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Make Ahead Recipes

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.



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Enter a word or two in the box to find recipes within the make ahead section. You can search the title, ingredients, or entire recipe by selecting the appropriate option.

Recipes  /   make ahead
recipe for hustle bustle butterscotch oatmeal cookies in a jar

Hustle Bustle Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies In A Jar

Made with butterscotch chips, brown sugar, old-fashioned oats, baking mix


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for s'mores in a jar

S'Mores In A Jar

Made with brown sugar, graham cracker crumbs, miniature marshmallows, chocolate chips or candy-coated chocolate pieces


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for muffin mix

Muffin Mix

Made with shortening, muffin mix, lemon pudding mix, poppy seeds, lemon peel, milk, egg, vegetable oil, powdered sugar

Method:   oven
Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for camp cocoa mix

Camp Cocoa Mix

Made with powdered sugar, cocoa drink mix, dry milk powder, coffee creamer


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for cinnamon pancake mix in a jar

Cinnamon Pancake Mix in a Jar

Made with salt, ground cinnamon, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder


Time:   under 30 minutes

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recipe for jambalaya mix

Jambalaya Mix

Made with crushed red pepper, thyme, black pepper, garlic powder, long-grain rice, onion, green bell pepper flakes, parsley, bay leaf, beef bouillon granules


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for vanilla chai tea mix

Vanilla Chai Tea Mix

Made with vanilla extract, teabags, black pepper, fresh ginger root, cloves, cardamom, water, loose Darjeeling tea, cinnamon stick

Method:   stovetop
Time:   30-60 minutes

recipe for colonial cornbread mix (in a jar)

Colonial Cornbread Mix (In A Jar)

Made with baking powder, sugar, biscuit, pancake, or waffle mix, cornmeal


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for mochaccino mix

Mochaccino Mix

Made with powdered chocolate milk mix, powdered creamer, instant coffee granules, ground cinnamon


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for acapulco cafe ole

Acapulco Cafe Ole

Made with cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon, sugar, dry milk powder, instant coffee powder, cocoa powder


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for making cream cheese

Making Cream Cheese

Made with salt, milk, butter, liquid lecithin, mesophilic cheese culture, rennet

Method:   stovetop
Time:   over 5 hours


recipe for 20 cup dry bread mix

20 Cup Dry Bread Mix

Made with dry milk, bread flour, sugar, salt


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for chewy coconut-almond cookies in a jar

Chewy Coconut-Almond Cookies in a Jar

Made with vanilla extract, egg, coconut, sliced almonds, brown sugar, biscuit baking mix, butter or margarine


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for make ahead antipasto

Make Ahead Antipasto

Made with marinated artichoke hearts, carrots, green bell peppers, cauliflower, mushrooms, sweet pickles, celery, black olives, green olives, pickled onions

Method:   stovetop
Time:   1-2 hours


recipe for rose geranium sugar

Rose Geranium Sugar

Made with sugar, rose geranium leaves


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for jelly bean jewels cookie mix in a jar

Jelly Bean Jewels Cookie Mix In A Jar

Made with jelly beans, yellow cake mix, pecans or walnuts, crisped rice cereal


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for basic pudding mixes

Basic Pudding Mixes

Made with salt, sugar, cornstarch


Time:   under 30 minutes


recipe for homemade extracts

Homemade Extracts

Made with navel orange, vanilla beans, brandy, vodka, lemon, water


Time:   over 5 hours

recipe for country soup in a jar

Country Soup in a Jar

Made with alphabet pasta, barley, dried split peas, rice, dry lentils, dried minced onion, parsley, salt, lemon pepper, beef bouillon granules


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for heavenly scented homemade vanilla extract

Heavenly Scented Homemade Vanilla Extract

Made with vanilla beans, vodka


Time:   over 5 hours


recipe for barbecue chicken pasta (freeze ahead)

Barbecue Chicken Pasta (Freeze Ahead)

Made with celery, water, boneless chicken breast without skins, onion, vinegar, brown sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, mustard

Method:   oven
Time:   1-2 hours

recipe for pumpkin mini muffin mix in a jar

Pumpkin Mini Muffin Mix In A Jar

Made with pumpkin, all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, raisins, sweetened dried cranberries, or chopped nuts


Time:   under 30 minutes

recipe for creamy hot buttered rum mix

Creamy Hot Buttered Rum Mix

Made with water, rum, butter, brown sugar, fruit sugar, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, vanilla ice cream


Time:   1-2 hours





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