Discover 36+ at-home baking projects and recipes below. I include easy no-chill cookie recipes, kid-friendly recipes, recipes using pantry staples, FUN and challenging recipes, homemade versions of store-bought favorites, and joyful from-scratch recipes.
I think we all need a list like this whether that’s right now, on summer break, holiday breaks, long weekends, or whenever you have some extra time at home.
But now more than ever, we need the comfort of baking. My hope during these uneasy times (and any uneasy times you ever face, really) is to spread joy on my platforms the best I know how: with well-tested, approachable, cheerful, and colorful from-scratch baking recipes.
Thank you so much for being here and spreading the baking joy with me!
Baking Projects – With Yeast
The following 4 recipes include homemade breads you didn’t think you could make… but are TOTALLY capable of doing. Each includes a video tutorial and in-depth baking instructions to guide you along.
- Artisan Breadโbread beginners, start here!
- Homemade Pizza Crustโsuch a fun activity for kids, too
- Sandwich Bread
- Cheese Bread
More Baking Projects With Yeast
The following 4 recipes include homemade versions of favorites and each are fun for older children to help with. Each recipe has glowing reviews from readers who note that the recipes are MUCH easier than they ever imagined. (The bagels especially!)
- Monkey Bread
- Homemade Bagels
- Ham & Cheese Pockets
- Bread Bowlsโperfect for homemade or canned soup
More Yeast Bread recipes.
Baking Projects – No Yeast
The following 5 recipes include sugar cookies you can have fun decorating, apples filled with apple pie filling (made from pantry staples!) and topped with homemade pie crust, dog treats for the pups, and spring-inspired decorated cupcakes using Wilton 1M piping tip.
- Easter Cookiesโuse royal icing
- Apple Pie Baked Apples
- Homemade Dog Treatsโkids LOVE making these!
- Cupcake Bouquet
And my No Yeast Bread is always a fun recipe to try!
Challenge Yourself!
The following 4 recipes are perfect baking projects if you’re looking to spend time on a creative and fun challenge. Each include recipe videos to help guarantee success. Invite a friend over or spend time with family making one (or all 4!). You can use the gorgeous braided pie crust on top of apple pie.
And during the holiday season, you could try my yule log cake or gingerbread house.
And 3 more: tiramisu crepe cake, French macarons, and chocolate soufflรฉ each include several steps and would be fun afternoon projects.
Basic Ingredients – Dessert
The following 4 recipes are made with ordinary ingredients like crackers, butter, eggs, chocolate chips, brown sugar, apples. It’s a random grouping, but the recipes aren’t only convenientโthey’re FUN to make.
- Homemade Caramel Corn
- Saltine Toffee
- Chocolate Lava Cakesโyou can make these in a muffin pan!
- Apple Hand Pies
Basic Ingredients – Breakfast
The following 4 recipes also use basic ingredients and are perfect for a leisurely morning at home. By the way, you can use store-bought pie crust for the pop tarts.
- Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts or Chocolate Pop Tarts
- Breakfast Casseroleโuse any veggies/cheese/meats you have
- Homemade Crepes
- Baked Oatmeal Cups or Baked OatmealโTONS of flavor variations included
Homemade Versions of Favorites!
The following 5 recipes are my definition of Awesome Baking Projects. Each are homemade versions of bakery or store-bought classics and make for a fun morning, afternoon, or evening at home.
- Homemade Funnel Cakes or even these Homemade Glazed Doughnuts
- Homemade Soft Pretzels
- Homemade Cheese Crackers
- Homemade Rainbow Chip Frosting
Kid-Friendly
The following recipes are perfect for little kitchen helpers. If kids are home from school, baking is a fun activity that everyone can enjoy. Not only is it time spent together, baking teaches how to follow instructions, ignites creativity, and always brings smiles.
- Mini Animal Cracker Cookiesโuse royal icing or easy cookie icing
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
- Strawberry Banana Popsiclesโmade from just 3 healthy ingredients
- Cookie Dough Cupcakesโa VERY fun and indulgent treat
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza
- Birthday Cake Pancakesโguaranteed morning smiles
- Mini M&M Cookiesโno cookie dough chilling and perfect for little hands!
No Chill Cookie Recipes
Instant results! The following 4 recipes do not require cookie dough chilling.
- Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookie Sandwiches
- Oatmeal Creme Pies
- One Giant Monster Cookie or these super-fun Peanut Butter Cup Surprise Monster Cookies
More No-Chill Cookies recipes, like my wedge shortbread cookies that bake in 2, 8-inch cake pans! See that post for other pan size options.
8 Ingredients or Fewer
I have an entire page dedicated to recipes with 8 or fewer ingredients, even some as low as 5 ingredients or fewer. I include dinners, desserts, breakfast, and snacks. Most of these use basic everyday ingredients, too!
And if quick recipes are your jam, don’t miss my collection of 30+ Quick Dessert Recipes.
I can’t wait to hear which recipes you try!
Reader Comments and Reviews
I have been making your recipes for quite some time. I haven’t been disappointed yet! Yesterday I made the Carmel corn, today I made the chicken teriyaki
Yum Yum was my husband and grown children’s response. I will be trying more.
Thank you so much! This has been the greatest website i have stumbled onto. I love the easy recipes and have now used over 20 recipes and all have been delicious and easy to make. Waiting for a french onion recipe have not seen that one listed yet. Keep them coming. Stay well
Thanks for this post Sally, great suggestions and I especially appreciate how you edited and presented the list so itโs not one huge overwhelming list.
Thank you for staying with us, Sally. What a gift for all of us that you continue to bake, share your wealth of knowledge and support us as bakers too.
Stay safe and healthyโeveryone.
And if anyone knows of a secret warehouse with sugar and flour and is willing to share the location so I can get back in my sanctuary (kitchen), my KitchenAid and I would be forever grateful.
Thank you so much, Mandy! I appreciate your kind words ๐
Thanks Sally this is great! I made your croissants today and they are so delicious. Not as pretty as yours but that wonโt keep me from eating them stay healthy and thanks for putting this list together. Canโt wait to try some more recipes.
What a fun baking project to tackle! I bet they are delicious ๐
Your e-mail came at a perfect time Sally! Can’t wait to delve into more of your recipes during this time. Stay safe, healthy, and happy. <3
Happy baking, Elizabeth!
Before we even read this, my daughter (age 6) has asked to make (and made) the chocolate chip cookie cake TWICE!!! It was her birthday dessert a few months ago as well…clearly a favorite and so easy! I also made the XXL death by chocolate cookie for my husband and I to share one night – AMAZING! For anyone that might have the ingredients on hand, I HIGHLY recommend the cream cheese stuffed red velvet cookies.
Thanks Sally!
So fun! I’m thrilled the chocolate chip cookie cake is such a hit in your family ๐ Thanks for your positive feedback, Faith!
Loved these!!! sooo cute!! love inventing with my recipes too! ๐
Stay safe!
Beijinhos Jessy
Thank you so much, Jessy!
Already planned on doing a lot of baking. Figured that will be easier than fighting the crowds at the stores!
Got a good wheat bread recipe?
Hi Andrea, How about my Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls.
Thank you!
Thank you Sally for all this recipes! Iโm stuck at home for two weeks but Iโm taking this as an opportunity to bake lots of sweets for my parents and I ๐
Greetings from France!
Happy baking, Marie!
Your timing could not be more perfect as I prepare for the next few weeks (or more) with my two teen boys home full time. Iโm a pediatric nurse, so Iโll be needing some baking therapy on my days off! Thanks Sally!
Thank you so much for help in this desperate time, Joey. I hope you and your boys have fun with these recipes!
I made your Chocolate Lava cakes yesterday. I used a non stick jumbo muffin pan and got 4 Lava Cakes using the recipe for the ramikins. I didnโt need to use anything to prevent sticking because the nonstick muffin pan already had a coating for non stick. Waited 10 minutes after taking pan out of the oven, and the Lava cakes released super easy onto a plate. They were out of this world amazing tasting. Easy to make & clean up was fast. Thank you soooo much Sally for your great recipe. . Your the BEST !!
I love your idea of using a jumbo muffin pan! I bet they were incredible ๐ Thanks for your positive feedback, Wendy!
Hi Sally. Love that you posted this as I’ve been urging patients (I’m a therapist) to use their CDC-endorsed alone time as an opportunity to challenge themselves and pursue projects. Naturally I’m pushing my own agenda and encouraging a lot of baking and cooking.
Thank you for this list Sally! I’ve been using your recipes to help me work through the anxiety of life right now. Made your bakery style chocolate chip muffins yesterday – a recipe I’ve made 20+ times. The familiarity of it was very comforting!
Thank you, dear Sally, for the amazing recipes and all your time and work. Your work seriously makes the world a better place, also at this time! I already made the croissants as we cancelled our anniversary trip to Paris…and that recipe is so good, it really did help!! Love you!
Just whipped up a batch of your artisan bread yesterday. Can’t wait to make the house smell all yummy later when I bake it. <3
Thank you Sally for the great recipes and clear directions. I have tried many of them and enjoy. I made the artisan bread again yesterday with Sunday dinner, always a hit.
Hoping your family stays safe and healthy.
Love this….I love your blog too. I just made easy sweet chili chicken for the first time this past week. . I absolutely LOVED this dish for it’s simplicity, and deliciousness. I saved some of the sauce back from baking and I have been dipping chips and crackers in it…it is addicting. Thank you for such an amazing recipe and the sauce can easily be used for wings, pork and shrimp….yum. Why did it take me so long. I have not tried your crepes yet, but will be baking those sugar cookies yet one more time….so good!
Thank you Sally, for putting this together.
Yes, the comfort of home-baked goods is really needed in the upcoming weeks. I already made banana bread yesterday. And I have some of your breakfast muffins and a whole batch of the bakery-style chocolate muffins in the freezer ๐
Be safe and healthy!
Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into this collection! I see many of my favs here, as well many more I want to try. My 30-something son is returning home to escape the current NYC chaos, and weโll be baking up a storm! May your family stay safe and healthy during this challenging time. <3
Thank you so much, Sally! I hope good health find you and your family through these troubling times! Have a great day!
Sally, you and your family should stay healthy and take of yourself! Thanks so much for thinking of all of us home with our kids. G-d bless!!
This is a timely e-mail! Iโll be baking to keep busy and hope to try a couple of new recipes! Thank you so much!
Deb Allmeyer
Just what I needed! Thank you. Another note for baking with kids is that it teaches math and chemistry. So while kids are out of school and we try to continue their education, baking is a fun project that can be used as part of school lessons while also keeping things fun.
Sally and family stay safe and healthy out there! I hope as a global community we can all get thru this puzzling/confusing time together. Hugs
Hi Sally, thank you for this compilation!! There is so much here Iโd like to try. All of your recipes are amazing, thank you for sharing. Hope you and your family stay safe!
Thank you so much, Rochelle!