The second the temperature starts to drop, I immediately start craving creamy autumn comfort foods. I love fall foods—pumpkin pie, apple crisp, turkey stuffing, and thick, creamy soups—but I don’t love the extra calories that come with them. While I can’t bear to cut out my favorite seasonal recipes and stick with salads all winter, I know my jeans won’t fit by Christmas if I don’t show some restraint.

So I’ve slimmed down some of my fall favorites by incorporating naturally fat-free and low-calorie spices and seasonal produce to pump up the flavor without compromising the flavor. And my healthy additions don’t just taste good; they’re good for you too. Apples, for instance, are a great source of fiber, and canned pumpkin is wonderfully versatile for many recipes.

Here are some of my fall favorites.

Chocolate Pumpkin Loaf
Most devil’s food cakes are moist and chocolaty, but they are much too high in calories and fat for a feel-good splurge. Instead, I used canned pumpkin to reduce the amount of calories and fat, while keeping the moistness and decadence of this fall treat.

Ingredients
1.25 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 can (7.5 ounces) pumpkin
1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 325º. Grease loaf pan.

2. Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl; blend well.

3. Once mixed, pour batter into loaf pan.

4. Bake for 40–45 minutes, until top is firm and a toothpick comes out clean.

5. Allow loaf to cool for 15 minutes; dust with powdered sugar (if desired).

Next page: Mom’s Apple Crisp, plus Sweet Potato Pie Smoothies