Carrot Cake Cupcakes (4.5/5) What could be better than a carrot cake made from scratch? Well, how about carrot cake cupcakes made from the box with a homemade cream cheese icing that takes minutes to prepare.   Ingredients: 1 box of cake mix (Duncan Hines ® Moist Decadent Carrot Cake Mix) 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened ½ cup unsalted butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon orange extract 4 cups confectioners’ sugar 2 tablespoons heavy cream 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon   Instructions: Upon making cupcakes using the cake mix, place the butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl and mix until light and fluffy. Beat in the confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Now, stir in the ground cinnamon and vanilla extract, which will give your icing a kick. After your cupcakes have had ample time to cool, you are ready to spread your icing on your cupcakes.     Pumpkin-Nut Bread (5/5) Certain things in life are so good that they just cannot be any greater than they already are. Pumpkin-nut bread is one of those items. Fresh out of Grandma’s kitchen of perfection, this simple mix-and-bake recipe is one that should be at the forefront of everyone’s recipe holder — or bookmark page for those in the digital age.   Ingredients: 1 can of pumpkin (15 oz.) 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon of nutmeg 3 cups sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 2/3 cup of water 1 ½ teaspoons of salt 2 teaspoons of baking soda 4 eggs 2 cups of all-purpose flour 1 cup nuts (walnuts recommended)   Instructions: In a large mixing bowl, mix ingredients together. Place the mixture in loaf pans (recipe fills two pans) and bake at 350 degrees for one hour, or until the tops of your loaves are firm.