The fall equinox kicks off a busy holiday baking season for me. I’m always on the lookout for baking deals, new holiday foods, and the latest kitchen gadgets. As my husband knows all too well, it takes a lot of supplies to tackle the holiday recipes I’ve eyeballed for months. I spend months leading up to fall searching for the best fall baking hacks and deals.
Yes, I may have a problem with fall baking finds. It’s not really my fault—I just can’t help but love all the food possibilities that holidays bring. For me, homemade food on the holidays means joy. I just want to spread some seasonal cheer! The good news is, I’m not keeping the cheer to myself. I’m letting you in on some of my favorite fall baking mixes and tools. These are the Halloween and Thanksgiving must-haves I always keep in my kitchen.
Whip Up Perfect Fall Cakelets
Did you know that the more beautiful food looks, the more likely you are to enjoy it? I bought this adorable baking pan that turns out acorns, pumpkins, and leaves because I wanted to bring new life to one of my favorite fall baking recipes. Pro tip: always coat baking molds with non-stick spray before using.
Pretty Up Cupcakes with Glittering Pumpkin Toppers
I wasn’t joking about how much appearance matters when I’m doing holiday baking. I’m a little bit picky, and I want all of the holiday food that leaves my kitchen to look amazing. When I’m short on time, I turn to easy décor like these pumpkin cupcake toppers. They’re pretty and easy to use.
Taste the Colors of Fall Leaves
Everyone loves the glorious red-and-orange palette of fall leaves, but it’s one of the hardest color schemes to pull off on a cake. Trust me, I’ve tried many times and failed. My “fall colors theme” always ends up looking more like a big fat mud puddle. This year I’ll be opting for edible fall leaf cake decorations instead. They are b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l.
Make a Chicken Separate Your Eggs
Some of my favorite fall recipes call for egg yolks or whites that have been separated. I always painstakingly separated the yolk from the white using two dishes. That was a waste of time. I recently found this amazing chicken that separates eggs with no mess. It’s a must-have for anyone who loves baking.
Beat It with a Ball Whisk
Years ago, I tried making whipped cream by hand with a whisk. It was so hard that I wondered how fancy French pastry chefs in the 18th century made it at all. I found this ball whisk when I was looking for baking deals, and now I know. It has changed my life. It works perfectly and takes up so much less space than a traditional whisk.
Mold Some Festive Pocket Pies
One of my favorite holiday baking hacks is to make pocket pies, aka hand pies, instead of full-size pies. They’re easier to serve at a party or bring along on a trip to the apple orchard. I love these fall pocket pie molds because they make even the most basic pumpkin hand pies look festive and fun.
Pop It Out with a Pumpkin Mold
I love watching fall baking shows and stealing cool techniques from the pros. That’s how I learned that I could shape festive mousses, cheesecakes, and more with silicone molds. This mold makes perfectly shaped pumpkin confections. Hot chocolate bombs are one of my favorite fall foods to make in these molds.
Create a Cookie Cutter Holiday
For me, it just isn’t a holiday if I haven’t decorated a ton of sugar cookies. I recently upgraded to these stainless steel fall cookie cutters for more fun options. Fun tip: Instead of topping your apple pie with a traditional lattice crust, use crust cutouts made with these cookie cutters to create a fun design.
Make Delicious Gingerbread People, Fast
I’m a big fan of homemade. After all, almost everything tastes better when you make it from scratch. Gingerbread is one of my big exceptions to this rule. I started using this gingerbread mix because it’s a quick option on a busy day. Now I use it anytime I want to make gingerbread. It’s fast, more affordable than from-scratch, and every bit as good as a homemade batch of ginger people.
Pick Up a Pumpkin Mix
If it feels like fall outside, it feels like pumpkin bread time to me. Nothing goes together better than a fall celebration and baked goods flavored with pumpkin. I keep a few boxes of this pumpkin bread and muffin mix on hand. This is a go-to for me whenever I have a pumpkin craving or invite friends over in the fall.
Plate Up Some Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
Pumpkin spice is a fall force to be reckoned with. Half of the new fall products I see in the food and home aisles boast this signature autumn spice. No matter how many new candies or baking recipes I see with pumpkin spice, classic pumpkin spice pancakes will always be my favorite. I love serving a platter of these pancakes with whipped cream and maple syrup for topping.
Pour On Genuine Maple Syrup
Maple is a classic holiday flavor that features in everything from baked goods to roast meats. The trick to getting the best maple flavor in your fall baking is to use real maple syrup. Tip: Maple syrup is a perishable food product and will mold over time. It should be stored in your fridge after opening.
Get a Unique Taste with Pecan Butter
When I see unique nut butters in grocery ads, I can’t help but try them. This pecan butter is one of my favorite baking ideas so far. A little bit of pecan butter goes a long way and adds a ton of flavor to baking recipes that call for peanut or almond butter.
Accent Your Kitchen with Fall Towels
My kitchen sees a lot of traffic. I want it to look festive for Halloween and Thanksgiving, but it’s not the easiest room to decorate. Instead of trying to shove more décor onto my countertops, I opt for fall kitchen towels that bring a festive burst of autumn color to my space.
Break Out the Holiday Bundt Pan
Have you ever noticed how many holiday recipes are for bundt cakes? They’re generally easy to make, tasty, and perfect for serving a crowd. Honestly, though, bundts can be pretty boring too. This holiday, mix up your dessert table with a cake made in this harvest leaves bundt pan instead.
Get Decked Out in a Holiday Apron
More than a few of my nice cold-weather shirts have gotten stained in the kitchen. This holiday season, I’m protecting my shirts with a pretty fall apron. I’ve purchased this apron in a few different prints so I always have one on hand.
Bake Up Some Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies
Three beautiful cookies become one in this pumpkin chocolate chunk oatmeal cookie mix. It might be a mouthful to say, but it’s a mouthful of delicious too. Fair warning: I only make these when I know company is coming because I can devour a whole batch myself.
Drench Your World in Caramel
Look, this block of caramel is no joke. Weighing in at 5 pounds, it’s a holiday heavyweight and a real baking deal. Try one of my fall favorites by dipping marshmallows in caramel and rolling them in sprinkles. Pro tip: Use a mini slow cooker or fondue pot to melt caramel for dipping.
Give Joy with a Candy Apple Packaging Set
My dentist might not approve, but I still love indulging in caramel and candy apples. The only thing better than eating this delicious holiday food is giving one to a friend. This candy apple gift set makes it easier to give my candy apple creations to others without making a sticky mess.
Cut Clean-Up Time with Food-Safe Silicone Mats
If you like cleaning up after a long day of holiday baking, you’re not from this planet. I hate scrubbing cookies off baking pans most of all. It takes too much time and patience, but parchment paper for every batch of cookies gets expensive too. The answer? Food-safe silicone mats. I’m never going back to scrubbing.
Protect Yourself with Mini Oven Mitts
Until I found these mini oven mitts, I’d never met an oven mitt I liked. Most are way too big for my small hands and end up gathering dust. These miniature mitts protect my hands without getting in the way of my holiday baking.
Whip Up a Pie Crust in Double Time
Who else dreams of flaky pie crusts bursting with fall fruits? I know I’m not the only one! I love making my pie dreams come true with the help of this pie crust mix. It’s a great timesaver when I feel like I’m falling behind on my fall baking.
Make That Pecan Pie Without a Fuss
Pecans are right up there with chestnuts when it comes to classic holiday nuts. My Thanksgiving spread always includes a delectable pecan pie. This pecan pie in a jar is one of my favorite holiday deals because the only other ingredients I need to make a pie are a crust and some eggs.