Baking with Pumpkin:

Most people think of pumpkin when they think of fall and it happens to be a favorite fall baking ingredient in my house. Here are some of our favorite recipes using pumpkin:

Pumpkin Cinnamon Streusel Muffins (pictured below): There is nothing like the smell of pumpkin and cinnamon wrapped up in a muffin.

Pumpkin Maple Spice Scones (pictured above): These scones are a welcoming breakfast with a nice hot cup of coffee on a cool autumn morning. The comination of the pumpkin and maple makes your house smell wonderful too.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling: There is nothing like biting into two soft cakelike cookies and chilled cream cheese filling.

Brownie Bites with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Filling: These are sure to be a hit with the little ones too. These little bites can be made with brownie mix or homemade brownies, cut into rounds, and then filled with a pumpkin cream cheese filling.

Halloween Lollipops: These are a fun way to dress up a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie. Dip in chocolate and decorate with Halloween or Thanksgiving sprinkles. A sure hit with the little ones.

Baking with Other Fall Favorite Ingredients:

Some other fall favorite baking ingredients include apples, pears, sweet potatoes, and my favorite - cinnamon. There are many ways to incorporate them into some of your existing favorite recipes too.

Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls: In my house cinnamon rolls are a constant favorite and during the fall months they are a great weekend treat on a chilly autumn morning. These cinnamon rolls take two fall ingredients and bake up a really ooey gooey sweet treat. The addition of the sweet potatoes adds a great flavor and keeps these cinnamon rolls super moist. If you're not a sweet potato fan try substituting pumpkin. The possibilities are endless with those fall ingredients.

Cinnamon Maple Scones: Nothing beats the combination of cinnamon and maple in a scone on a chilly autumn morning either. Makes feel warm cozy when you pair this with your favorite breakfast tea or coffee.

Apple Spice Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting: And baking could not be baking in my kitchen if cupcakes aren't involved. The apples and spice are the perfect combination of those other fall favorites.

Fun fall treats with little baking involved:

Here are some other fun ways to just get in your kitchen and have some fun without too much required baking:

Pumpkin Oreo Lollipops:Gently place a Double Stuffed Oreo cookie onto a lollipop stick and dip into melted orange-colored chocolate coating. Use black candywriter or melted chocolate to paint on Jack-O-Lantern faces and a green mint candy as the stem and you have Halloween treats.

Chocolate Coated Pretzels:Take large pretzel sticks and dip halfway into melted white or dark chocolate. Roll chocolate coated end in Autumn or Halloween sprinkle mix and you have a special treat everyone will love.

Caramel Apples:Maybe it's not baking - but it's certainly a big treat for all ages. Choose medium apples, large ones are too much for younger children to eat. Simply heat caramel as directed on package, either in microwave or in a medium saucepan, stirring until all is melted. Rinse and thoroughly dry apples, insert wooden sticks into stem ends. Dip apples, one at a time into caramel mixture, coating completely. Place on waxed paper. Melt semisweet chocolate in microwave slowly, stirring until all is melted. Dip "set" caramel apples halfway into chocolate for 2-toned effect. For added decoration roll in chopped nuts or colored sprinkles.