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Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. Soon, I’ll be spending a lot of time in my kitchen cooking and baking for my two favorite holidays. Here’s what our family is stocking up on now for holiday baking.
Starting in mid-October, I start trying out the new recipes that I’d like to serve for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and the handful of birthdays we have during that time. I start planning out gifts we want to make, and the kitchen projects the children would like to take on. Then, it is time to make sure we have everything on hand to make that happen.
Now that we have you set up with the essential baking equipment, it’s time to stock your pantry so that holiday baking will be more enjoyable, less rushed, and won’t require last-minute trips to the market.
Pantry Staples
Pantry staples are the items that you should always have on hand for baking, no matter the time of year. These items have a long shelflife and tend to be readily available in a variety of markets.
- All-Purpose Flour, Bread Flour, Pastry Flour, Whole Wheat Flour
- White Sugar, Brown/Dark Brown Sugar, Powdered Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Honey, Maple Syrup, Molasses
- Vanilla Extract
- Baking Soda, Baking Powder, Yeast
- Kosher Salt
- Cocoa Powder
- Evaporated & Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Peanut Butter
- Oil/Shortening
And while not necessarily a pantry staple, there is a handful of ingredients that you should have on hand in your refrigerator.
- Butter
- Lard (for pie crusts)
- Eggs
- Cream Cheese
- Sour Cream
Spices & Extracts
I purchase most of my spices at the Amish market because I can get the volume I need at a great price, and then I just refill my containers. For some spices, I go to our local health food store because they carry items in bulk, and I can purchase just what I need to make a recipe.
- Almond Extract
- Anise Extract or Anisette Liquor
- Lemon Extract
- Peppermint Extract
- Ground & Stick Cinnamon
- Whole & Ground Cloves
- Whole Nutmeg
- Ginger
- Cardamom
- Allspice
Chocolate & Other Mix-Ins
When you are making cookies, quick breads, and other treats there are a lot of customizations you can do to make the recipe uniquely yours. This is where chocolate and other mix-ins come in handy.
- Semisweet, Milk, and Dark Chocolate Chips
- Mini Chocolate Chips
- White Chocolate Chips
- Butterscotch Chips
- Dried Cranberries
- Dried Cherries
- Raisins
- Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds, Hazelnuts
- Old-Fashioned Oats
- Coconut
Other Ingredients for Holiday Baking
Here are the remaining items I like to keep on hand specifically for holiday baking (and baking in general).
- Maraschino Cherries
- Dried, Candied Fruits – cherries, pineapple, citron, mixed peel
- Food Coloring
- Jimmies, Sprinkles, and Dragees
- Sanding Sugar
- Raw Sugar
- Meringue Powder
- Marzipan
- Almond Paste
- Seedless Raspberry Jam
- Apricot Jam
- Pie Fillings – homemade or store-bought
- Canned Pumpkin
- Graham Cracker Crumbs
- Heavy Cream
- Non-Stick Baking Spray with Flour
- Puffed Pastry Sheets
- Fillo Pastry
Non-Food Items for Holiday Baking
There are some non-grocery items that are good to keep on hand through the holidays as well. Here are a few of my favorites.
- Parchment Paper
- Waxed Paper
- Cling Wrap
- Non-Stick Foil
- Cookie Tins or other airtight containers
- Piping bags
- Cupcake Liners
- Foil Pans
- Bamboo Skewers
- Bakery Boxes
Holiday Baking Essentials
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