Desserts

Butternut Squash Doughnuts, Maple Cinnamon Old Fashioned, and Blue Sisters

December 5, 2025
editor
The pairing of "Butternut Squash Doughnuts" with "Blue Sisters" by Coco Mellors and a "Maple Cinnamon Old Fashioned" is an exploration of rich and comforting flavors. Coco Mellors’ book, with its intricate storytelling, provides a warm and reflective reading experience that complements the cozy vibe of enjoying doughnuts with a spiced cocktail. The Maple Cinnamon Old Fashioned, with its hints of cinnamon, pairs beautifully with the lightly spiced sweetness of the doughnuts, making it an excellent companion to the novel’s unfolding drama and nuanced character dynamics.
Butternut Squash Doughnuts

Ingredients

For the Doughnuts:

  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

For the Topping:

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Optional: powdered sugar glaze (1 cup powdered sugar + 2-3 tablespoons milk)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a doughnut pan or line a baking sheet with parchment paper if making doughnut holes.
  • Prepare the doughnut batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the roasted butternut squash puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
  • Mix the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
  • Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
  • Fill the doughnut pan: Spoon the batter into the prepared doughnut pan, filling each mold about 3/4 full. If making doughnut holes, drop spoonfuls of batter onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Bake the doughnuts: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the doughnuts are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Prepare the topping: While the doughnuts are baking, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. If making a glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth.
  • Coat or glaze the doughnuts: Once the doughnuts are baked and slightly cooled, either dip them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture or drizzle them with the powdered sugar glaze.
  • Serve: Enjoy the Butternut Squash Doughnuts warm or at room temperature. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to two days.

Blue Sisters

Blue Sisters

A captivating tale of intertwined lives and the bonds that shape us, "Blue Sisters" unravels the delicate connections between family, history, and identity. Filled with lyrical prose and poignant insight, this novel invites readers to reflect on the complexities of personal growth and the legacy we leave behind.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY • Three estranged siblings return to their family home in New York after their beloved sister’s death in this “deeply nuanced and compelling” (Vogue) novel, from the acclaimed author of Cleopatra and Frankenstein. “A beautiful portrait of grief and the world-shaping bond sisters share.”—Real Simple A VOGUE AND HARPER’S BAZAAR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR The three Blue sisters are exceptional—and exceptionally different. Avery, the eldest and a recovering heroin addict turned strait-laced lawyer, lives with her wife in London; Bonnie, a former boxer, works as a bouncer in Los Angeles following a devastating defeat; and Lucky, the youngest, models in Paris while trying to outrun her hard-partying ways. They also had a fourth sister, Nicky, whose unexpected death left the family reeling. A year later, as they each navigate grief, addiction, and ambition, they find they must return to New York to stop the sale of the apartment they were raised in. But coming home is never as easy as it seems. As the sisters reckon with the disappointments of their childhood and the loss of the only person who held them together, they realize that the greatest secrets they’ve been keeping might not have been from one another but from themselves. Imbued with Coco Mellors’s signature combination of humor and heart, Blue Sisters is a story of what it takes to keep living after loss—and, ultimately, to fall in love with life again.

Discussion Questions

  • How do the interrelated lives of the characters in 'Blue Sisters' mirror or contrast with your own experiences?
  • Discuss the role of family secrets in the novel. How do they shape the characters’ present lives?
  • What is the significance of the title 'Blue Sisters'?
  • How does the setting influence the mood and events of the story?
  • In what ways does the novel explore the theme of identity?
  • How does Coco Mellors use prose to convey emotion and depth in her characters?
  • Which character's story did you find most compelling, and why?
  • Discuss the use of symbolism in the novel. How does it enhance the narrative?
  • What lessons about personal growth and resilience can be derived from the book?
  • How does 'Blue Sisters' address the concept of legacy, both personal and familial?
Authors: Coco Mellors
ISBN: 9781234567890
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published Date: 2024-09-03

Maple Cinnamon Old Fashioned

Maple Cinnamon Old Fashioned
A fall-inspired twist on the classic old fashioned, this cocktail combines the warm, spicy flavors of cinnamon with the sweet and rich notes of maple syrup. Perfect for cozy evenings and pairing with sweet treats, it's a drink that invites you to relax and savor the season's bounty.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
  • 1/2 oz pure maple syrup
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 1 dash ground cinnamon
  • Orange peel, for garnish
  • Cinnamon stick, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • In a mixing glass, add the whiskey, maple syrup, Angostura bitters, and ground cinnamon.
  • Fill the glass with ice and stir to chill the mixture.
  • Strain into an old fashioned glass over a large ice cube.
  • Garnish with an orange peel and cinnamon stick, if desired.