Saturday Chitchat: Fall Recipes & Crafts Edition

Hey friends! Happy Saturday! I don’t know about you, but the second the calendar flips to fall, I’m all in — pumpkin everything in the kitchen, leaves and wreaths on every surface, and cozy sweaters back in rotation. Today I’m sharing a few of my own fall recipes and crafts, plus some favorites from friends (and one recipe I’m borrowing from a blogger I just love) so grab your coffee and let’s chat! This week’s roundup of fall recipes and crafts has a little of everything — pumpkin, wreaths, and a few friend favorites too.

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A Personal Note from Janine

I’ve been feeling a little scattered these days! I’m so excited to start my fall baking and decorating, but at the same time, we’re right on the brink of beginning a pretty big home remodel.

As some of you may know, we moved from our Northern California home last year and found a charming home here in Orlando. We love our new place, but unfortunately, we’ve discovered quite a few issues that need our attention. One leak has led to another, and suddenly our list of remodeling projects has grown much longer than we ever expected!

The funny part is, I should probably be spending my time figuring out what I want our new kitchen and primary bedroom to look like. Instead, my mind keeps wandering to pumpkin desserts, cozy fall recipes, pretty wreaths, and all the crafts I want to make. Apparently, choosing kitchen cabinets can’t compete with fall baking!

I’ve already filled next week’s calendar with projects, and almost every single one is fall related. I think I’m going to put the remodel on hold in my brain for a little while and enjoy the season that’s right in front of me.

So today, I’m embracing all things fall. I’ve collected some fun recipes, crafts, and cozy inspiration that I think you’ll enjoy—and hopefully they’ll give you a few ideas for your own home, too.

Get cozy and let’s have some fall fun together!

Cheers,

My Latest Fall Recipes

Pumpkin Overnight Oats

This has become my go-to make-ahead breakfast lately. It’s creamy, almost cheesecake-like, thanks to pumpkin puree, cream cheese, and sweetened condensed milk, and I toast the spices first to really wake up their flavor. A buttery graham cracker crumble on top right before serving seals the deal.

Peach Bourbon Glaze

This one’s a great way to hang onto those last late-summer peaches before we go full pumpkin. It’s a sweet-savory sauce made with fresh peaches, bourbon, warm spices, and peach jam that’s incredible brushed on grilled chicken or ribs, or drizzled over roasted veggies and grilled peaches.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Recipe

A cozy twist on the classic cookie. Adding pumpkin to the dough makes these incredibly soft and fluffy — my whole family loves them, and I think yours will too.

Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail

A little something for the evening! Crisp apple cider and bourbon with a touch of cinnamon and a sugared rim — simple to make, and it works just as well as a mocktail if you leave the bourbon out.

My Latest Fall Crafts

How to Make a Beautiful Felt Leaf Wreath for Fall

This one’s inexpensive to make and I included a free downloadable leaf template. The colors are so vibrant on a front door.

Paper Wreath DIY (Paper Bag Leaves)

One of my favorite upcycling projects — you turn plain grocery store paper bags into leaves for a wreath that looks way fancier than it is. Easy, unique, and doable in under an hour.

Simple Fall Crafts for Adults

And if you want even more ideas, I rounded up a whole batch of quick, fuss-free fall projects in one spot — gel wax candles, pumpkin vases, felt and paper wreaths, and more.

This Week’s Tip

Toast Your Spices

If you’re baking anything pumpkin this week, don’t skip toasting your spices! Before you mix them into your batter, toss your cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves into a dry pan over medium heat for about 30-60 seconds, just until they’re fragrant. It wakes the spices right up and gives your baked goods a much deeper, warmer flavor than dumping them in straight from the jar. I actually just made a batch of my pumpkin overnight oats and toasted the spices first, and the flavor difference was so noticeable. I do this every time now — it’s a tiny extra step but it makes a real difference.

Latest Obsession

Nordic Ware Pumpkin Pan

I am completely smitten with my Nordic Ware pumpkin loaf pan right now. It has the most gorgeous festive design — an intricately sculpted pumpkin shape with detailed leaves worked into the pattern — so a plain loaf cake comes out of the oven looking like a little showpiece. A couple things I’ve learned along the way: grease it well with shortening instead of flouring it, so the details don’t fill in with white spots, drop your oven temp to 325°F, and only fill it two-thirds full so the pumpkin shape stays crisp. It’s honestly one of those pans that makes even a simple recipe feel special enough for the table.

More Fall Finds From My Friends

Easy Fall Flower Arrangement In Three Steps

KariAnne over at Thistlewood Farms put together this gorgeous fall arrangement almost by accident, mixing pink flowers with pomegranate and artichoke stems in a white vase. Her advice — don’t overthink it, just let the arrangement kind of arrange itself — is honestly the best reminder for this time of year.

Fall Pumpkin Craft with Dried Green Eucalyptus Leaves

Leslie at My 100 Year Old Home took an old faux pumpkin and transformed it into a beautifully textured, sophisticated piece by covering it in dried green eucalyptus leaves. Such a smart way to repurpose decor you already have on hand.

Spiced Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

And even though she’s not a friend of mine (yet — a girl can dream!), I can’t do a fall roundup without sneaking in a recipe from Half Baked Harvest, because I make her recipes constantly.

Fluffy pumpkin pancakes with a buttery cinnamon swirl baked right in, so it’s basically a cinnamon roll and a pumpkin pancake had a baby. The cinnamon butter caramelizes as it cooks — I mean, come on.

That’s my Saturday roundup, friends! Tell me — are you already deep into pumpkin season, or holding out for cooler weather first? Have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here soon. 🍂

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A little something before I go — thank you for stopping by every Saturday and letting me ramble about pumpkins, wreaths, and whatever else is on my mind that week. This little corner of the internet means so much more because you’re here reading it. Wishing you a cozy weekend full of good food, a little sunshine, and maybe a candle or two lit. See you next Saturday! 🍂

Have a Wonderful Weekend,

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