There is nothing quite like fresh homemade food over the Holidays. Over the holiday months there will be plenty of baking opportunities, some will even arise last minute. Those school holiday parties that your little one forgot to tell you about, or that last second invite to a potluck you found in the mail, makes having your pantry stocked over the holidays, essential.
There are many different pantry items to stockpile over the holidays, that will make your holiday baking and meal planning much easier.
Butter – Source out sales for butter and keep some in the freezer. Butter is a staple in many different holiday recipes, and it’s helpful to have lots on hand.
Light Brown Sugar – From pumpkin pie to fruitcake, light brown sugar is a holiday pantry staple.
Icing Sugar – Icing sugar comes in handy for things like icing, glazes and frostings. Perfect for when you want to make some last second decorated holiday cookies.
Cinnamon – Cinnamon is one of the most used spices when it comes to your holiday baking. While you’re at it, make sure you have nutmeg, ginger and cloves on hand as well.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda – If you want your holiday treats to rise to the occasion you are going to require some baking powder or baking soda.
Food Storage – Although this isn’t a food item per say, when you are baking and cooking in holiday abundance, you are going to need some place to store everything. Air tight containers are perfect for giving gifts of baked goods, putting your holiday dinner leftovers in, or just storing all your delicious holiday treats. Zippered bags are perfect for leftover crumbs, nuts or even chocolate chips. Having these items on hand will make storing your food items much easier.
Canned Goods – This time of year there are great deals on things like sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk. This is the perfect time to stock up, especially if you are planning recipes that will use them. Having canned pumpkin on hand isn’t a bad idea either, especially if you must throw together a quick pumpkin pie at the last second.
Cranberry sauce is a seasonal treat that stores for a long time in the pantry. Pull this out chilled on a hot summer day and watch eyes light up. While canned veggies are not top of the list like fresh and frozen they are great to have on hand and can be invaluable during lean times.
Stuffing Mix – Be prepared to cook stuffing at any time with a few boxes of stuffing mix. Not only is it great for a side dish, but stuffing mix works well in casseroles and more.
There are many different holiday pantry staples that you should stock up on to ensure you are prepared for the hustle and bustle of this busy season. Just make sure to have the essentials in hand and you will find holiday cooking and baking can be less stressful and more fun.
Elizabeth Lampman is a coffee-fuelled Mom of 2 girls and lives in Hamilton, Ontario. She enjoys travelling, developing easy recipes, crafting, taking on diy projects, travelling and saving money!