Why Buy It? Make These 13 Easy Kitchen Staples from Scratch

Why buy it when you can make the ingredients at home? From flavored sugars to buttermilk, syrups, and more, these easy homemade staples are all about using simple, fresh ingredients that make every meal taste better. Whether you’re cooking for family or just for yourself, these DIY basics bring big flavor right from your kitchen.

Chicken Stock

Three mason jars of chicken broth on a counter. — Homemade Chicken Stock. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

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Make your own homemade chicken stock. The process is simple and requires only a pot, a few essential ingredients, and a bit of time. It’s as easy as it can be!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Stock

Homemade Buttermilk

A spoon is scooping a thickened white liquid from a measuring cup, next to a lemon juicer with a halved lemon. — Homemade Buttermilk. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Many recipes require buttermilk, but who really uses enough to justify buying an entire jug? If you’ve ever thought about how to make buttermilk at home, keep reading. There are a few quick and easy methods to create it yourself, helping you save both time and money.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Buttermilk

How To Make Lemon Sugar

Three jars filled with different types of body scrub on a table. — Lemon Sugar. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Looking for an easy way to infuse lemon flavor into your dishes? Your search ends here with this simple two-ingredient lemon sugar. This easy-to-make ingredient is great for adding a tangy twist to everything from cakes and cookies to your favorite beverages.
Get the Recipe: How To Make Lemon Sugar

Homemade Brown Sugar

A close-up view of a bowl of brown sugar with more bowls in the background, a bottle of vanilla extract, and a decorative plant on a kitchen counter. — Homemade Brown Sugar. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Learn how to make brown sugar in just 5 minutes with granulated sugar and molasses. You will always have brown sugar on hand without needing to run to the grocery store at the last minute.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Brown Sugar

Homemade Powdered Sugar

A wooden spoon with powdered sugar from a white bowl, with additional bowls and measuring spoons on a wooden board and a striped cloth in the background. — Homemade Powdered Sugar. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

In those moments when a recipe calls for powdered sugar and you find your pantry lacking, fear not. With just a few simple ingredients and less than 5 minutes, you can make homemade powdered sugar right in your kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Powdered Sugar

Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla bean panna cotta in a glass jar on a pink saucer, with spoons in the background on a marble table. — Homemade Vanilla Sugar. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Learn how to make this two-ingredient spice blend for your cooking and baking. You can also add it to coffee and tea for a sweet vanilla kick.
Get the Recipe: Vanilla Sugar

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Two glass bottles filled with dark liquid, sealed with cork stoppers, and adorned with red and white strings. Vanilla beans are scattered in the foreground, with a jar of clear liquid and vanilla beans in the background. — Homemade Vanilla Extract. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Learn how to make your own vanilla extract at home. It’s a great way to amp up the flavor of your baked goods and culinary creations. Plus, it’s super easy and budget-friendly – only two simple ingredients are needed!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Vanilla Extract

How To Make Lavender Syrup

Glass pitcher of pink liquid on a table surrounded by lavender sprigs. — Lavender Syrup. Photo credit: Best Clean Eating.

Learn How To Make Lavender Syrup at home using our simple recipe. If you have been looking for a sugar-free sweetener with a floral scent to add to your cocktails and lemonade drinks, this homemade lavender syrup will be your new favorite. This recipe for lavender simple syrup is easy to make and is completely sugar-free.
Get the Recipe: How To Make Lavender Syrup

Homemade Ghee

A glass jar of yellow ghee with a metal knife inserted, set on a textured fabric background. — Homemade Ghee. Photo credit: Eat Fresh Glow

Ghee is clarified butter, which is butter with the water and milk solids removed, leaving you with pure butter oil. Homemade ghee is perfect for those who are sensitive to dairy but don’t want to miss out on all that buttery goodness.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Ghee

How To Make Peanut Butter

A bowl of creamy peanut butter next to a dish of peanuts. — How To Make Peanut Butter. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Is Peanut Butter Low in Carbs? In this article, we’re diving into all the deets, handy tips, recipe ideas, and everything you need to know about this gluten-free, diabetic-friendly, and super low-carb treat. Plus, you’ll learn how to whip up peanut butter with just one ingredient in under two minutes!
Get the Recipe: How To Make Peanut Butter

DIY BBQ Rub

You probably know someone in your family who lives to grill and smoke food, and, if so, this DIY BBQ rub recipe is a great idea for a Christmas (or birthday) gift! The ingredients are a perfect blend of spice, savory and sweet flavors, although you can customize it of course. Once you’ve made the rub, you can package it up for a charming homemade look and be sure to impress the lucky recipient.
Get the Recipe: DIY BBQ Rub

Sweet and Sour Sauce

This sweet and sour sauce hits all the right notes—tangy, slightly sweet, and totally gluten-free. Made with simple ingredients like ketchup, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, agave, orange juice, water, and cornstarch, it’s the perfect dipping sauce for egg rolls and more. Best of all, it delivers that classic sweet-and-sour flavor without all the added sugar.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sour Sauce

Lime Simple Syrup

With just three ingredients, this Lime Simple Syrup is the perfect simple syrup recipe for making mojitos, margaritas, Moscow mules, and adding to many other kinds of cocktails, mocktails, smoothies, and more! Add a splash to your favorite drink to give it a sweet and zesty citrus twist!
Get the Recipe: Lime Simple Syrup