Make Ahead Mixes

Saving time and money is what I love doing.  So when I came across this idea to do both at the same time...I jumped on board.  I don't know about you, but I very much dislike pulling out flour, salt, baking soda, powder, and all the mess that goes along with baking.  But, I love the end result...not the mess...the goodies!  So the whole idea of Make Ahead Mixes is a brilliant one to me.  So one day I decided to make up a bunch of mixes.  Cookie mix, brownie mix, and pancake mix...  I got the mess out of the way all at once.  Brilliant, huh?

I did some browsing and found great ideas for different mixes, but really the trick is just to put all the dry ingredients from your favorite recipe in a quart size bag and then write or print a label for the front of the bag with the wet ingredients that you need to add before baking.  Don't forget to add baking temperature, and time of baking.  Make up several of each recipe.  This will save you time later.

Here is my Brownie Mix Recipe

1 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Flour

1/3 Cup Cocoa

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder

Place all of these ingredients in a quart size bag.  Then write on the outside of the bag:

Add:  2 Eggs, 1/4 Cup Cooking Oil, 1/4 Cup Water, 1 teaspoon Vanilla.

350 degrees for 25 minutes.

This recipe works best in an 8x8 pan.

Heart, Hands, and Home has quite a few mix recipes if you need some ideas.

Fake it Frugal has a wonderful Betty Crocker Cookie Mix recipe.  This will save a bunch of money as those convenience mixes are EXPENSIVE.

I really like the IHOP copycat pancake recipe at Semi Homemade Mom.  That's what's in my pancake mix bags.  I think I'll make these for dinner tonight!

Not only are these mixes a great time and money saver, they are a great little Thank You or Hostess gift.  Just fancy up a brown bag and share with friends.

Next, I'm gonna make some banana/apple bread mixes and try out a pizza dough mix.  What kind  of mixes are you thinking of making??

Blessings,

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