How to Channel Ina Garten for Your Coziest Fall Yet

When it comes to living out your cozy girl autumn dreams, there’s no one better to turn to for guidance than Ina Garten. The iconic chef and cookbook author has given us plenty comforting fall recipes, decorating tips, and hosting ideas.

From her favorite soups to tried-and-true tablescape tricks, you’re guaranteed to have the most delightful time this upcoming season if you abide by an “Ina Girl Autumn.” So grab your softest sweater, warm slippers, and favorite mug, and get ready to cook (and eat) your way into winter.

Garten’s Hosting Basics

Fall is known for bringing people together—and that doesn’t just include for the holidays. If you find yourself hosting more than usual as the weather turns, Garten’s hosting tips guarantee you throw a gathering everyone enjoys.

As guests start to arrive, she always has music playing to create a welcoming ambiance. For her, it’s all about comfort—that’s one reason why she tends to guide people into the kitchen instead of the formal dining room to create a laid-back feeling that allows conversation to flow.

Along with music, Garten immediately offers a few snacks and drinks to set the mood. Even if you’re serving up an entree, try to have a small platter of appetizers available for guests to snack on while they wait for dinner. If she doesn’t have time to concoct pre-dinner cocktails, a couple bottles of wine (obviously) suffice.

With the holiday season also comes the question of what to bring to a fall soiree as a host gift. Her answer is simple: Edible items are best, but don’t bring anything that the host feels pressured to serve on the spot. So no surprising them with a pie at Thanksgiving dinner—but feel free to bring them some chocolates or quality coffee instead.

Seasonal Decorating, According to Garten

Garten is a pro at keeping her home entertaining-ready, and that includes changing up the decor throughout the year. However, she understands you likely don’t have the time to perfect a new look every season, so she sticks with the basics.

For her fall tablescape, Garten often picks one color to showcase throughout. You’ll always see her using fresh flowers, but she’s also careful not to overdo it so things don’t feel crowded. Her top tip is to make sure that your tablescape decorations are low to the table so your guests can see each other. 

Garten’s love of simple and understated design translates to other areas of her home, too. Her fireplace mantel, for example, is quite minimalist. The focal point is a gold framed mirror, with nothing else but a few black candlesticks and a vase with dried flowers inside. Easy, chic, and elegant.

Chef-Approved Fall Recipes

During the season of crisp leaves and chilled air, Garten leans in to classic comfort foods and warm meals—soups being an autumnal hit year after year. Use her Chicken Stock recipe as a base to make your own delicious stew, or follow her recipe for Butternut Squash Soup to celebrate in-season produce. 

Let’s not forget that Garten also swears by purchasing certain dishes from the store and dressing them up to make them look (and taste) homemade. For Thanksgiving, you’d never guess her Cranberry Sauce came in a can after she adds fresh ingredients like grated apple and orange zest. When she put together an easy Mezze Board for hosting, Garten opted for store-bought hummus and jarred stuffed grapefruit leaves for a no-cook meal.

Whether you’re hosting or just enjoying a quiet meal all to yourself, is it really a fall feast without snacks and a sweet treat? Fans enjoy Garten’s Salted Caramel Nuts each fall (which also make for a mouthwatering hosting gift). 

And if you know anything about Garten’s cooking, you know she often gravitates toward recipes that can be used year-round but with interchangeable produce that nods to the current season: Her simple Crostata recipe uses apples in fall and winter for a warm, spicy dessert. Not into baking? No worries—she also swears by Trader Joe’s seasonal French Apple Tart.

Ina-Inspired Sips

There’s nothing like an indulgent fall cocktail—just take it from Garten’s pomegranate and pear-infused Fall Sangria. Her Pomegranate Spritzers allow you to enjoy cold weather fruits in mocktail form, too.

Most importantly though, Garten’s Hot Spiced Apple Cider: Take your store-bought apple cider to the next level by adding star anise, dried cloves, cinnamon, and black peppercorns. Garten boils it all together with a fresh orange and apple until it’s sweet, spicy, and rich. Serve it up and add some bourbon if you so choose. Bonus points for sipping it by the fire with a slice of pumpkin pie.