Maple Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls ll Pinterest Inspired

 *This post was originally published on 11/15/13.  Enjoy!

These Cinnamon Rolls popped up on Pinterest about a week ago and I was practically drooling.  And since it's fall... and since I'm a pumpkin fanatic...  well, these were baking in our house this weekend!  If you love pumpkin, these pumpkin cinnamon rolls just might find a place in your cookbook.

Maple Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
(*from Creme de la Crumb)

Dough:
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 c. warm water
about 3 c. flour
2/3 c. pumpkin puree
1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. butter, melted
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Filling:
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
4 Tbsp butter, melted

Frosting:
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1-2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp maple extract
1 Tbsp maple syrup

(or cheat like I did and use cream cheese frosting)

1. Dissolve yeast in water to proof.  Add pumpkin, milk, butter, sugar, salt, spice, and vanilla.  Mix together.  Slowly add flour, starting with 2/3 c., and slowly add add as dough forms a ball (mine took 3 c.)

2. Allow dough to rise in a warm place

3. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface.  Mix together filling ingredients in a small bowl.  Brush melted butter over dough and sprinkle filling.  Roll dough tightly and cut into 9 sections.

4. Place cinnamon rolls in a greased pan, cut side down.  Cover and allow to rise until doubled in size (can also refrigerate at this time and bake in the morning).

5.  Preheat oven to 375 and bake 20 min or until golden brown.  Drizzle with prepared frosting and serve warm.

Enjoy!

*Linked to these Parties

Fall Reading List ll 2025

Non-fiction:

Giving Your Words by Sally and Clay Clarkson

Hosting the Presence by Bill Johnson

Christian Heroes: John Newton

by Janet and Geoff Benge

Habits for a Sacred Home by Jennifer Pepito

Christian Heroes: C.S. Lewis

by Janet and Geoff Benge

Fiction:

The Christmas House by Beverly Lewis

Rapunzel and the Sea Witch by Kim Bussing

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

The Last Keeper (Dreamkeeper Saga #5)

by Kathryn Butler

Read Alouds:

Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan

After the Train by Gloria Whelan

Angel on the Square by Gloria Whelan

A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

What's on Your Reading List?

Weekend Links ll September 19, 2025

Vitamin C and Apple Experiment

Apple Recipes for Your Crockpot

Aquarium Field Trip Printables

Creating Leadership & Service Opportunities for Teens

10 Tips for Homeschooling Tweens

10 Tips for Intentional Character Training

10 Cozy Autumn Homeschooling Ideas

Fall is in the air, and I am ready for it!

We have some HOT summers where we live so by the time fall arrives, we are all looking forward to it.  Now that we've passed my son's birthday (14 years!), we're filling our calendar with all the fun fall activities.  Many of these are events we've turned to again and again over the years, but there are a few new challenges in here as well.  Just some cozy autumn activities to bring warmth to our family and homeschool.

*Visit a Pumpkin Patch--This is something we've done nearly as long as we've been parents.  Sometimes we visit the pumpkin patch as part of a field trip, and sometimes, we go on our own.  Either way,  we make sure to include a stop at the petting zoo (hello, hands-on learning), some shopping at the vegetable stand (so many new varieties), and a seasonal treat.

*Make a seasonal drink--Autumn is the perfect time to be in the kitchen.  Maybe try your hand at homemade apple cider.  Or if you live in a warmer climate like me, what about an apple cider mocktail?

*Bake Apple Cider donuts--We've picked up some Apple Cider donuts at our local Farmer's Market a time or not.  So I'm thinking this year, it's time we tried making our own.  My daughter has a donut maker that she loves working with, and the smell of these treats is heavenly.  This looks like the perfect way to get the kids involved in baking.

*Decorate for fall--I don't do a lot of decorating other than at Christmas, but we do have a variety of decorative pumpkins that are fun to put out.  Pumpkins are versatile for the whole season, and decorating for the fall adds to the anticipation of the season.  Plus, it's a great way to put some emphasis on Thanksgiving, which often gets overlooked.

*Make a pumpkin dessert (or apple)-- I know... I know... I've talked enough about apples, right? But I'm dying to revive these Caramel Apple Cheesecake bars.... or maybe these Maple Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls.  Or maybe something entirely new!

*Attend a fall festival--Our little area holds a variety of fall festivals.  I honestly think we're all just excited to get together after being under the A/C all summer.  So we have a lot to choose from.  Whether it be an apple festival, the salmon festival, or the honey bee festival, autumn is the perfect time to jump into these community activities.

*Make candles--A couple of years ago, the kids and I rolled wax candles.  It was a fun and easy activity to add some lightness to our homeschool. And then we wanted that homey feeling, we'd light one to burn while we did homeschool.  Rolled candles are easy for a variety of ages.  And if you want to take it a step further, why not borrow or invest in candle-making supplies?  Candle making is a great handicraft for any homeschool, and creates a useful gift for giving at Christmastime..

*Cook a pot of chili--Better yet, host a chili cook off with your homeschool group.  Pick a Saturday so the dads can join in, set the scene with a bonfire, and see who has the best family recipe (all fun and games, of course).  What a great way to build community.

*Carve a pumpkin--My kids have definitely upped their game in the last couple of years with more and more intricate designs.  I'm still a fan of the classic toothy smile pumpkin.  Whatever you prefer, make a family night out of it.  Make caramel corn, carve your pumpkins, and then watch a Charlie Brown special.  Laugh at the goofiness of the Peanuts gang and enjoy your treat, while the neighbors enjoy seeing your pumpkins on the porch.

*Enjoy a hay ride--Autumn is the perfect time for a hay ride.  Local pumpkin patches will usually offer one when they're open.  Or call your local U-Pick farm to ask if they have a hay ride available.  There's nothing like this nostalgic mode of transportation, and many kids have never had this experience.  Soak it in, laugh, sing goofy songs.... 

Autumn is ripe with possibilities.  

How are you adding to the cozy atmosphere in your homeschool?

Fall Hospitality

 *This post was originally published on 10/26/15.  Enjoy!

 

With fall upon us, there are still plenty of opportunities to invite other families into your home.  These are just a few ideas for fellowshipping in the fall season:

*Bonfire--These cooler days and early evenings are a perfect time to host a bonfire.  Stock up on hot dogs, chocolate, and marshmallows, and you have the perfect outdoor dinner to share.

*Soup Potluck--After a full summer menu of salads and grilling, we're craving savory and comforting soups.  Soup is a perfect potluck food for the fall, and paired with a fresh loaf of bread, it's a fun way to gather around the dinner table.

*Crafting Party--The holidays are quickly approaching, and it's a great time to start preparing those gifts and decorations.  Whether it's addressing Christmas cards, making a Christmas wreath, or preparing Thanksgiving decorations, it's always more fun with friends.  So invite a few friends over to spend time together and get some projects done.

*Carmel Apple Party--Carmel Apples are a perfect fall treat.  I've had this idea pinned on Pinterest for about a year, and I'd love to try it.  It's a fun way to customize your treat and be inspired by others' creations.

*Pumpkin Carving--It's not too late to carve those pumpkins.  Have a few friends over to carve pumpkins and then designate someone to roast the seeds for the group.  The kids will love checking out each other's creations, and the adults will enjoy spending the evening together.

What are your ideas for spending time with others in the fall?

Weekend Links ll September 12, 2025

 

The Odyssey Unit Study

Homeschool is NOT a Vending Machine

Teaching Character with Andy Griffith

Rotting Apple Science Experiment

Johnny Appleseed Unit Study

The Christmas House {Review}

 

Young entrepreneur Liz Lantz is thriving in her buggy tour business.  Looking forward to the holiday season and meeting new clients, Liz seems to have found her niche.  Her brother, Adam, is a good partner, and her Christmas House Buggy Tours are filling rapidly.  But then her father and brother are called away to help a family member, and Matthow2 steps into Adam's place.  Liz is reluctant at first, but finds a good friend in Matt.  He's charming and easy-going, and the tours seem to benefit from his addition to the business.

In the meantime, Hickory Hollow is welcoming new Englisch neighbors, and they're causing quite a stir.  The new family seems determined to have the largest Christmas light display imaginable.  And while beautiful, this Amish community isn't used to such extravagance ... or traffic.  When a sudden snowstorm descends on the community, Liz sees an opportunity to bring the Hickory Hollow together.  But will the same storm keep her family apart at Christmas?

Author Beverly Lewis writes some of my favorite Amish fiction, and this delightful novella is perfect for the upcoming holiday season.  Liz is slightly more mature for an Amish romance (at 22 years old), and her character is far from giddy.  Her romance unfolds slowly and with a great deal of friendship.  Lewis does a wonderful job of portraying a realistic look at a maturing relationship.  The conflict between the Amish community and their new neighbors is honest without being overly dramatic, and all the characters develop as if they were real-life individuals.  Sometimes novellas seem to fall flat in comparison to full-length novels.  Not Christmas House.  This sweet tale is purely satisfying from cover to cover.  I couldn't put it down.

Beverly Lewis' Christmas House is the perfect blend of small town, Christmas magic, real families, faith... delightful for curling up with on a cozy winter evening.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

 *Originally posted on 9/26/12.  Enjoy!

September screams fall to me and nothing says fall like apples.  The crisp juicy crunch of a freshly picked apple is unbelievable.  And apple desserts are all about capturing that feeling and the comfort of the changing seasons.

So when I saw this recipe on pinterest several months back, I'm immediately pinned it, already thinking ahead to the changing seasons and the cooler evenings.  If you're like me, you'll pin anything that says "cheesecake" and these make a seasonal treat that is not to be missed.  Enjoy!

Carmel Apple Cheesecake Bars
from The Girl Who Ate Everything

Crust:
2 c. flour
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. butter, softened

Cheesecake Filling:
3 (8oz) pkages cream cheese, softened
3/4 c. sugar, plus 2 Tbsps, divided
3 lrg eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Apples:
3 apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (Granny Smith's for tartness)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Streusel Topping:
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. flour
1/2 c. quick cooking oats
1/2 c. butter, softened

Carmel Topping

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine flour and brown sugar.  Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly.  Press evenly into a 9x 13 pan sprayed with cooking spray.  Bake 15 min or until lightly brown.
3. Beat cream cheese with 3/4 c. sugar until smooth.  Add eggs, one at a time, and vanilla.  Pour into warm crust.
4. Stir together apples, remaining brown sugar (2 Tbsp), cinnamon and nutmeg.  Spoon over cream cheese mixture.
5. Combine all streusel topping ingredients.  Make sure the butter is really cut well.  
6. Sprinkle streusel over apples.  Bake 40-45 min. or until set.  Drizzle with carmel and let cool.  Enjoy!

Weekend Links ll September 5, 2025

 

How to Prepare Your Homeschooler for College?

The 3 R's of Retiring Homeschool Moms

Learning to Focus: The Power of Attention in a Distracted World

How to Excel at Book Reports for Junior High

Math and Physics in the Upper Grades

The Influence of Books on Our Kids

*This post was originally published on 11/21/22.  Enjoy!

(click on post for video)

 Today I'm sharing my thoughts on the influence of books on our kids and why I'm discerning with the influences we bring into our home.

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑21yrs led to 👱17 yrs, 👧14 yrs, and 👱 11 yrs. Fall Reading List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z6We... What We Read in September 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyZFZ-UbpKI My Mom Notebooks ll Homeschool Tools for Mom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJXr... Five Books that Shaped Me as a Parent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P59Ud... 2021-22 Homeschool Read Alouds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5AXS... Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... Music Attribution: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod FTC Disclosure: This video is not sponsored. *This video is not intended for audiences under 13 years.