FLOUR

Flour provides the structure for all baked goods because it contains proteins that interact with liquids to create gluten.

Whole Wheat Flour

A denser, healthier replacement for all-purpose flour.

Bread Flour

The higher protein content in bread flour works great when used for chewy, yeast bread.

Cake Flour

The lower protein content in cake flour works great to make light, spongey cakes.

Cornstarch

Finely ground corn flour is used to thicken sauces, fillings, and puddings.

Gluten-Free Flours

Nut and seed flours, like almond flour, coconut flour, oat flour, and other gluten-free options are great for allergy-friendly baking.

LEAVENERS

Leaveners create chemical reactions in your baked goods that cause them to expand and rise. You’ll need these essential leaveners for almost every recipe:

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a base, so it needs to interact with an acidic ingredient, like buttermilk, lemon, or yogurt, to create carbon dioxide and cause your baked good to rise.

Baking Powder

Baking powder contains baking soda, cornstarch, and cream of tartar, an acidic ingredient. You don’t need an acidic ingredient in your recipe when using baking powder for your baked goods to rise.

SALT

Plain, old iodized table salt is generally the best choice for balancing the flavor of your baked goods. However, some bakers may prefer to use kosher salt or sea salt, depending on the recipe.

SUGAR­­­

Baked goods wouldn’t be baked goods without sugar! Here are the essential sugars you’ll need in your pantry at all times:

Granulated Sugar

Basic, white sugar that’s been stripped of its natural molasses and is used in most baked goods.

Brown Sugar

Dark, moist sugar with molasses added. Light brown sugar has less molasses, while dark brown sugar has more molasses.

Powdered Sugar

Finely ground granulated sugar combined with starch that’s used to make frosting and icing.

Natural Sugars

Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, and agave syrup are all-natural sweetener options that many healthy recipes will use in place of sugar.

Sanding Sugar

Use these large, colorful granulated sugar crystals to give your baked goods a beautiful appearance!

DAIRY

Although it’s not used in every recipe, having whole milk on-hand is great for adding moisture to pancakes, waffles, cakes, and more.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk is an acidic ingredient that reacts with baking soda to make muffins, cakes, and pancakes fluffy and tender.

Sour Cream or Yogurt

Sour cream and yogurt are also acidic dairy ingredients that react with baking soda to add moisture and flavor to muffins, cakes, and cupcakes.

Cream Cheese

If you make many homemade cream cheese frostings or cheesecakes, this is an important dairy product to have on hand.

Heavy Cream

You can make a lot with heavy cream—including whipped cream!

Alternative Milks

Use almond, coconut, oat, and soy milk in place of dairy milk for a lactose-free substitute. This article from The Spruce Eats explains best practices for using alternative milks when baking.

Dairy products should be refrigerated

Always check the expiration date before using a dairy-based product to verify it hasn’t spoiled.

FATS

Fats help to bind your baked goods together and contribute to their moist texture. Here are a few fat-based ingredients you’ll always want to have in your pantry or refrigerator:

Eggs

As a significant binding agent, most recipes will call for at least one large egg.

Butter

Butter gives your cookies, pie crusts, and cakes a rich, flavorful taste. We recommend using unsalted butter to control the amount of salt in your recipe.

Oil

Oil is another staple fat that adds moisture to your baked goods. You can bake with coconut, olive, vegetable, canola, or other oils, depending on your preferences.

EXTRACTS, SPICES & ADD-INS

You can’t bake anything tasty without all the ingredients that make your desserts flavorful and fun!

Vanilla Extract

Pure vanilla extract adds tons of flavor and warmth to your baked goods.

Cinnamon

Every baker should have cinnamon on-hand to spice up cookies, muffins, pies, and other treats. During the fall, consider having a pumpkin pie seasoning in your pantry, as well.

Cocoa Powder

Chocolate cake, puddings, and brownies will all require cocoa powder to create the chocolatey flavor.

Chocolate Chips

You can’t have chocolate chip cookies without chocolate chips! Most add-ins aren’t pantry staples, but it doesn’t hurt to keep a bag of chocolate chips around at all times.