Baking on a Budget: Homemade Treats for Pennies
Bake at home instead of buying. Save 70% on cookies, muffins, and bread.
Home Baking Economics
Home baking costs a fraction of store-bought. A loaf of homemade bread uses flour, water, yeast and salt that cost little per loaf. Cookies, muffins and quick breads made at home are cheaper than packaged ones and don't need preservatives. The main cost is your time, and many recipes take only minutes of hands-on work.
Essential Baking Ingredients
A basic baking pantry covers most recipes: all-purpose flour, white and brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, yeast, butter or oil, eggs, milk, vanilla, oats and cinnamon. Buy flour and sugar in large bags when they're on sale, and store them in airtight containers.
Simple Cookie Recipes
Simple cookies are the easiest place to start. Chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter and shortbread each need only a few ingredients. Make a full batch, bake what you need and freeze the rest of the dough in balls, so you can bake a few fresh cookies at a time.
Bread Baking
Bread baking is easier than it looks. A no-knead loaf needs only flour, water, salt and a little yeast, a long rest and a hot oven. Basic sandwich bread, pizza dough and dinner rolls follow the same pattern. Bake two loaves at once and freeze one.
Muffin and Quick Bread
Muffins and quick breads use up ingredients that might otherwise go to waste: overripe bananas, the last of the yogurt, soft apples, zucchini or carrots. Banana bread, bran muffins and zucchini loaves all freeze well and make cheap breakfasts and lunch box snacks.
Batch Baking Strategy
Batch baking saves time and energy. Bake several things at once while the oven is hot, such as bread, muffins and a tray of granola. Freeze baked goods in portions and take out what you need. A single afternoon of baking can supply breakfasts and snacks for weeks.
Featured Cities
Butter, flour and eggs go on sale at different stores each week. Browse this week's deals in your city before you stock your baking pantry.
Deals in Your City This Week
Choose your city to see this week's grocery deals and build your meal plan:
Ready to Save on Groceries?
Forkfull finds this week's deals and builds your meal plan automatically.
Get Started Free