25 Simple Homemade Ingredients You Can Make

Simple homemade recipes are the best way to bring comfort to your kitchen. These dishes are easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect for any occasion. Whether you're cooking for a crowd or just for yourself, there's something great about homemade meals that can't be beat.

Homemade Buttermilk

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Many recipes call for buttermilk, but who uses enough to warrant buying a whole jug? If you’ve ever wondered how to make buttermilk, read on. There are several quick and simple methods for making it yourself and saving time and money.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Buttermilk

Vanilla Sugar

Learn how to make this two-ingredient spices blend for your cooking and baking, or add it to coffee and tea for a sweet vanilla kick. Sugar and your favorite vanilla beans are all you need.
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 Lemon Sugar

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

Are you looking for a simple way to add a burst of lemon flavor to your edible creations? Search no more; the solution lies with this simple two-ingredient lemon sugar. This easy-to-make ingredient is perfect for adding a tangy twist to everything from cakes and cookies to your favorite drinks.
Get the Recipe: How to Make Lemon Sugar

Homemade Brown Sugar

Two bowls of brown sugar rest on a marble surface, accompanied by molasses and a sugar bowl in the background, creating a simple homemade scene. — 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 a last-minute grocery store run.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Brown Sugar

Pumpkin Pie Spice

A bowl filled with a heap of brown powdered spice, with two cloves visible beside it on a white surface. — Pumpkin Pie Spice. Photo credit: Rachna Cooks.

Pumpkin pie spice is my favorite spice mix to make in Fall. Use it in your savory and sweet recipes to elevate your dishes. Very easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Spice

Homemade Powered 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 Powered 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 Powered Sugar

Garam Masala Spice Mix

A white bowl filled with ground spice mix on a marble surface, surrounded by scattered coriander seeds and dried spices. — Garam Masala Spice Mix. Photo credit: Rachna Cooks.

This fragrant spice mix or garam masala is an essential ingredient when making Indian curries or sides. Make this at home and enjoy the freshness.
Get the Recipe: Garam Masala Spice Mix

How to Make Lavender Syrup

Pitcher filled with lavender syrup. — How to Make 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

The Best Five Spice Powder Substitute

Assorted chinese spices in small bowls on a dark surface, featuring ground spice in the foreground and whole spices in the background. — The Best Five Spice Powder Substitute. Photo credit: Best Clean Eating.

This homemade Chinese Five Spice Powder Substitute Recipe brings the flavors of the best Chinese dishes. With just five simple ingredients, this best Chinese five spice offers an authentic taste that can enhance your recipes. Forget those store-bought versions and start making your Chinese five-spice substitute home.
Get the Recipe: The Best Five Spice Powder Substitute

How to Make Stevia Powder Using Stevia Leaves

Stevia powder in a bowl on a table. — How to Make Stevia Powder Using Stevia Leaves. Photo credit: Best Clean Eating.

Learn how to make Stevia Powder, a natural sweetener extracted from the Stevia plant. In this easy-to-follow recipe, I will show you how to sweeten your dishes with a homemade powdered sweetener without the need for artificial additives. You can also make powdered stevia and liquid stevia by making stevia extract at home using vodka, resulting in a versatile and all-natural sweetener for your culinary adventures.
Get the Recipe: How to Make Stevia Powder Using Stevia Leaves

Indian Spice Blend

Whole spices inside a golden bowl. — Indian Spice Blend. Photo credit: Best Clean Eating.

Collect 12 Essential Spices for Indian Cooking you should have in your pantry at all times. Make your Indian spice blend for everyday use for your Indian dishes such as curry, dahl, or biryani.
Get the Recipe: Indian Spice Blend

Homemade Peanut Butter

Making your own homemade peanut butter recipe is a game-changer. With just roasted peanuts and a food processor or high-speed blender, you can create a smooth, creamy spread that's free of additives.
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Homemade Almond Butter

I love this easy homemade almond butter and can't believe it's so simple to make! Just one ingredient and a high-powered blender, and you can make this gooey, creamy delicious almond butter in 1 minute.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Almond Butter

Sticky Teriyaki Sauce

Easy Sticky Teriyaki Sauce and Marinade in just 10 minutes! Whip up a bold umami condiment that's not only a sauce but also a marinade, adding Asian flavors to your dishes. This thick and tasty sticky teriyaki sauce recipe is perfect as a stir-fry sauce or glaze.
Get the Recipe: Sticky Teriyaki Sauce

How to Make Tomato Paste

A wooden spoon holding a portion of red tomato paste with visible texture, above a bowl containing more paste. — How to Make Tomato Paste. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Once you know how to make tomato paste, you'll want to make your own every time. It tastes so rich, fresh, sweet, and tangy. You'll love it.
Get the Recipe: How to Make Tomato Paste

Beef Bone Broth

A glass and pitcher of light-colored broth with a sprig of rosemary, set on a table next to a spoon and a basket of bread. — Beef Bone Broth. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

It’s so easy to make beef bone broth at home. Beef bone broth, or “brodo di carne”, will make the whole house smell incredible while it cooks and the flavour is the perfect addition to many recipes.
Get the Recipe: Beef Bone Broth

DIY BBQ Rub

Glass jars filled with BBQ rub, each with a wooden spoon attached by twine. Labels read "Sweet & Smoky BBQ Rub." They are arranged in a kitchen setting. — DIY BBQ Rub. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

This all-purpose DIY BBQ rub gift jar is a blend of spices that pairs with chicken, pork and beef for grilled, roasted or smoked meats.
Get the Recipe: DIY BBQ Rub

Sweet and Sour Sauce

A jar of tomato sauce with a wooden spoon on a marble surface, next to a bread roll. — Sweet and Sour Sauce. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

This sweet and sour sauce isn’t just delicious, it’s also gluten-free, combining the perfect ratios of sweetness and sourness.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sour Sauce

Homemade Cajun Seasoning

A white bowl filled with a red-brown seasoning mix, with a spoon inside. Additional spices and wooden spoons are placed nearby on a striped cloth. — Homemade Cajun Seasoning. Photo credit: Blackberry Babe.

It's easy to make your own homemade Cajun Seasoning! This recipe is the perfect blend of common ingredients already in your spice drawer.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Cajun Seasoning

Homemade Chicken Rub

A glass jar filled with a mixed spice blend, featuring red and green herbs, sits on a light-colored surface next to a gray cloth. — Homemade Chicken Rub. Photo credit: Blackberry Babe.

This all-purpose chicken rub recipe is wonderful on any cut of chicken, whether your grilling, smoking or baking! Say goodbye to expensive store-bought rubs and hello to this delicious homemade seasoning!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Chicken Rub

Homemade Cinnamon Sugar

Homemade cinnamon sugar is delicious on top of baked goods, on the rim of a cocktail or mixed into your morning coffee. This easy recipe is one you can bottle and keep in your pantry anytime you need it!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Cinnamon Sugar

beef bouillon

Homemade Beef Bouillon Powder is a simple 5‑minute recipe that will change the way you season your favorite dishes. ⁠ This delicious umami seasoning is completely vegan and gluten-free.⁠ It's free of fillers, additives and preservatives, incredibly delicious and easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Beef bouillon

Chicken Bouillon Powder

Homemade chicken bouillon powder is your one-stop kitchen solution for punching up the chicken flavor in stocks, soups and stews, gravies and casseroles. It's loaded with herbs and spices that you would use to season chicken, but it's vegan, gluten-free & dairy-free.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bouillon Powder

Lime Simple Syrup

With just 3 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! Just add a splash to your favorite drink to give it a sweet and zesty citrus twist!
Get the Recipe: Lime Simple Syrup