Stir up this cornbread mix and keep it on hand for anytime you want to add a little southern flair to your meal. Keeps well for several months.
Time: under 30 minutes
Make Ahead Recipes
Have you ever started cooking something and wished you had prepared some of it in advance to save time? Or, have you gone to grab something out of the pantry only to realize you're out of it? Frustrating, right?
That's where these "make ahead" recipes come in handy!
Maybe you like the convenience of having baking or biscuit mix on hand so you can whip up a batch of something quick? The mixes in the store can get expensive and often contain extra ingredients you don't need or want. You can make your own at home for pennies compared to what the commercial versions cost.
Not only are homemade mixes healthier since they don't contain preservatives and the additives manufacturers put in to maintain shelf life, but they'll usually taste a heck of a lot better too.
jump to the recipes
Gotta-Have-It Cornbread Mix
Caribbean Tea Mix
This tea mix is the perfect way to enjoy the tropical flavors of the Caribbean. It's a delicious blend of sweet tea, pineapple, and orange with a hint of coconut extract.
Time: under 30 minutes
Chocolate Malt Coffee Creamer
A good powdered coffee creamer is never a bad thing to have on hand. This malted blend is a major improvement on plain store-bought creamer.
Time: under 30 minutes
Evaporated Skim Milk Substitute
As long as you've got the ratio right, you'll never need to run out to the store for evaporated milk again. One less thing to clutter your pantry.
Time: under 30 minutes
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Cinnamon And Spice Flavored Creamer
This powdered creamer is easy peasy. Just add sugar, spice, and everything nice. Perfect holiday-spiced java every time.
Time: under 30 minutes
Sugar-Free Vanilla Coffee Creamer
You can still make a sweet, creamy cup of Joe without the added sugar. This pre-mixed blend with a touch of vanilla is a great option to have on hand.
Time: under 30 minutes
Make-Ahead Lasagna Rolls
Change up your lasagna routine. Not only does this twist on traditional lasagna turn them into pasta roll-ups, it can also be made ahead of time and frozen.
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Freezer Garlic Bread
A great make-ahead recipe. Simply fill the sliced bread with a garlic butter spread and freeze until you are ready to bake it.
Method: oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Gingerbread Coffee Mix
Mixing spices, powdered coffee creamer, and instant coffee together makes an all-in-one instant gingerbread coffee.
Time: under 30 minutes
Half-And-Half Substitute
Half-and-half is basically milk with a higher fat content. So it's easy to make your own substitute by upping the fat content of regular milk.
Time: under 30 minutes
Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
This flavorful gravy made from roasted turkey wings can be made up to a week in advance (longer if you freeze the gravy). Perfect time saver over the holidays.
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 2-5 hours
Almond Pancake Mix
Made with salt, sugar, nonfat dry milk, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, almonds, baking powder
Time: under 30 minutes
Cinnamon Pancake Mix in a Jar
Made with salt, ground cinnamon, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder
Time: under 30 minutes
Gluten-Free Baking Mix
This baking mix is perfect for people who are gluten-intolerant or have celiac disease (or who are just avoiding gluten).
Time: under 30 minutes
Malted Hot Cocoa Mix
Make-ahead mixes like this are so convenient. Whether you're setting up camp outdoors or just settling in for a chilly night at home, a spectacular homemade "just add...
Time: under 30 minutes
Pancake Mix in a Bag
With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a batch of dry pancake mix that can be stored for weeks and used whenever you crave fluffy and delicious pancakes.
Time: under 30 minutes
Pumpkin Pie Coffee Creamer
Make your own pumpkin pie coffee. The ground ginger in there really sends it over the edge. You can take this stuff with you wherever you need a holiday-flavored cup of joe....
Time: under 30 minutes
Basic Homemade Croutons
This recipe is a win-win. Use up your day old bread; get a crunchy salad topping to boot. Bread and butter is all you need for these crispy broiled croutons.
Method: oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Mocha Creamer
This mocha creamer recipe offers a no-fuss way to enjoy flavored coffee without the need for store-bought options.
Time: under 30 minutes
Cornbread Croutons
Take your dry cornbread, cut into bite size, give a coat of butter and bake until crispy. Your soups and salads just got a new side kick.
Method: oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Beefy Taco Seasoning Mix
This is a great substitute for the packaged taco seasoning you buy at the store. This version has extra "beefy" flavor. Use anytime you need a little Mexican flavor...
Time: under 30 minutes
Easy-Bake Oven Chocolate Cake Mix
Keep this Easy-Bake Oven chocolate cake mix on hand so the kids can whip up their own chocolate cakes anytime they like. Just add water and bake!
Method: oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Easy-Bake Oven Lemon or White Cake Mix
An easy make-ahead mix for the Hasbro Easy-Bake Oven for kids. You can use other drink mix powder for even more flavor variations.
Time: under 30 minutes
Colored Sugar
This colored sugar is so easy to make, and has so much potential for amazing desserts. Just a few drops of food coloring and you can beautifully decorate cakes, cookies and other...
Time: under 30 minutes
Make Ahead and Freeze Oven Meatballs
Make ahead today for a last minute dinner idea later or keep on hand to use in another recipe.
Method: oven
Time: 30-60 minutes
Hazelnut Cream Coffee Topping
This recipe works great in a whipped cream dispenser if you have one. If not, simply mix the ingredients with a hand mixer until fluffy and then drop by spoonfuls onto the...
Time: under 30 minutes
Freezer Frosting
Add a sweet finish to your desserts with this frosting recipe, a creamy, versatile topping that can be prepared in advance and stored for in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Time: under 30 minutes
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Mix In A Jar
Perfect for busy lives, this oatmeal raisin cookie mix allows you to enjoy freshly baked cookies with little effort, leaving you then spare time to conquer your next...
Time: under 30 minutes
Creamy Flavored Coffee Sweetener
This simple recipe nails the ratio of skim milk with the sweet stuff for a satisfying coffee creamer that can be modified to whatever seasonal flavor desires strike...
Time: under 30 minutes
Au Jus (Brown Stock)
This rich brown stock can be used as a soup base, or in any recipe calling for beef broth or stock.
Method: stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Make Your Own Self-Rising Flour
Use this homemade self-rising flour recipe for all your baking needs. Works for breads, cakes, muffins, and more.
Time: under 30 minutes
Candy Cane Hot Cocoa Mix
Candy canes aren't just a pretty garnish for mugs of cocoa made with this instant mix, they also provide a sweet minty flavor that's perfect for holiday season.
Time: under 30 minutes
Spiced Rum Vanilla Extract
This recipe is for a spiced rum vanilla extract that is made with just two ingredients: spiced rum and vanilla beans. The extract can be used in baking or to make cocktails.
Time: over 5 hours
Coleman's Cold and Cough Juice
'Tis the season for... getting sick. This home remedy will soothe your cough or sore throat, and warm you up.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Homemade Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Making homemade sun-dried tomatoes is a fantastic way to preserve the best tomatoes of the summer and use them for pizzas, pastas, and salads for months to come.
Method: oven
Time: over 5 hours
Homemade Confectioner's (Powdered) Sugar
Need powdered sugar but don't have any? Make your own with just two ingredients.
Time: under 30 minutes
Instant Cream Sauce Mix
Make ahead and use as needed. This cream sauce mix works great in a pinch for topping vegetables, seafood, or anywhere you need a white sauce.
Time: under 30 minutes
International House Of Coffee Flavored Coffees
Made with orange flavored piece of hard candy, creamer, sugar, instant coffee, baking cocoa
Time: under 30 minutes
Orange Cappuccino Drink Mix
Made with cinnamon, dried orange peel, powdered non-dairy creamer, sugar, instant coffee
Time: under 30 minutes
Tortilla Soup Mix In A Jar
Made with chicken bouillon granules, lemon pepper, dried cilantro, garlic powder, cumin, dried oregano, salt, onion, long grain rice, tortilla chips
Time: under 30 minutes
French Vanilla Cocoa Mix
Made with salt, nondairy powdered creamer, hot cocoa powder, nonfat dry milk, confectioners' sugar, French vanilla flavored nondairy powdered creamer
Time: under 30 minutes
Camp Cocoa Mix
Made with powdered sugar, cocoa drink mix, dry milk powder, coffee creamer
Time: under 30 minutes
Cafe Swiss Mocha Flavored Coffee
Made with baking cocoa, coffee creamer, sugar, instant coffee
Time: under 30 minutes
Barbie's Pretty Pink Easy-Bake Oven Cake
Made with baking powder, salt, red sugar crystals, vegetable oil, milk, shortening, powdered sugar, vanilla extract
Time: 30-60 minutes
Beef Vegetable and Barley Soup Starter Mix
Made with black pepper, bay leaf, barley, dried basil, dried split peas, dried oregano, beef bouillon cubes
Time: under 30 minutes
Sugar-Free Spiced Tea Mix
Made with ground cloves, ground cinnamon, iced tea mix with lemon, orange breakfast drink mix
Time: under 30 minutes
Low-Sodium Dry Onion Soup Mix
Made with paprika, black pepper, onion, beef bouillon granules, onion powder
Time: under 30 minutes
It may look like a sad little package shoved in the back of your freezer, but frozen spinach actually has a lot of culinary uses (and some may surprise you).
Make your mornings a little less hectic with these overnight breakfast recipes. Prep the night before and enjoy a warm, comforting meal in the morning.
Love the spinach dip at restaurants like TGIFriday's and the Olive Garden? Make it at home with these easy-to-follow copycat recipes.