How to Clean and Bake Pine Cones for Autumn Crafts

My boys love coming home with pockets full of treasures after a nature walk — twigs, leaves, acorns, and of course, pine cones. They’re one of nature’s most beautiful ready-made decorations, and children love collecting them. But before we turn them into autumn garlands, woodland animals, or table centrepieces, a little prep is needed to make sure they’re clean, dry, and bug-free.

Here’s how to get your pine cones ready for all your cosy autumn crafting adventures.

🌲 Step 1: Gather and Sort

After your walk, lay all the pine cones out on a tray or newspaper.

Encourage your little explorers to sort them by size or shape — a lovely sensory task that helps them notice patterns in nature.

Discard any that are damp, broken, or have obvious signs of mould or sap.

🫧 Step 2: Wash Away the Forest

• Fill a large bowl or sink with warm water and add one part white vinegar to four parts water.

• Gently swish the pine cones around and let them soak for 20–30 minutes. This step removes dirt, sticky sap, and any tiny insects that may have hitched a ride home. The pinecones will then close in the water (don’t worry, they will open again once dry).

• After soaking, rinse the pine cones under clean water and lay them on an old towel to drain.

🌬 Step 3: Air Dry a Little

Let them dry naturally for about an hour — they’ll still feel damp and closed up, but that’s okay.

Once they’ve had a bit of air time, it’s time for the fun part: baking!

🔥 Step 4: Bake to Dry and Disinfect

Preheat your oven to 90–100°C (around 200°F).

Line a baking tray with foil or baking paper, and spread your pine cones in a single layer.

Bake them for 45–60 minutes, checking every 15 minutes.

You’ll notice them slowly opening up again as the heat dries them out — it’s oddly satisfying to watch!

Tip: Keep an eye on them, as every oven is different. If you smell sap or notice smoke, lower the temperature a little.

🍁 Step 5: Cool and Store

Once baked, leave the pine cones to cool completely.

They’ll be clean, dry, and ready for your next creative project!

Store them in a paper bag or basket somewhere dry until you’re ready to craft.

Ready for Autumn Magic!

Now your pine cones are safe for little hands and ready to become forest fairies, owl ornaments, or nature crowns.

Cleaning and baking them together is also a wonderful way to teach children about caring for nature’s gifts — respecting what we collect and preparing it thoughtfully before use.

You can also use this as a mini science moment:

✨ Why do pine cones open and close?

✨ What animals might use them in the wild?

✨ What shapes or patterns can we find in their scales?

Next week, I’ll be sharing a few of our favourite autumnal animal crafts made with pine cones — including some perfect halloween decorations. Stay tuned!

Until next time,

Itala