10 Homemade Baking Mixes That Save Money and Time

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I used to bake from scratch quite frequently. You really can't beat a batch of homemade brownies or a loaf of crusty bread, am I right? However, as my life has morphed and changed, my time in the kitchen has dwindled. I eventually found myself relying more heavily on boxed mixes to get by. After a while, I decided to start making my own to save money and banish the questionable ingredients.

Here are some mixes I've made for my kitchen that you should consider stocking in yours.

1. All Purpose Mix

My mom always had a box of Bisquick on hand for making biscuits, waffles, and all sorts of baked goods. Try this all purpose baking mix to fill that gap the homemade way. The magic is in the shortening, which you'll pulse into the flour and other ingredients until the mix resembles fine crumbs.

2. Gluten-Free Mix

If you're sensitive to gluten, try this gluten-free flour mix that works for breads, muffins, cookies, etc. Comparable store bought mixes are around $8 per four cups. This one costs just $12 for a whopping 18 cups of flour. Now that's some major savings!

3. Pancake Mix

I keep a container of DIY pancake mix on hand for busy weekends when I want something substantial to put on the table at breakfast. And creating it couldn't be easier! Tip: I like using wheat pastry flour to make my pancakes fluffy and light.

4. Brownie Mix

Here's homemade brownie mix without all the extra ingredients. Sift together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and even mini chocolate chips. When you're ready to bake, you'll add ½ cup hot water, â…“ cup oil, two eggs, and two teaspoons vanilla extract.

5. Cake Mix

This basic yellow cake mix would work wonderfully for birthday cakes or weekday cupcakes. They key ingredient is nonfat dry milk, which gives the whole cake a fuller flavor. Add in the oil, eggs, and vanilla extract when you need a treat on the hurry.

6. Bread Maker Mix

As if baking loaves inside a machine couldn't be easier, now you can make your own bread mix. Be sure to use bread flour because it contains more gluten, giving the final result the right texture you're after.

7. Cornbread Mix

For quick quick cornbread, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and mix well. When it's time to bake, add butter, egg, milk, and honey and maple syrup for a touch of sweetness.

8. Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

Skip those store-bought tubes of dough and whip up your own chocolate chip cookie mix from scratch. I make cookies all the time, so I can see this one being a huge time-saver for me. The cookie recipe says to use four cups of mix, but I'd split the recipe in half for a smaller batch.

9. Muffin Mix

You can take this muffin mix to the sweet or savory, depending on your needs. What's inside is just flour, sugar, shortening, baking powder, and salt. This recipe will get you a heaping four batches, and I can't wait to try the cheesy cheddar variation.

10. Tortilla Mix

My husband and I eat more tortillas than I'm comfortable sharing. So, we decided this year that we'd like to make our own. This DIY tortilla mix produces delicious wraps at a fraction of the price you'd pay for them at the store. Just combine mix with warm water and knead before cooking atop your stove.

Baking Mix Tips

• Store all baking mixes in airtight containers. Gallon zip bags work well and allow you to write contents directly on whatever you're storing (use permanent markers so nothing wipes off). Otherwise use clean plastic or glass containers.
   
• Always label whatever mix you've made along with any notes on quantity, allergy information, and — of course — the date. If you aren't using zip bags, write this info on an index card and staple or tape to your mix if you need more space.
   
• Furthermore, include clear notes for whatever wet ingredients you must add to the mix to make the finished product. Write out specific bake times and any other special instructions (especially if a mix works for several purposes) whenever necessary.

Do you use pre-mixed homemade baking mixes?

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