There is something so convenient about reaching into the pantry and pulling out a mix when you want to bake something.

But that convenience doesn't necessarily have to come from a box at the grocery store.

As I start getting my pantry ready for fall baking, I'm making some of the baking mixes and pantry staples I know I'll use during the cooler months and eventually through the holidays. And I decided homemade brownie mix would be a pretty good place to start!

This recipe makes a bulk brownie mix that you can store in an airtight container in your pantry. When you're ready for brownies, simply measure out 3 cups of the mix, add a handful of basic ingredients, and you've got an 8×8 pan ready for the oven.

Of course, there was one important requirement before this mix earned a permanent place in my pantry:

The brownies actually had to taste good!

So I made the mix, immediately baked a pan and gave them the official taste test.

I'm happy to report that this recipe is a keeper.

Why I Like Keeping Homemade Baking Mixes in My Pantry

I've been making more and more of the things I used to automatically buy at the grocery store.

For me, this isn't about believing that everything has to be homemade. It's about deciding which homemade foods actually make sense for our family.

A pantry mix like this one gives me much of the same convenience as a boxed brownie mix. The flour, cocoa, sugars, baking powder and salt are already measured and combined.

The next time we want brownies, most of the work is already done.

That's especially helpful during busy weeks and as we get closer to fall and holiday baking.

It also lets me use ingredients I already keep in my pantry rather than buying another packaged mix.

Watch Me Make the Brownie Pantry Mix

In the video, I'm making the full pantry batch, baking an 8×8 pan, and giving the finished brownies a taste test before deciding whether this recipe deserves a place in my pantry.

Homemade Brownie Pantry Mix

Ingredients

• 5 cups granulated sugar
• 3½ cups powdered sugar
• 3½ cups all-purpose flour
• 3¼ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon baking powder

Instructions

Add all of the ingredients to a very large mixing bowl.

Whisk everything together thoroughly. Take your time with this step. You want the cocoa, flour, sugars, salt and baking powder evenly distributed throughout the entire batch.

Transfer the finished brownie mix to a large airtight container or Mason jars.

Label your container Brownie Mix and include the baking instructions so you don't have to look up the recipe every time you want to use it.

Store the dry mix in a cool, dry pantry.

How to Make Brownies From the Mix

For one 8×8-inch pan of brownies, you'll need:

• 3 cups homemade brownie mix
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons water or coffee
• Up to 1 cup chocolate chips, chopped walnuts or other add-ins, optional

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan.

Measure 3 cups of the brownie pantry mix into a mixing bowl.

Add the eggs, vanilla, melted butter and water or coffee. Stir until everything is combined.

If you'd like, fold in up to 1 cup of chocolate chips, walnuts or another favorite brownie addition.

Spread the batter evenly in your prepared 8×8 pan.

Bake at 350°F for approximately 40-45 minutes. Because ovens and preferences vary, I recommend beginning to check your brownies a little earlier. A toothpick inserted into the center should no longer have wet batter on it. If you prefer fudgier brownies, don't wait until the toothpick is completely dry.

Allow the brownies to cool before cutting.

Water or Coffee?

The recipe gives you the option of using either water or coffee.

If you're worried that adding coffee will make your brownies taste like a cup of coffee, don't be! A small amount of coffee can simply deepen and enhance the chocolate flavor.

But water works perfectly well, too.

Use whichever you have and prefer.

Make Them Your Own

One of the nice things about having the basic brownie mix prepared ahead of time is that every pan doesn't have to be exactly the same.

Try adding:

• Chocolate chips
• Chopped walnuts or pecans
• Peanut butter chips
• White chocolate chips
• Toffee pieces
• A combination of your family's favorites

You can also leave them completely plain. That's the beauty of starting with a basic pantry mix.

Don't Fill Your Pantry With Food Your Family Won't Eat

This is one of my biggest rules when it comes to stocking a pantry.

A bargain isn't really a bargain if nobody eats it, and making something from scratch doesn't automatically make it worth keeping.

That's why I baked a pan of these brownies immediately after making the mix.

I wanted to know whether we actually liked them before I decided this was something worth making again.

And these passed the test!

That's one more homemade convenience mix I can now keep on the shelf and use when we want a quick dessert.

Getting My Pantry Ready for Fall Baking

This brownie mix is the first recipe in my Fall Baking Pantry series.

Rather than waiting until I'm in the middle of fall and holiday baking, I'm going through my pantry now and thinking about what I can prepare ahead of time.

Some things may be homemade mixes. Others may simply be ingredients I want to make sure I have stocked before I need them.

The goal isn't to create a picture-perfect pantry filled with matching jars.

The goal is much simpler:

Make baking easier by having the things I actually use ready when I need them.

That's my kind of pantry.

If you're getting your pantry ready for fall, I'd love to know what baking ingredients and homemade mixes you always like to have on hand.

And remember: you don't have to prepare everything at once. A few useful things added to the pantry now can make life a whole lot easier later.