I believe that self-sustainability begins in the kitchen. Being resourceful in the kitchen allows you to feed your family with healthy ingredients on a budget, during a recession or food shortage, or during a pandemic-induced quarantine like the one we have experienced this year. Creating your meals and pantry staples from scratch may take some practice, but it will become second nature over time. In this post, you will find homemade pantry staple recipes and substitutions to aid in your journey to a homemade household.
Why should you make homemade pantry staples?
1. Saves Money
You can save a good chunk of cash by making your own pantry staples instead of purchasing them pre-made from the store.
2. Cooking in a pinch
Check out this dinner roll recipe with a quick-swap ingredient. I started making them before I checked my pantry (bad idea), but I made a substitution and they turned out great!
3. Emergency Preparedness
It is a great idea to know how to do things and how to make things in case of emergencies like natural disasters, government shutdowns, or (probably most relatable right now) a global pandemic.
Homemade Pantry Staple Recipes
These homemade pantry staple recipes are simple to make and use basic kitchen tools so you can whip them up easy peasy.
1. Brown Sugar
Making homemade brown sugar is easier than you think.
Check out the recipe here!
2. Powdered Sugar
You can make homemade powdered sugar with only 2 ingredients–> white sugar and corn starch. See the recipe below…
*You could also use cane sugar, turbinado sugar, or coconut sugar, but the finished product will be a little more coarse than traditional powdered sugar.
Powdered Sugar
Ingredients
- 1 cup White Granulated Sugar
- 1 TBSP Corn Starch, {or Arrowroot Powder}
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and cornstarch or arrowroot powder in a blender or a food processor.
- Pulse in the blender until the sugar it reaches the soft & fluffy consistency of confectioner's sugar.
3. Buttermilk
Homemade buttermilk can be made in three different ways.
#1 Traditional Buttermilk made by whipping heavy cream to separate the butter from the buttermilk
#2 Buttermilk Substitute made by mixing a ratio of whole milk and lemon juice.
#3 Cultured Buttermilk made by adding cultures to whole milk.
4. Heavy Cream
If you don’t have fresh cream on hand, then you can make a heavy cream substitute. Making heavy cream is as simple as mixing milk & butter. You will just need a few minutes to get it blended to the right consistency.
Check out the recipe here!
5. Whipped Cream
This homemade whipped cream recipe is so easy to make with just 3 ingredients and 3 minutes! Use it as a delicious Cool Whip replacement without all of the oils, corn syrups, and polysorbate 80.
6. Coffee Creamer
I love a good hazelnut coffee creamer, but I haven’t purchased creamer from the store regularly since I learned to make my own. Homemade coffee creamer is simple and can be made in a couple different ways.
Check out the recipes here!
7. Sweetened Condensed Milk
There are a couple ways that you can make homemade sweetened condensed milk. I have quick cook and overnight no-cook recipes that both work really well.
Check out the recipes here!
8. Flour
You can make your own homemade flour with one ingredient and a blender or a grain mill if you have one.
Check out these recipes:
9. Bread Crumbs
Homemade bread crumbs can be made with bread, a few seasonings, a blender, and an oven. Leave out the blending step to make homemade croutons.
10. Homemade Salad Dressing
- Poppyseed Dressing Recipe
Homemade Poppyseed Dressing is my favorite! It has just the right balance of tangy & sweet flavors.
Check out the recipe here!
Homemade ranch dressing can be used on salads, in wraps, as a dipping sauce, and more! You can make your own in 2-minutes with this recipe!
11. Cream Soup Base Recipe
I use this cream soup base recipe in soups, casseroles, pasta, enchiladas, and more!
Check out the recipe here!
12. Simple Southern-Style Gravy Recipe
What is breakfast without homemade biscuits and white pepper gravy?
You can find my biscuit recipe in The Homemade Household ebook and the gravy recipe right here!
13. Mayonnaise Recipe + Alternatives
This Homemade Mayo recipe works for G.A.P.S, Paleo, and Keto diets!
You can also substitute mayo in many recipes with avocado, greek yogurt, or olive oil.
14. Broth/Stock Recipe
You can make your own broth or stock with this recipe. Simply save your chicken and veggie scraps, then simmer away. If you add meaty bits of chicken + cartilage, you will make a broth…if you do not use meaty bits, then you will have a stock.
Chicken Broth/Stock
Ingredients
- leftover chicken pieces
- 3-4 celery stalks & tops
- 3-4 carrots (Use the ends, too)
- 1-2 onions
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried parsley, OR {3 sprigs fresh}
- 1 TBSP peppercorns
- 2 bay leaves
- 8 cups water
- 1 TBSP minced garlic
Instructions
- Save chicken pieces and veggies from meals that you make throughout the week.
- Cut up the veggies into medium to large sized chunks.
- Add the chicken & veggies pieces + the herbs and spices to a stock pot and cover with water.
- Bring to a rolling boil then reduce to a simmer.
- Simmer covered for 4-5 hours.
- Strain the meat & veggie pieces out of the stock.
- Place in an airtight container like a mason jar and store in the freezer. If you plan to usesome immediately, it can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also pressure can this recipe if you wish.
15. Pancake Syrup
Homemade pancake syrup is warm, sweet, sticky goodness! You can make your own stovetop vanilla butter pancake syrup with this recipe.
Check out the recipe here!
16. Sourdough Starter
Make your own sourdough starter (and homemade yeast) for breads, cakes, crackers, and more!
Pantry Staple Substitutes
17. Sugar Substitutes
If you are looking for quality sugar substitutions for baking, an alternative to sugar that can be used in your morning coffee or tea, or something that you can grab from your pantry to salvage your recipe that requires the sugar that you don’t have, then I’ve got you covered with these 13 Sugar Substitutions and Alternatives.
18. Egg Substitutions
Whether you need egg substitutes due to egg allergies, a special diet, last-minute baking snafus, or emergency cooking, this post has egg alternatives that will work for you.
19. Dairy Product Recipes + Substitutions
Do you have a recipe that calls for a dairy product that you are out of?
Do you want to control the ingredients that you feed to your family?
Would you like to save money on your daily use pantry staples?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then you will find what you need in this list of homemade dairy product recipes.
19. Sour Cream Substitute
Substitute greek yogurt for sour cream at a 1:1 ratio OR use this homemade sour cream recipe.
- 1 cup sour cream = 1 cup greek yogurt
20. Yogurt Substitute
Greek yogurt and sour cream can be substituted 1:1 OR you can make your own in a dehydrator.
- 1 cup greek yogurt= 1 cup sour cream
21. Baking Powder Substitute
Replace 1 tsp baking powder by mixing baking soda, cream of tartar, and cornstarch.
- 1 tsp baking powder= 1/4 tsp baking soda + 1/2 tsp cream of tartar + 1/4 tsp cornstarch
22. Baking Soda Substitute
Substitute 1/2 tsp of baking soda with 2 tsp baking powder.
- 1/4 tsp baking soda= 1 tsp baking powder
23. Cornstarch Substitute
Cornstarch can be substituted with Arrowroot Powder at a 1:1 ratio.
- 1 tsp cornstarch= 1 tsp arrowroot powder
24. Cream of Tartar Substitute
You can substitute 2 tsp lemon juice or 2 tsp white vinegar for 1 tsp cream of tartar.
*You might have to adjust a little according to what you are making because these are liquids being used in place of a powder.
- 1 tsp cream of tartar= 2 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar
Want more from-scratch recipes?
Grab a copy of my ebook Homemade Household: In the Kitchen
25. Self-Rising Flour Substitute
You can replace self-rising flour in a baking recipe with all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- 1 cup self-rising flour= 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1 1/2 tsp baking powder + 1/2 tsp salt
26. Lemon Juice Substitute
White vinegar can be used in place of lemon juice.
- 1 tsp lemon juice= 1/2 tsp white vinegar
27. Soy Sauce Substitute
Use Liquid Aminos in place of soy sauce at a 1:1 ratio.
- 1 TBSP soy sauce= 1 TBSP liquid aminos
28. White Vinegar Substitute
Replace White vinegar with lemon juice at a 1:1 ratio.
- 1 tsp white vinegar= 1 tsp lemon juice
Pin “26+ Homemade Pantry Staple Recipes + Substitutions” for later!
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