Learn how to make 5 pantry staples from scratch that make cooking at home so much easier and much more convenient.
Cooking from scratch often means spending more time in the kitchen, however there are ways I’ve found to cut down on that time. One way is to make some pantry staple items ahead of time to have available at your fingertips. These are ingredients and mixes I used to buy from the store before I started making them at home. And instead of always making them in small batches, it’s much easier to take 30-45 minutes and prepare them in bulk to store them in my pantry for any time I need them. This time around I decided to make homemade taco seasoning, dry ranch powder, pancake mix, brown sugar and powdered sugar. These ingredients and mixes are used frequently in my kitchen to make all sorts of goodies and they’re going to be so much more convenient to have on hand!
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You don’t need any special equipment or tools to make these pantry staples, however there are a few items that do come in handy. Here’s what I like to use to make the process easier!
Tools You May Need:
Special Ingredient You May Need:
Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Skip the pre-packaged taco seasoning and make your own with simple, wholesome ingredients!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chili powder
- 1/4 cumin
- 3 tbs onion powder
- 2 tbs garlic powder
- 1 tbs salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbs arrowroot powder or corn starch (optional)
Instructions
- In a pint sized mason jar, add chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper and arrowroot powder and mix thoroughly.
- Add an airtight lid and store at room temperature in a cool dry place.
- To use, sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning on 1 pound of ground beef, ground turkey or chicken, along with 1/2 cup of water and allow the mixture to simmer until the water has evaporated.
Dry Ranch Powder
Homemade Ranch Powder
Always have ranch seasoning on hand to whip up homemade ranch dip or dressing!
Ingredients
- 6 tbs dried parsley flakes
- 2 tbs dried dill weed
- 2 tbs garlic powder
- 2 tbs onion powder
- 2 tbs freeze dried chives
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp arrowroot powder or corn starch (optional)
Instructions
- In a half pint sized mason jar, add dried parsley flakes, dried dill weed, garlic powder, onion powdered, freeze dried chives, salt, black pepper and arrowroot powder and mix thoroughly.
- Add an airtight lid and store at room temperature in a cool dry place.
- To use for homemade ranch dip, mix together 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup mayo and 1 tbs of dry ranch powder.
Homemade Pancake Dry Mix
Homemade Pancake Mix
Stop buying pre-made pancake mix and make your own instead with just a few simple ingredients!
Ingredients
- 8 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup baking powder
- 1 tbs + 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbs + 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Add the mix to a half gallon and/or quart size mason jars and add an airtight lid.
Notes
To Use:
Homemade Brown Sugar
Homemade Brown Sugar
Homemade brown sugar is made with only two simple ingredients and is incredibly rich and perfect for adding into baked goods.
Ingredients
- 6 cups sugar
- 6 tbs unsulphured molasses
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer and using the whisk attachment, mix the cane sugar and molasses together until the two are completely incorporated.
- Add the brown sugar to a half gallon mason jar, pushing it down as needed, and add an airtight lid.
Homemade Powdered Sugar
Homemade Powdered Sugar
Whether you're in a pinch or simply want to make your own ingredients, making homemade powdered sugar is incredibly quick and easy to do!
Ingredients
- 6 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbs arrowroot powder
Instructions
- Add the powdered sugar and arrowroot powder to a high powdered blender.
- Blend on high for a few minutes, taking breaks in between, until the sugar has turned into a powdery consistency.
- Store the powdered sugar in an airtight container.
Looking for more from scratch recipes?
Looking for more from scratch recipes like these pantry staples? Check these out:
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