Are you on the lookout for ways to trim your grocery expenses and save some hard-earned cash? Making your own pantry supplies is one way to shave those dollars!
Though building a well-stocked pantry may take time and effort, the rewards of having a wide array of ingredients at your fingertips are immeasurable.
The ability to mix and fine-tune our own supplies becomes a valuable tool, particularly during challenging economic times.
Throughout the years of managing a household, one thing becomes crystal clear: resourcefulness and mastering the art of budget savings are essential skills.
It’s like having a superpower that allows you to make every dollar count.
With some know-how and creativity, we can build food stocks that meet our needs and align with our financial goals.
To get you started, here are over 100 recipes you can check out; you’ll find them separated into groups for easier browsing:
- Basic Pantry & Dry Mixes
- Soup Mixes
- Seasonings & Spice Blends
- Cappuccino, Mocha & More
It’s time to savor the satisfaction of a well-stocked kitchen, where every meal is infused with a pinch of homemade magic and a lot of love.
Master Recipe Collection For Homemade Pantry Mixes
You can whip up batches of homemade cake mix, Bisquick, Hamburger Helper, dry soups, plus a whole lot more…even your own spice and seasoning blends.
As you test recipes, you’ll discover endless opportunities to add your own personal touch and tailor dishes to suit your family’s taste buds.
Not only are these ideal for stocking up the pantry, but many are also suitable for packaging as gifts (see Free Gifts In A Jar Recipes, Tags & Tips for more ideas).
I’ve included a few goodies from the Baking Substitutes and Herbs & Spices: Storage Tips Guide pages.
Basic Pantry & Dry Mixes
One of the greatest advantages of homemade pantry supplies is their versatility. When your go-to store-bought items are unavailable, these homemade alternatives come to the rescue. With a little creativity and resourcefulness, you’ll never find yourself in a pinch again.
| Apple Cider | theblessedhearth.blogspot.com |
Bisquick – Biscuits – Baking Mix | heart-hands-home.blogspot.ca |
| Bread | bhg.com (Cheddar/Herb) |
| Breadcrumbs (seasoned) |
Brown Sugar: 3 cups Sugar (white) plus 1/4 cup Molasses, combine with your hands or a fork, then store in an airtight container.
| Brownies | littlehouseliving.com |
| Cake Mix | Chocolate: afewshortcuts.com |
| Cocoa/Hot Chocolate | handletheheat.com |
Confectioners’ / Icing Sugar | bonappetit.com |
| Cornbread/Cornmeal | heart-hands-home.blogspot.com |
| Flour | Gluten-Free: tasteofhome.com |
Cake Flour: Add two level tablespoons of cornstarch to a one-cup measuring cup, then fill with bread flour. Sift three times, then use as needed.
Self-Rising Flour: In a one-cup measure, place 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt, then fill to top with flour.
| Gingerbread | |
| Hamburger Helper | |
| Italian Salad Dressing | |
| Mocha | (Iced) thricethespice.blogspot.com (Assorted) tipnut.com (see bottom of this page) |
| Nesquick | |
| Pancake | thestayathomechef.com |
| Instant Pudding | Vanilla: browneyedbaker.com |
| Ranch Dip & Dressing | |
| Rice-A-Roni | cheftessbakeresse.blogspot.com |
| Shake ‘N Bake | momskitchencooking.blogspot.com |
| Stuffing | |
| Teas | Dried Fruit & Herb: wholefoodsmarket.com |
| Tortilla |
Soup Mixes
Cooking with homemade soup mixes is a breeze!
When you’re ready to whip up a delicious batch of soup, simply measure out the desired amount of mix from the jar. Add it to a pot along with your choice of boiling water or flavorful broth, just as the directions specify.
Simmer the ingredients until the flavors meld together, and voila! A comforting and flavorful bowl of soup is ready to be enjoyed.
Feel free to tweak things a bit by adding leftover veggies, rice, pasta, or proteins to bulk things up.
| Cream Soup Substitute | |
| Instant Noodle | ellenskitchen.com |
| Onion | selfreliancebyjamie.blogspot.com |
| Potato | |
| Tarhana (very interesting) | dailysabah.com |
| Vegetable Bouillon | thishealthykitchen.com |
| Vegetable Noodle |
Recipe For DIY Magic Pan Release
This magic release will prevent cakes from sticking and make for effortless removal once baked. It’s a quicker, fuss-free alternative to greasing and flouring your pans.
To use this handy baking aid, simply scoop a small amount from the jar using a pastry brush or paper towel. Gently spread a thin and even layer onto the inside surfaces of your cake pans, ensuring that every nook and cranny is coated.
2 C. of Crisco + 1 C. flour
OR
1 C. shortening + 1/4 C. flour + 1/4 C. vegetable oil
*keep refrigerated*
from
Remember to store the sealed jar in the refrigerator between uses to maintain its freshness.
Seasonings & Spice Blends
With these homemade creations at your fingertips, you’ll never be caught off guard in the kitchen.
Whether you need to quickly whip up a delightful substitute in a pinch or simply desire to infuse your meals with a burst of customized flavors, these DIY seasoning recipes are your ticket to flavor town.
| All-Purpose Rub | marthastewart.com |
| Apple Pie | 2 TBS ground cinnamon + 1 TBS ground nutmeg + 1/2 TBS ground allspice + 1/2 TBS ground cloves |
| Arabian | whatscookinginyourworld.blogspot.com |
| Bouillon/Stock | 101cookbooks.com / blendtec.com |
| Cajun | tideandthyme.com / joyofkosher.com |
| Chinese 5-Spice | feastingathome.com |
| Curry Powder | wholenewmom.com / deliciousobsessions.com |
| Emeril’s Essence | jocooks.com |
| Fajita Seasoning | jonesinfortaste.com |
| Garam Masala | pipingpotcurry.com |
| Garlic Pepper (Herbed) | bettycrocker.com |
| Garlic Powder | evergrowingfarm.com |
| Greek | thenovicechefblog.com |
| Grilling | feathersinournest.com / myrecipes.com |
| Italian | 1/4 teaspoon oregano + 1/4 teaspoon marjoram + 1/4 teaspoon basil + 1/8 teaspoon sage |
| Italian Herb Rub | davidlebovitz.com |
| Jamaican Jerk | globaltableadventure.com |
| Lemon Pepper | simplyscratch.com |
| Mandarin Orange Dust | penandfork.wordpress.com |
| Montreal | coffeepot.wordpress.com |
| Old Bay | daringgourmet.com / healthycrush.com |
| Paula Deen’s House Blend | countryliving.com |
| Peppery Orange | penandfork.com (webarchive.org) |
| Pickling | 2 TBS allspice berries + 2 TBS cardamom seeds + 2 TBS coriander seeds + 2 TBS whole cloves + 2 TBS mustard seeds + 2 TBS peppercorns Add: 2 bay leaves (crumbled); 2 cinnamon sticks (broken); 2 small pieces dried ginger root (chopped); 2 small dried red chilies (crushed) or 1-2 tsp hot pepper flakes. |
| Poultry | 2 TBS sage + 1 TBS thyme + 1 TBS marjoram + 1 TBS savory + 1/2 tsp ground black pepper + Pinch of cloves Also see: sagetrifle.blogspot.com |
| Pumpkin Pie Spice | 1 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg + 1/8 teaspoon allspice + 1/4 teaspoon ginger |
| Red Robin | practical-stewardship.com / pocketchangegourmet.com |
| Seasoning Salt | savedbytheeggtimer.blogspot.com |
| Flavored Salts | Bacon: notquitenigella.com Celery: teenytinykitchen.com Chipotle Lime: rosemarried.com (webarchive.org) Sriracha: braisedanatomy.com |
| Sesame Rub | marthastewart.com |
| Taco | veggieterrain.com / smells-like-home.com / thewaytohisheartblog.com |
Cappuccino, Mocha & More
Indulge in the rich and comforting flavors of homemade coffee mixes, including cappuccino, mocha, and flavored blends.
Create a big batch to ensure a steady supply for your personal enjoyment or to spread joy as thoughtful gifts during the holiday season.
For an extra festive treat, crown your cup with a dollop of velvety whipped cream and accompany it with the delightful crunch of candy canes or peppermint sticks.
Directions: It’s as simple as combining the ingredients and storing them in an airtight container or glass jar.
Instant Cappuccino
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 C. sugar
3/4 C. instant coffee (granules)
1 C. instant hot chocolate (powder)
1 C. non-dairy creamer (powder)
Use 2 to 3 TBS per mug of boiling water, and stir to dissolve.
Spiced Mocha
1 C. cocoa
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. non-dairy powdered creamer
1/4 C. instant coffee
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 cup mix per 1 cup hot water.
Amaretto Blend
1 C. skim milk powder
2/3 C. Coffee-Mate
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. sifted cocoa
1/3 C. Instant coffee
2 tsp Almond extract
1/3 cup per 1 cup hot water.
Flavored Cafe Viennoise
Part 1:
1/4 C. sugar
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Part 2:
3/4 C. instant coffee
1/2 C. non-dairy powdered creamer
1/2 C. skim milk powder
1 tsp cinnamon
- Stir Part 1 items first with a fork until there is no more moisture.
- Add the rest of the ingredients (Part 2). Sift everything together to blend thoroughly.
- 2 to 3 tsp per 1 cup of boiling water.
Flavored Mocha
1 C. sugar
1 C. instant coffee
1 C. instant milk powder
1/2 C. cocoa (powder)
4 TBS Coffee-Mate (powder)
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp cinnamon
- In a bowl, sprinkle vanilla over the sugar. Stir until well blended and there are no moisture lumps.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, stir then sift the whole batch so it’s combined well.
- Add 3 tsp per cup of boiling water (or to taste). Top with a bit of whipped cream if you like.
Enjoy making special coffees at home? See Try It & Tweak It: Iced Cappuccino & Mochacchino as well as Test & Tweak: DIY Flavored Coffee {Creamer, Syrup, Beans}
This is just the start! As with all collections here on Tipnut, I’ll be adding more goodies as I come across them. You may want to bookmark this page for future reference, it’s sure to come in handy ;).
Thank-you so much! This is a fantastic collection! It is going to be so useful. As always, just love your site. I spend hours on it every week. Should be doing things around the house but it’s so interesting I can’t resist!
Just found this web site. Do you know it you could get a book from this web site with all you recipes and tips. Would really be nice.
I have been wanting to find these kinds of recipes, but haven’t had the time!!! THANK YOU SOOOOOOO Much for compiling them! I really appreciate it!
What a wonderful list! Thanks for including my garlic powder! Cheers!
I love your recipes but I did not see a recipe for making my own Self Rising Flour. Do you have one somewhere that I can use?
Hi Jackie, there’s one listed under the “flour” section. You will also find at the top of the page a link to baking substitutes, more are listed there.
I have started canning again wondering how well these dry recipes last…Wanting to can some and put back…
Thank you soooo much for this web site. I am cooking for the homebound and will deffinitly use the recipes you have provided.
Thank you for this web site. I am making meals for the homebound and will definitely use the recipes I find here.
I gotta start making things at home than buying just about everything. I bet it’s rewarding.