There's something about fall that makes me want to spend a little extra time stocking the pantry.
As the weather begins to cool down, I start thinking about warm drinks, baking, soups, and all of those cozy meals we enjoy this time of year. And whenever I can make something myself with ingredients I already keep on hand, I'm usually willing to give it a try.
That's exactly how these four homemade pantry mixes came about.
Today I'm sharing my Homemade Hot Apple Cider Mix, Autumn Pumpkin Spice Mix, Seasoned Salt, and Steak Seasoning. They're all simple to put together, and once they're in the pantry, they're ready whenever I need them.
Why I Make My Own Pantry Mixes
I'm certainly not going to tell you that you have to make everything from scratch. I don't!
But I do like knowing what's in my food.
When I looked at some of the instant apple cider packets at the store, I decided I would rather make my own. I found an apple powder made from 100% Fuji apples and started experimenting.
After a little recipe testing, I came up with a cider mix that I really enjoyed.
And that's one of the advantages of making things yourself-you can adjust them to suit your own family.
Homemade Hot Apple Cider Mix
This was my favorite of the mixes I made for this video. It takes only a few minutes to put together, and then you can keep a jar in the pantry for those cool fall evenings when you want a warm treat.
Ingredients
- 1⅓ cups apple powder
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1½ tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1½ teaspoons ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Whisk everything together very well and transfer to an airtight jar.
To Make One Cup of Hot Apple Cider
Add 3 heaping tablespoons of cider mix to 6-8 ounces of boiling water.
Stir well and add a cinnamon stick if you'd like.
I think the cinnamon stick makes it feel just a little more special!
The Apple Powder I Used
I used a 100% Fuji apple powder for this recipe. If you'd like to see the one I used:
100% Fuji Apple Powder on Amazon
This is not an affiliate link. I'm simply sharing it so you can easily find the apple powder I used.
Autumn Pumpkin Spice Mix
Once fall arrives, pumpkin spice seems to find its way into everything!
Instead of buying another little container at the store, you can make your own in just a couple of minutes.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
Mix everything together and store in a small airtight jar.
Use it anywhere you would normally use pumpkin pie spice-in muffins, quick breads, oatmeal, pancakes, coffee, or your favorite fall desserts.
Homemade Seasoned Salt
This is one of those basic seasonings that's handy to have within reach when you're cooking.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Mix together and store in an airtight jar.
Use it on potatoes, vegetables, chicken, burgers, eggs, or anywhere you'd normally reach for seasoned salt.
Homemade Steak Seasoning
You don't need a long list of ingredients to make a flavorful steak seasoning.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper, or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- ½ tablespoon paprika
- ½ tablespoon ground coriander
Combine everything and store in an airtight jar.
Although we call it steak seasoning, don't let the name limit you. Try it on beef, chicken, potatoes, roasted vegetables, or anything that could use a little extra flavor.
Put Those Homemade Pantry Mixes to Work
One of the things I wanted to show in the video was that I don't make these mixes just so I can have pretty jars sitting on a pantry shelf. I actually use them.
Recently I made a chuck roast in my Instant Pot and used two homemade mixes I had previously made: my Cream of Anything Soup Mix and French Onion Soup Mix.
I added about two large spoonfuls of each mix along with a few cups of water and cooked the roast in the Instant Pot.
And I didn't throw away that flavorful cooking broth!
I saved more than a cup of it and put it in the freezer. Later, I can use that broth as the beginning of a pot of soup or add it to a pot of beans.
That's one of those little things that doesn't take much effort but helps me get a little more mileage out of the food I'm already cooking.
Homemade Cream of Anything Soup Mix
Homemade French Onion Soup Mix
A Little Work Now Makes Cooking Easier Later
That's really the reason I keep making these homemade pantry staples.
A few minutes spent mixing ingredients and filling a jar today can save me time later when I'm trying to get dinner on the table.
I don't make everything from scratch, and I don't think you have to either. I simply look for the things that make sense for our family.
For me, these four mixes are easy enough that they're worth keeping in the pantry.
And that warm mug of homemade apple cider isn't a bad reward for getting the job done!
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