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What if you could make your favorite pantry staples at home instead of buying them at the store? Making things from scratch is a simple way to rely less on grocery stores and have more control over what’s in your food. Plus, if you ever happen to run out of a staple, you can easily make it using basic ingredients you probably already have.
Homemade staples also let you skip the preservatives and unknown ingredients that often come with store-bought versions. That said, most of the items on this list are easy to make and taste even better when they’re homemade. With this list, you’ll have everything you need to stock your pantry with fresh, homemade essentials.
Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk
A pantry staple made from scratch. This sweetened condensed milk recipe is the real deal! Try this and be amazed by how easy and yummy it is!
Get the Recipe: How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk from Scratch
Tomato Paste
Making tomato paste involves cooking the tomatoes to a thick, rich, and concentrated form, intensifying their flavor. The longer you cook it, the thicker and more flavorful it becomes. Once finished, you can “can” the paste for long-term storage, ensuring you have a taste of summer on hand all year round.
Get the Recipe: How to Make Tomato Paste
Vegetable Stock
Vegetable stock serves as an excellent foundation for countless recipes, and making your own from kitchen scraps is a smart way to reduce waste while saving money. Simply collect the peels, ends, and trimmings from aromatic veggies like onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, bell peppers, along with any fresh herbs you have on hand. It’s an easy way to turn leftovers into a flavorful soup base.
Get the Recipe: How to Make Vegetable Stock
Onion Powder
Onion powder is a popular seasoning that adds a rich, concentrated onion flavor to a variety of dishes. Whether you’re making soups, sauces, marinades, casseroles, or even adding a touch of flavor to salads and appetizers, onion powder is a kitchen pantry staple.
Get the Recipe: How to Make Onion Powder
Ginger Powder
Turning your fresh ginger into ginger powder as a way to preserve ginger for long term storage. Making ginger powder at home is easy – and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: How to Make Ginger Powder
Buffalo Sauce Recipe
Easily make this tangy, spicy buffalo sauce at home with pantry staples. It’s perfect for wings, sliders, or veggies, offering a homemade touch that beats store-bought every time.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Buffalo Sauce Recipe
Homemade Bisquick Mix (Baking Mix)
A super easy and versatile Bakers Mix Recipe this pre-made shortcut is similar to Bisquick, and is perfect for baking biscuits from scratch.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Bisquick Mix Recipe (Baking Mix)
Gluten-Free Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
A gluten-free recipe for Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix from scratch! This homemade copycat Jiffy is only 6 ingredients, vegan, & a no-fail substitute!
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix (Copycat Recipe)
Gluten-Free Honey Cornbread Recipe
This delicious & easy Gluten-Free Honey Cornbread has a soft tender crumb, sweet honey flavor, and perfectly golden top.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Honey Cornbread Recipe: Sweet & Fluffy!
BBQ Sauce
3 Ingredient BBQ Sauce is so sweet, tangy, and delicious! With just a few ingredients, this homemade barbecue sauce is so easy to make.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Bbq Sauce
Homemade Brown Sugar
Did you know that you can make your own Homemade Brown Sugar with just two ingredients? Yup, it’s quite simple. All you will need is sugar and molasses.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Brown Sugar
Homemade Strawberry Preserves
Strawberry preserves are a delightful way to savor the natural flavors of ripe strawberries and add a touch of sweetness to your favorite dishes. Whether enjoyed on freshly toasted bread, drizzled over a stack of fluffy pancakes, or incorporated into baked goods, the strawberry preserve is a must-have in your kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Easy Homemade Strawberry Preserves
Homemade Blueberry Jam
Sweet and tangy, this unique balance brings a unique flavor profile few other fruit preserves can offer. The stunning color and texture also add a vibrant note of playfulness to your dishes.
Whether you add it to toast, spread it on pancakes, or add it to cookie and cake mixes, you’ll get robust flavor, sweetness, and nutrients in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Blueberry Preserves
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Only 2 ingredients needed to make your very own vanilla extract – vodka and vanilla beans! Here’s everything you need to know with step by step photos!
Get the Recipe: How to Make Vanilla Extract
Italian Seasoning
Skip the seasoning packet and mix this up to add the best flavors to your homemade Italian meals. Pasta, pizza, and even meats will be enhanced to perfection with this easy-to-make blend of spices.
Get This Recipe: How to Make Italian Seasoning
Taco Seasoning
You will want to keep this recipe on hand for all your taco nights at home.
Get This Recipe: Homemade Taco Seasoning
Homemade Sauerkraut
This homemade sauerkraut recipe is crisp, sweet cabbage softens and ferments into tangy, flavorful sauerkraut, rich in probiotics and vitamins.
Get the Recipe: How to Make Homemade Sauerkraut
Homemade Tuscan Seasoning Mix
Add an authentic taste of Tuscany to your dishes with this homemade Tuscan seasoning mix. Budget-friendly. Quick and easy to make!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Tuscan Seasoning Mix
Homemade Granola
This healthy and simple homemade Granola is made with a handful of whole-food ingredients and without nuts, honey or refined sugars!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Granola
Homemade Cake Mix
Homemade Cake Mix is made with 5 pantry staple ingredients and can be customized to any flavor cake you’d like!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Cake Mix
Homemade Pancake Mix
Homemade Pancake Mix recip, a pantry staple everyone needs to make the most fluffy and melt in your mouth delicious old fashioned pancakes.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Pancake Mix Recipe
Homemade Flour Tortillas
Homemade flour tortillas are so much better than store-bought, and don’t contain any preservatives. You’re going to love making tortillas!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Flour Tortillas
Homemade Baking Powder
Did you know baking powder is easy to make yourself? Find out how with this easy, corn-free, aluminum-free DIY baking powder recipe!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Baking Powder
Homemade Chilli Seasoning
Homemade chilli seasoning is a blend of warm spices used as a seasoning for chilli recipes including veggie chilli and chilli con carne.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Chilli Seasoning
Homemade White Bread
While many people choose to buy bread from the grocery store, they often overlook how easy and exciting it can be to bake their own. This simple, yet delicious, homemade white bread using a bread maker uses just a few basic ingredients from your pantry.
Get the Recipe: Bread Maker White Bread
Homemade Mayonnaise
Is mayonnaise a staple in your house? Leave the ultra-processed, unhealthy store-bought stuff behind with this easy 4-ingredient homemade mayonnaise recipe!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Mayonnaise
Homemade Chocolate Syrup
Making homemade chocolate syrup is a super easy, and chances are, you already have the ingredients in your pantry! This recipe is incredibly simple and takes just about 10 minutes from start to finish.
You’ll need basic ingredients like granulated sugar (or raw sugar if you prefer), unsweetened cocoa powder, and a pinch of kosher salt for balance, a splash of vanilla extract and cornstarch to help thicken the syrup to just the right consistency. It’s quick, easy, and tastes so much better than anything you’d buy at the store.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Chocolate Syrup
Garlic Scape Pesto
Garlic scape pesto is a flavorful condiment perfect for adding to various dishes. It’s made with fresh, vibrant ingredients and is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free, making it suitable for different dietary preferences.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Garlic Scape Pesto
23 Lost Homemaking Skills That Deserve a Comeback
Many traditional homemaking skills have faded from everyday life, though they were once essential for running a household. Here are 23 forgotten homemaking skills that deserve to make a comeback.
23 Lost Homemaking Skills That Deserve a Comeback
24 Homemade All-Natural Skincare and Beauty Recipes You Can Make at Home
From soothing face masks to nourishing body balms, these 24 natural beauty and skincare recipes is designed to help you craft eco-friendly products right in your kitchen.
24 All-Natural Skincare and Beauty Recipes You Can Make at Home
