N ow is a great time to get your kitchen ready for holiday baking! I love to stock my baking area with cookie cutters, sprinkles, bread loaf pans, muffin papers and all the essentials for holiday goodness from the kitchen! I fill up my bins of flour and sugar, make sure I have butter and eggs and everything I need to be able to bake something tasty with as little hassle as possible!
If your kitchen baking area needs a little organization and replenishing, it is time to get busy!
What do you like to bake during the holidays?
Want more ideas to get you inspired this fall? Click here for more Fall Decorating & Nesting ideas!
photo inspiration: BH&G
Melissa, I love your blog! I love baking for the holidays! My older daughter who is 9 really enjoys it so that gives me the push I need to get going. The only problem, not eating everything we make LOL!
I am not much of a cook/baker, but I do like to make some simple Christmas cookies. You’ve reminded me that I need cupcake papers! Since I’m hosting Christmas Eve at my house this year, I am thinking cookies and cupcakes ~ easy desserts for buffet style dining.
I soooo missed the deadline for the procrastination party! I was working on my pantry and got a case of perfectionism. BUT I’m kinda glad I did because I am going to be IN LOVE with it when it’s done! Just in time for all the baking. :) I love to bake cookies and cake.
.-= Jess´s last blog ..Daydreaming =-.
Love that picture! It just makes me want to bake something :). Thanks for the tip – that’s a great idea.
.-= AnNicole@OurSuburbanCottage´s last blog ..Live in Your Dream HOME Right Now =-.
Hi Melissa,
We usually buy a prepared turkey. Then I spend most of the day preparing sides. Those include vegy’s `Green Bean Casserole`, Candied Sweet Potatoes, rolls, and desserts, which include Ambrose, Blueberry Pie, Pumpkin Pie, etc.
.-= Joyful´s last blog ..`The Excellent Wife` by: Martha Peace =-.
Baking always SOUNDS like so much fun, but when I get halfway into it, I always remember how messy it is! In any case, I am going to attempt to make some things for my Halloweenie Roast this Friday. I’ve got 20-30 people coming over….AAAAAAHHHHHH! <:-O
Wish me luck!
Layla
Hi Melissa~ I’ve always been more of a cook than a baker but it seems this fall I’m getting into baking. I’ve had a couple of cookie parties around Christmas and they are fun. It’s fun to get new recipes. My 5 yr old loves to help me bake in the kitchen too. I love to bake quick breads (banana, nut), cookies & cakes. I admit they aren’t always “from scratch” b/c I’m a working mom – but it’s the love you put into it, right? Thanks for the good pantry stocking ideas! Happy baking!
.-= Lynne @ Our Happy Home´s last blog ..Happy Fourth Month! =-.
Good thinking! I thoroughly cleaned out my pantry last spring and threw away everything out dated…. which were a lot of my spices! I need to replenish before fall baking season. I’m making a list today, thx!
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..TaDa! and finally… the bedroom reveal =-.
I stood in front of my pantry just yesterday with these same exact thoughts!! I was making lists for upcoming dinners and brunches – menu lists and grocery lists and shopping lists….Now, I also thought about how having a whole new renovated kitchen is what I really *need*, but I’ll settle for a stocked pantry in preparation for my upcoming holiday baking and cooking! ;o)
.-= Katie´s last blog ..I Should Be Doing Laundry =-.
Over the weekend I had to scrap plans to make an apple pie because I didn’t have enough butter. I will be sure to stock up this week. Thanks for the reminder!
My favorite thing to bake for the holidays is pumpkin bread and Christmas cookies.
I keep a baking area in my home. On the counter are my bread machine and Kitchen Aid and in the cupboard below are my flour, sugars, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sprinkles, pans etc…
Makes it very easy to bake, especially at the holidays!
.-= Deanna´s last blog ..Preparing =-.
I have one dedicated area in my kitchen to baking. I like to make sure I have all the necessary stuff on hand as well and try to stock up on the butter,eggs, flour, vanilla, etc.
A must have in our home for the holidays is homemade chocolate chip cookies. Best eaten straight from the oven. I also like to bake pecan pie, and banana bread.
.-= Cheryl´s last blog ..The gift revealed =-.
you know that is something I ALWAYS forget to do. Thanks for the reminder. Actually my two sisters and I are going to have a cookie baking day-just the girls in the kitchen baking up some goodies! so excited. This may turn into a yearly event.
.-= Amanda-TheEckLife´s last blog ..Its not even Halloween yet…. =-.
I love that photo, Melissa. I always come here for a good read and a photo drool, but so often leave with decorating solutions for my own kitchen. Thanks!
My holiday baking’s not very exciting – I’m not a very good baker, so I stick to what I don’t ruin. I do a yummy carrot cake and add grated apple, cinnamon and orange oil to make it more seasonal.
Timely! I only have a deep drawer for my baking supplies, but I just finished cleaning it out, weeding out old stuff that is past its prime (a bag of almonds from at least 2 years ago got lost beneath everything…so sad but they were so not fresh…so had to give them to the squirrels…hey, at least the critters love me now!) Today it is “clean the cabinet under the sink day” I look forward to it every year.
.-= Charlene´s last blog ..Sometimes We Stay Home, Sweet Home…Our Fall Home Tour =-.
This is such a timely reminder. I spent yesterday baking pumpkin molasses muffins and homemade granola. I really enjoy the process especially on a day when I am “grounded” like today when we are receiving our first big snowstorm! I love the smell of fresh baked yeast bread so I may make some of that. I just have to stay focused and not eat half the batter and finished products of what I bake!
.-= Jean´s last blog ..A Gathering of Witches =-.
Love the picture….makes me want to bake something yummy!
.-= Stephaine @ Geezees´s last blog ..Geezees Blog gets a new look along with my kitchen ! And all new "What’s on the menu Monday?" MckLinky =-.
I’ve always loved to bake apple pies! It is so relaxing to be in the kitchen. I have a baby now (10 months almost!) and have found it to be a little more difficult…but we’ll make it work!
Good reminder. I was just noticing that my drawers and cabinets were all pretty jumbled. I didn’t do a lot of holiday baking last year, but I am considering giving cookies and cakes away instead of expensive gifts this year. Plus, I have a lot of friends who have birthdays in November, and I’m the designated birthday cake-maker. :)
.-= Jenna´s last blog ..The Birthday Finale =-.
I love holiday baking. I usually bake a ton of cookies, but my favorite would be snickerdoodles. I’m pretty excited for this year because my 2 year old is now old enough to roll what little dough she won’t eat into the cinnamon sugar! haha
.-= Jodi @ LTRLT´s last blog ..Recipes of the week =-.
SUGAR COOKIES! With homemade frosting. YUM-O :)
.-= Gussy´s last blog ..{stay tuned!} =-.
Cookies, pies, breads, muffins-we’re not picky, we just like any kind of baked goody! Thanks for the reminder to start stocking up-there’s nothing more frustrating to be in the middle of something and realize you don’t have enough of one ingredient!
.-= Gina´s last blog ..Fast Forward =-.
Cookies!!!
I haven’t hosted one in a couple of years, but I love to have an old fashioned Cookie Swap – complete with copies of the recipe. I would my cookie stash for special gifts for Sunday School teachers, neighbors, and friends. I think twice we took a huge tray to a nursing home to share on a Sunday afternoon. It’s such a blessing to spend some time with people that are sometimes extra lonely during the holidays.
In my opinion – nothing says fall like Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting. Yum Yum!
~Camberley
.-= The Bella Girls´s last blog ..On the Ninth Day of Halloween… =-.
I love to cook and bake. I will be moving to a new home next week (800 miles away) and it will be cold up there. I am a Floridian so I think I will struggle with the winter. I think that there will be a lot of baking going on at my house. I bake an Italian cream cake and it is wonderful.
.-= Melanie´s last blog ..New Blog Header! =-.
I always love these nesting tips! I’ve been meaning to reorganize my “baking station” – now you’ve given me just the right nudge to do it.
Sorry I’ve been so absent. I took a big break from blogging for awhile…
.-= Maven´s last blog ..The Terms of Endearment =-.
Pecan pie!!!!
.-= Janean´s last blog ..Let The Good Times Roll! =-.
I’ve already started baking pumpkin pies. My husband invited some neighbors over for dinner last week. He made the main course (pork chops with tomatoes, fennel & capers – yum!). I was responsible for dessert so I made P. Pie. Pumpkin pie is very easy if you used canned pumpkin and its actually pretty nutritious if you don’t use too much sugar.
BTW, I heard on NPR that there may be a shortage of canned pumpkin this year due to weather problems last year, so stock up early.
.-= Michelle, Home Staging Pro´s last blog ..Holiday Greenery Sale – Ballard Designs =-.
I am not much of a baker…pretty much because I have no self control and will eat it all! We do make cookies and more breads once the temperature drops though.
This is a timely reminder. I was looking at my pantry just today thinking I really needed to clean it out and organize it before the holidays come.
We have been baking Honey Spice Pumpkin Cookies this week. It made everything smell wonderful!
~♥
.-= Beth at Aunties´s last blog ..Going on a Witch Hunt =-.
All I need in my kitchen is my blasted shelves put up *grumble* When that’s done, all will be well. I just have to pull myself together and get a handyman in to do the little list of things that are beyond our skill or time.
.-= Passementerie´s last blog ..Autumn Adornments =-.
ohhhh there are LOTS of yummy things to bake during the holidays! It’s my favorite time to bake!!
Pumpkin cupcakes: http://treatstoshare.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/pumpkin-cupcakes/
Apple Dumplings: http://treatstoshare.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/tgiff-october-16-2009/
and Butterscotch Pecan Pie: http://treatstoshare.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/butterscotch-pecan-pie/
Those have been the fave’s this year! :)
.-= Heather´s last blog ..… Pumpkin Cupcakes… =-.
I Love this blog and have really enjoyed all of it. I am a mother of three ages 8,6,4 . I really need to pre pare for spring cleaning and nesting any tips to make it fun ? Thanks, Michelle