You may recall the sourdough craze from early quarantine days or chefs like Ina Garten raving about homemade salad dressings. The idea that you can make everything at home from scratch can seem overwhelming to anyone, but not every dish is difficult to make. Here are 15 foods you can make at home.
Bread
Homemade bread sounds like a time taking task, but it’s actually pretty simple. Flour, water, yeast, and a little time are all you need to make a fresh loaf that tastes much better than the packet you buy at the grocery store. You can multitask while making bread. Knead the dough and let it rest in the kitchen. Sticking to a weekly baking day makes meal planning easier, and if you bake extra, just freeze a loaf for later.
Bagels
Homemade bagels might sound like a hassle, but they’re actually pretty easy. The trick is to boil the dough for a bit before baking—that’s what gives them that classic chewy texture. All you need is flour, water, yeast, salt, and a little sweetness from honey or malt syrup. Once you get the hang of it, you can go wild with toppings—sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or even cinnamon and raisins.
Pasta
Italians make pasta from scratch because it’s healthy and has no nasty preservatives. All you need are eggs, flour, and some effort to knead and roll out the dough. Fresh pasta cooks in 4-5 minutes once you cut it into your favorite shape. Since you’re making it in your kitchen, you can flavor it with spinach, beets, or even squid ink (yes, we’re serious) for a gourmet touch without the restaurant price tag.
Yogurt
Making yogurt in a crockpot takes time, but luckily, it’s mostly hands-off. Pour in the milk, set it to low, and walk away. After a few hours, turn it off and forget about it. Later, stir in a bit of yogurt starter, then leave it alone again—if you leave it overnight, you’ll get the best results. By morning, you’ll have fresh yogurt with barely any effort.
Whipping Cream
Who doesn’t love a bowl of cool whipped cream on a sunny day? The best part is that it’s very easy to make. Just pour cold whipping cream into a bowl, add any sweeteners or flavors you like, and whip until stiff peaks form. You’ll know it’s ready when a little peak holds its shape after lifting the whisk. But don’t go too far, or you’ll accidentally make butter!
Applesauce
Homemade applesauce is one of those things that will make you think why you ever bought it from the store. The toughest part of this recipe is peeling and coring the apples. If you’re making a big batch, getting help or investing in a peeler/corer is worth it. Once you’re done, chop up the apples, toss in some spices (cinnamon is the best), a few drops of lemon juice and water, then let the crockpot do the work for about four hours.
Fruit Roll-Ups
All you have to do to make fruit roll-ups or gummies is make a puree of a fruit of your choice and spread that puree onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 170°F or dry in a dehydrator for about three hours until it feels dry but still a little sticky. Now, here’s something you need to see: If it peels off completely, you’ve made fruit chips instead (not a bad result, just not what you were going for).
Noodles and Ravioli
Remember how our grandma made noodles from scratch for Thanksgiving that were so fresh and tasted better than the ones we get from the store? You can make noodles from three ingredients—flour, water, and salt. Eggs are optional here. You can also use the same dough to make ravioli—just add your filling, lay another sheet of dough on top, and cut them out with a round cookie cutter.
Ice cream
If you have a Kitchenaid, making ice cream at home is the easiest thing as the attachment does all the hard work for you. Just mix 1 cup of milk, 2 cups of cream, and half a cup of sugar. Stir well, add the flavors you like (vanilla, strawberry, etc), and let the churner do the work. Before you know it, you’ll have creamy ice cream made just the way you like it!
Marshmallows
Marshmallows are just sugar and gelatin, but the key to making them is to whip them in a ton of air extremely fast (that’s why we recommend using a Kitchenaid mixer for this). First, cool the gelatin with water, and then heat up the sugar mixture. Slowly combine the two while cranking up the mixer to full speed. When you hear the motor working hard, it’s ready to pour into a mold. Let it sit for about two hours, then cut into soft, fluffy marshmallows.
Trail Mix
Buying pre-made trail mix is basically throwing money away because homemade version is the same thing. Buy different kinds of nuts and seeds (watch out for allergies), unsweetened coconut, dried fruit, and maybe a handful of dark chocolate cacao nibs. Mix it all up, then portion it into small bags or containers so you’re set for the week—and so you don’t end up eating the whole batch in one sitting!
Chia Seed Smoothie
Chia seeds are filled with fiber to keep you full and omega-3s to help fight inflammation. The trick? Don’t blend them in—just stir in about 2 tablespoons after your smoothie is done. Let it sit for a few minutes so the seeds can soak up the liquid and thicken things up. Want to mix it up? Toss some into a yogurt parfait for an extra boost.
Tea
Sometimes, you just want a comforting cup of something delicious—without all the sugar, chemicals, nasty preservatives, and regret. There are so many flavors to try, from classic green tea to herbal blends like chamomile, rooibos, or licorice root. Just grab some dried tea leaves, add a tablespoon to hot water, and let it steep for a few minutes. That’s it!
Sweet Potato Soufflé
If you go out to eat this dish, you’ll be paying anywhere between $16.99 to $35.99, but making the same version at home costs less than $7. Sure, you could bake a sweet potato (if you’re feeling lazy), but this version has that extra oomph. It’s perfect as a snack or side and works great before or after a workout—giving you energy without making you feel too full.
Hummus
There’s no need to buy hummus when you can make a better-tasting version at home. Blend canned chickpeas (buy from your nearby store), tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil until smooth—it’s that easy. If you want to mix things up, add roasted red peppers, a dash of cumin, or extra garlic for a flavor boost. Scoop it up with pita, spread it on sandwiches, or dip in your favorite veggies.
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