As the weather cools and the days grow shorter, savor the season with indoor fall activities for families. There’s no better way to spend a chilly, autumn day than by baking sweet treats and creating crafts with your loved ones.

Indoor fall activities are perfect for people of all ages to enjoy throughout the entire season. Keep reading for easy and fun festive baking and craft ideas. 

Simple Fall Baking Projects to Try Together

Fall is the season of cozy, warm, and comfortable nights, when the kitchen fills with the sweet aromas of baking pies, cookies, and seasonal recipes. From warm apple treats to pumpkin spice favorites, these fall baking ideas will delight your entire family. 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Moist pumpkin muffins with gooey chocolate chips are a cozy, fall-inspired treat that’s impossible to resist.

Photo and recipe courtesy of www.allrecipes.com.

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a 12-cup muffin pan by greasing it or lining with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, and eggs. Add the pumpkin and water, mixing until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
4. Gently fold the pumpkin mixture into the dry ingredients just until incorporated—avoid overmixing. Stir in the chocolate chips.
5. Spoon the batter evenly into the muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
6. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy.

Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies

Buttery shortbread cookies drizzled with sweet maple glaze bring a touch of autumn to every bite.

Photo and recipe courtesy of www.tasteofhome.com.

Directions

1. Start by creaming the butter, sugar, and cornstarch together in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in your maple flavoring, then gradually mix in the flour until it comes together.
2. Form the dough into a disk, cover it, and pop it in the fridge for about 45 minutes so it firms up enough to roll.
3. When ready, preheat your oven to 325°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/4-inch thick. Use a 2-3/4-inch leaf-shaped cookie cutter (floured) to cut out shapes and place them about an inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.
4. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the edges just start to turn golden. Let the cookies cool on a wire rack.
5. Finally, mix the confectioners’ sugar and maple syrup until smooth (the glaze), then spread it over your cookies. Let it set, and enjoy your sweet, autumn-inspired treats.

Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread 

Pull-apart monkey bread loaded with tender apples, cinnamon, and a gooey brown sugar glaze is a warm, crowd-pleasing treat.

Photo courtesy of www.krollskorner.com.

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 10–12 cup bundt pan with nonstick spray or butter, then dust with 1–2 Tbsp. flour, tapping out any extra.
2. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. Open the cinnamon rolls (reserve the frosting in the fridge) and cut each roll into quarters. Place them in a large bowl and toss with 1–2 Tbsp. of the brown sugar-cinnamon mix.
4. In a medium bowl, toss the diced apples with 1–2 Tbsp. of the brown sugar-cinnamon mix.
5. Layer half of the apples in the bundt pan, then half of the cinnamon roll pieces. Repeat with the remaining apples and rolls.
6. Melt the butter in the microwave (cover with a paper towel to prevent splatter), then stir in the remaining brown sugar mixture. If needed, add more brown sugar until it’s thick and gooey. Pour this evenly over the rolls and apples.
7. Bake for 45 minutes, until golden and cooked through. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Creative Fall Crafts for Kids and Families

It’s the perfect time of year to embrace creativity and try easy fall crafts. With its vibrant colors and natural textures, fall provides endless inspiration for crafting as a family. From carving pumpkins to creating festive decorations, these projects are inspired by the beauty of autumn. 

Scarecrow Mason Jar 

Create a festive scarecrow Mason jar using paint, googly eyes, and seasonal decorations.

Photo courtesy of www.easypeasyandfun.com.

Instructions

1. Start by laying down newspaper or scrap paper to protect your workspace. Using a large flat brush, paint the outside of your Mason jar tan and let it dry.
2. With a smaller brush, paint a triangle-shaped nose in the center front of the jar using orange paint.
3. Next, use a black marker or paint to draw a wavy smile beneath the nose, adding a few short dashes through the smile and around the nose for detail.
4. Paint two small cream-colored circles on either side of the smile to create the cheeks.
5. Carefully attach two googly eyes above the nose using a hot glue gun.
6. For the hair, cut two sets of 10 straw strands, each about 3–4 inches long, tie each set together with a piece of straw, and glue them to the top sides of the jar.
7. Measure and cut a piece of burlap ribbon to fit around the top of the jar and secure it with glue.
8. Finally, glue a sunflower to the top left side of the burlap, and your scarecrow is ready!

Pumpkin Sponge Painting

Make fun pumpkin-shaped sponge stamps to paint colorful pumpkins for your fall crafts.

Photo and craft courtesy of www.thebestideasforkids.com.

Instructions:

1. Grab some paper, draw a fun pumpkin shape (make sure it fits on the sponge).
2. Cut out the paper pumpkin template and place it on a sponge.
3. Trace the pumpkin shape with a marker.
4. Make more sponges for different colors, or draw your own pumpkin shapes.
5. Cut the pumpkins out of the sponge, using heavy duty scissors. 
6. Put orange paint on a plate, dip the sponge, and stamp onto paper. Touch up spots with a brush if needed.
7. Make pumpkin faces using black cardstock, markers, or paint.
8. Roll a piece of green cardstock around a pencil to make the vine and glue it on top.
9. Cut a stem from brown cardstock and glue it to the pumpkin.

Leaf Sun Catcher

Craft vibrant leaf suncatchers to brighten your windows with autumn colors. This is one of the easiest fall crafts for kids.

Photo and craft courtesy of www.thebestideasforkids.com.

Instructions

1. Draw multiple leaf shapes on white cardstock, add a black outline to each leaf shape, and cut around the black outline.
2. Place a leaf outline onto the sticky side of contact paper or self-adhesive laminating paper, with the black outline facing down.
3. Cut tissue paper into small squares and layer them onto the sticky surface, letting some go outside the outline (you’ll trim it later).
4. Add the laminating sheet backing, then place another piece of clear contact paper or laminating paper on top and press to remove bubbles.
5. Trim any excess paper with scissors.
6. Attach your suncatcher to a window with tape and enjoy the colorful sunlight shining through!

Creating, Baking, and Cherishing Fall 

Embrace the season, get creative, and enjoy quality time with your family during this cool and cozy time of year. Whether you’re baking sweet treats or creating easy fall crafts, these indoor fall activities offer a chance to laugh, connect, and make memories. Give one of these cozy fall recipes or fun seasonal crafts a try and make this autumn a little sweeter.