(Family Features) - Fall has its own rhythm-a resting spot between busy summer activities and the holiday frenzy. It's a good time to cozy in and get back in touch with the kitchen. Baking decorative leaf-shaped cookies or a pumpkin quick bread fills the house with welcoming aromas and the promise of treats to have on hand.

A batch of Autumn Spice Cookies full of fall flavors-cinnamon, ginger, allspice and molasses with a hint of orange-makes a welcome dessert, the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea, or a thoughtful gift for a hostess or friend. Bake these cookies in advance so they're ready when you need them. They can be stored at room temperature up to a week or frozen up to three months. 

For best baking results, dip Harvest Cookie Cutters in flour before making cut-outs to prevent the dough from sticking to the cutter. Space unbaked cookies evenly on the pan, one inch apart, so they don't touch during baking to make sure every leaf is perfectly shaped.

As a gift, place cookies in a clear party treat bag and tie with ribbon or raffia. Spread the joy of baking and decorating by including a Harvest Cookie Cutter and this cookie's recipe card tied on the ends of the ribbon.

The recipe for easy Pumpkin Bread Loaves, shown in the photo, can be found on  www.wilton.com.