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A snow day means you suddenly have the whole day to play in the kitchen — hurray! But a snow day also means you can’t run out for ingredients, so if you’re planning on a baking project, it needs to be based on what you already have in the pantry and refrigerator. Unless, of course, you happen to be a plan-ahead type – in which case you likely hit the grocery store or planned for delivery in advance.
Sugar, butter, flour, maybe milk — what can you possibly make with these simple ingredients? Quite a few things, especially if you can sneak in a few other pantry basics. Whether you’re game for hunkering down in the kitchen for the whole morning, you ready to put your sourdough start to work (you’ll never regret turning it into cinnamon rolls!), and you prefer something quick and easy that will have you biting into a fudgy brownie or warm oatmeal cookies in no time, we a snow day baking idea for you. Here are 40 recipes to try.
Quick and Easy Baking Ideas
If you’re after a yummy baking project that won’t have you in the kitchen all afternoon, cookies, brownies, blondies, muffins, and quick are bread are all excellent options. Before you know it your efforts will be rewarded with a delicious treat.
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Chocolate-Covered Pretzels These two-ingredient chocolate-covered pretzels are sweet and savory for the best of both worlds, require zero baking, and can be customized with fun toppings if you’re in the mood to go the extra mile.
Go to Recipe 4 / 20
Matilda CakeTake a page from the beloved children's novel and whip up this uber-fudgy one-bowl chocolate cake that leans on pantry staples.
Go to Recipe 5 / 20
Blueberry Banana BreadThis blueberry-studded banana bread is tender, moist, and uncomplicated to bake. Best of all, it's as delicious fresh out of the oven as it is in the coming days, griddled in butter.
Go to Recipe 9 / 20
Pantry Cocoa BrowniesA favorite among our team, these brownies are the perfect balance of fudgy and chewy. And there's a good chance you already have everything you need in the pantry.
Go to Recipe 16 / 20
Cowboy CookiesThese cookies — studded with pecans, coconut, and chocolate chunks — taste like an upgraded oatmeal cookie.
Go to Recipe 18 / 20
Pumpkin Banana Bread Ripe, speckled bananas and earthy pumpkin give each spiced slice of this fall quick bread a moist texture and natural sweetness.
Go to Recipe 20 / 20
Apple Muffins These tender muffins are studded with chunks of fresh apple and showered with plenty of cinnamon-sugar.
Go to Recipe Bigger Baking Projects
If you’re hunkered down inside for the day, it could be a great time to settle into the kitchen to bake a pretty layer cake, put your sourdough starter to work, or maybe go for a batch of DIY Pop Tarts.
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Banana Pudding Cookies Nicely crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, the magic of that first bite of banana pudding is encompassed in a single cookie.
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Giant Lemon RollThis single, giant lemon roll cake has soft, pillowy dough and a lemony-brown sugar swirl that you can pull apart layer by layer.
Go to Recipe 13 / 20
Challah BreadHere is a bread that is as much a pleasure to look at as it is to eat. Check out that braiding! Challah is a bread that should be in everyone's repertoire.
Go to Recipe 15 / 20
Roasted Garlic and Herb No-Knead BreadThis garlic and herb no-knead bread tastes far better than basic garlic bread — especially when you slather the still-warm slices with a little butter. Here's how to make a rustic loaf of garlic and herb bread without any kneading.
Go to Recipe 19 / 20
Pineapple BunsThese classic Chinese buns don't actually have pineapple, but make up for it with a crispy sweet topping.
Go to Recipe 20 / 20
Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls Looking for the next best thing to make with your sourdough starter? These fluffy, gooey cinnamon rolls are just what you need. The addition of starter gives them a perfectly chewy texture, and adds just the right amount of tang to offset the sweetness.
Go to Recipe 
