This post is part of the 100 Days ’til Christmas Challenge — one small step each day to make the holiday season less stressful and a lot more fun.
There’s something about fall baking that just makes life feel slower, cozier, and sweeter. The air cools down, the leaves start turning, and suddenly all I can think about is pulling out the mixing bowls.
For me, it always starts with pumpkin bread. Every single year, as soon as September hits, that’s the recipe I turn to first. And it doesn’t stop there—I keep making it all season long, straight through the holidays and even into the first days of spring. It’s the recipe that bookends the seasons for me, showing up again and again whenever I need a little comfort. Around here, it’s become known as my family famous pumpkin bread—and I’ll be sharing that recipe with you this Sunday in my Self Care Sunday newsletter. 🍂
But here’s the thing: the fall baking window is short. You really only get from September through Thanksgiving before Christmas baking takes over. If you blink, you’re already knee-deep in sugar cookies and gingerbread houses. That’s why making a Fall Baking Bucket List is such a fun and intentional way to make sure you don’t miss out on the recipes you really want to try this year.
Why Make a Fall Baking Bucket List?
- It keeps family traditions alive while also leaving space to try something new.
- It helps you actually do the baking you’ve been pinning all year.
- It makes things more fun when the whole family helps pick the recipes.
- And, with the printable I made for you, it becomes a sweet memory to look back on year after year.
How to Build Your Fall Baking Bucket List (with Timing in Mind)
Think about your baking in seasons within the season:
- September: Ease in with quick and cozy weekday bakes—pumpkin bread, apple crisp, muffins, banana bread.
- October: Go a little bigger with Halloween fun—decorated sugar cookies, caramel apples, pumpkin pie practice runs.
- November: Pull out the showstoppers for Thanksgiving—pecan pie, sweet potato pie, cranberry bars, or homemade rolls.
By spreading things out, you’ll avoid that overwhelming “let’s do it all this weekend” feeling, and you’ll actually savor the process.
Grab Your Free Fall Baking Bucket List Printable
This year, I wanted to give you something simple but meaningful—a Fall Baking Bucket List printable.
It’s a one-page sheet where you can:
- Write down your must-bake favorites
- Add a couple of new recipes to try
- Jot notes about which ones became family favorites
- Even keep track of when you baked them (September, October, November)
And the best part? You can tuck it away and pull it out next year to see what you loved, what you want to skip, and what new traditions you want to add.
✨ [Sign up for my newsletter here to grab your Fall Baking Bucket List—and get all the 100 Days to Christmas printables for free!] ✨
Ideas for Your Fall Baking Bucket List
Need some inspiration to get started? Here are a few favorites:
Pumpkin Favorites: pumpkin bread, pumpkin bars, pumpkin cheesecake
Apple Treats: apple pie, apple cider donuts, caramel apple crisp
Cozy Anytime Classics: cinnamon rolls, banana bread, chocolate chip cookies
Thanksgiving Desserts: pecan pie, cranberry bars, sweet potato pie
Kid-Friendly Fun: Halloween cookies, rice krispie treats, s’mores indoors
And if you want even more inspiration, I’ve created a group Pinterest board just for fall baking bucket lists.
You can browse ideas, save recipes, and even add your own favorites to share with others. Click the image below to be taken to Pinterest.
Tips for Making It Happen
- Pick 3–5 “must-make” recipes and let the rest go.
- Schedule a baking day once a month (Sept, Oct, Nov) and block it on your calendar.
- Freeze extras so you can enjoy fall flavors later.
- Involve your kids or spouse—decorating cookies or rolling dough can become part of the memory.
Wrap-Up
The season goes fast—don’t let your favorite recipes stay stuck on a Pinterest board this year. Print your Fall Baking Bucket List, jot down your top choices, and actually put them on the calendar. Whether you bake one special thing or ten, the memories will last far longer than the treats themselves.
And if you want to keep track of your baking adventures year after year, make sure to grab the printable—it’s yours free when you join my newsletter.
👉 Don’t forget to hop over to the Fall Baking Bucket List Pinterest board too—it’s full of recipes waiting to become part of your family traditions.
Because before we know it, the Christmas cookies will take over. 😉
