Homemade Ingredients You Can Make to Enhance Your Recipes

Making homemade ingredients means you can enjoy the freshest flavors while avoiding unnecessary trips to the store. With just a few simple steps and common pantry items, you can create a variety of essential ingredients right in your kitchen. Explore these 17 homemade ingredients that will not only enhance your cooking but also bring a personal touch to your culinary creations!

Chicken Stock

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

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Craft your own homemade chicken stock with ease. The process is straightforward and requires just a pot, a few essential ingredients, and some time, making it a simple addition to your cooking routine.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Stock

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.

When a recipe calls for powdered sugar and you realize you’re out, don’t worry! In less than 5 minutes, you can whip up your own homemade powdered sugar using just a few simple ingredients right in your kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Powdered Sugar

Homemade Croutons

A bowl filled with seasoned croutons. — Homemade Croutons. Photo credit: Six Hungry Feet.

Use your Air Fryer to make croutons effortlessly and mess-free! These Easy Air Fryer Croutons are a delicious addition to salads or soups, made with simple ingredients like bread, olive oil, dried herbs, and garlic powder.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Croutons

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Two glass bottles filled with dark vanilla extract and several loose vanilla beans. — Homemade Vanilla Extract. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Discover the simplicity of making your own vanilla extract at home. This easy and cost-effective method enhances the flavor of your baked goods and other culinary creations with just two basic ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Vanilla Extract

Homemade Brown Sugar

Two bowls of brown sugar on a marble countertop, with a bottle of molasses and a copper pot in the background. — Homemade Brown Sugar. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

In just 5 minutes, you can create brown sugar using granulated sugar and molasses. This quick method ensures you’ll always have brown sugar on hand without needing to make a last-minute trip to the store.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Brown Sugar

Homemade Buttermilk

Many recipes call for buttermilk, but buying a whole jug can be unnecessary. If you’re curious about making buttermilk at home, there are several quick and easy methods that can save you both time and money.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Buttermilk

How To Make Lemon Sugar

Three jars of lemon sugar sitting on a marble table. — How To Make Lemon Sugar. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Want to add a zesty lemon flavor to your dishes? This easy two-ingredient lemon sugar is the perfect solution, ideal for enhancing everything from cakes and cookies to your favorite beverages.
Get the Recipe: How To Make Lemon Sugar

Vanilla Sugar

Create your own vanilla sugar blend with just two ingredients. Perfect for cooking and baking, or to sweeten your coffee and tea, all you need is sugar and your choice of vanilla beans.
Get the Recipe: Vanilla Sugar

Chicken Bouillon Powder

Homemade chicken bouillon powder is the perfect kitchen staple for enhancing the flavor of stocks, soups, stews, gravies, and casseroles. Packed with herbs and spices, it’s a vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free option.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bouillon Powder

How to Make Tomato Puree

A bowl of smooth, red tomato sauce on a light-colored surface. — How to Make Tomato Puree. Photo credit: Rachna Cooks.

This recipe is ideal for making homemade tomato puree, especially when you have an abundance of ripe tomatoes. Enjoy the fresh taste all year round!
Get the Recipe: How to Make Tomato Puree

Homemade Cashew Butter

A jar of creamy peanut butter with a knife in it sits on a wooden cutting board. A slice of bread with raspberry jam is partially visible in the background. — Homemade Cashew Butter. Photo credit: Six Hungry Feet.

Making your own nut butter is incredibly simple and rewarding. With just cashews, a pinch of salt, and a food processor, you can create creamy cashew butter that will have you hooked!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Cashew Butter

Hibiscus Simple Syrup

This Hibiscus Simple Syrup features a delightful sweet-tart balance and can be used in a variety of delicious mocktails and cocktails, adding a unique twist to your beverages.
Get the Recipe: Hibiscus Simple Syrup

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie spice is my go-to spice blend for fall. It’s incredibly easy to make and can enhance both savory and sweet recipes.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Spice

DIY BBQ Rub

This versatile DIY BBQ rub is a blend of spices perfect for seasoning chicken, pork, and beef, whether you're grilling, roasting, or smoking. It also makes a great gift in a jar!
Get the Recipe: DIY BBQ Rub

Sticky Teriyaki Sauce

Whip up a delicious Sticky Teriyaki Sauce and Marinade in just 10 minutes! This thick and flavorful condiment adds a bold umami taste to your dishes and works wonderfully as a stir-fry sauce or glaze.
Get the Recipe: Sticky Teriyaki Sauce

Homemade Ghee

Ghee, or clarified butter, removes water and milk solids from butter, resulting in pure butter oil. Homemade ghee is perfect for those sensitive to dairy but still want to enjoy that rich, buttery flavor.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Ghee

Four Homemade Powdered Sugars

When you find your pantry lacking powdered sugar, there's no need to panic! With just a few simple ingredients, you can create homemade powdered sugar in under 5 minutes, right in your kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Powdered Sugar