Having a well-stocked pantry is undeniably a wonderful thing to have, especially if you are a baker. Furthermore, it can make your baking process much more efficient and enjoyable. Below, I’ve compiled a list of a few of my top pantry staples that, in my opinion, every from-scratch baker should have on hand. These ingredients are not only essential for a wide range of recipes but also ensure that you’re well-prepared.
Now, just to clarify, I’m not talking about stockpiling or having an overabundance of these ingredients. Instead, I’m referring to making sure you always have these essential ingredients on hand, so you’re ready to bake whenever the mood strikes. I am also talking to the from scratch bakers here not the I can buy a cake mix baker.
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Pantry Staples Contents
Flours and Grain
There are so many to choose from. So which should you always stock?
- All Purpose is my go to. It may not be the best out there but it is cheap and readily available. Plus most recipes will work fine using it
- Wholewheat I like to do wholewheat and white blends
- Oats rolled oat are the most versatile
- Other flours to consider
- Cake & Pastry if you make a lot of cakes then this would be a great staple to have. It makes softer fluffier cakes
- Eincorn great low gluten option
- Spelt great ancient grain
- Self-raising which is very popular in the UK but not so much here in Canada and the US
- Gluten free blend, if you have gluten issues then it is worth finding a blend you like
Sugars
- A light Cane sugar is my preferred option to have but it is not always easy to find.
- White sugar. A basic granulated sugar would be my pick. This sugar can also be ground down finer into Castor, Berry and Icing sugars.
- Demerara Sugar this is my staple brown sugar option
- Icing Sugar
- Optional Sugars
- Golden Castor
- Castor
- Dark brown
- Coconut sugar This is a fantastic natural sugar option and, without a doubt, one of my favorites. With a unique flavor profile this could be used as a healthier alternative to regular sugar in many recipes.
Pantry Staples the Powders
- Baking Powder
- Bicarbonate of soda aka baking soda
- Cocoa Powder
- Cream of tartare no essential but you may come across it in recipes and it is a good one to have
Nuts and Dried Fruit
- Raisins or Sultanas you only really need one of these. That is if you even like raisins.
- Almonds, blanched slivered would be the option to have on hand for baking.
- Walnuts, I recommend buying the halves, as they can be easily broken and crushed down when needed. This makes them incredibly versatile and convenient for a variety of recipes
- Pecan Halves, just like walnuts I also would recommend using whole pecan halves they are easily chopped and crushed if needed.
- Unsweetened Desiccated Coconut
Spices For baking
Have all of these ground spices on hand if you can. They can be blended into most popular blends like pumpkin spice for example.
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Ginger
- Cloves
- All spice, if you can find it but not necessary.
The Miscellaneous Pantry Staples
- Vanilla extract the real stuff not the imitation vanilla.
- Frozen Fruit I like to have at least frozen bananas ready to go at all times.
- Chocolate chips they are a must. Milk semi sweet or dark whichever’s your favourite.
- Butter, I know this doesn’t exactly go in the pantry but it is definitely a baking essential. I usually keep a few blocks of butter in my freezer.
- Eggs, another non pantry item but once again a staple for pretty much all bakers.
The Optional Pantry Esthetic
Some people will fully oppose what I am about to suggest but each to their own. I personally love decanting my baking supplies into other containers.
It brings me such joy when I go to pull my ingredients out of the pantry. When thing look pretty I have so much more motivation to want to bake. Really if it makes you happy and brings joy then do it. Don’t let any one stop you.
I will say that having multiple bags of ingredients that sit unstably in my pantry ready to fall at any moment is not only ugly to look at but no fun when they fall and spill every where.
Here is a selections of some containers that I really would recommend using in your own pantry.
For flours, sugars, and other larger, bulkier ingredients, I prefer using these larger stainless steel containers. Not only are they durable, but they also keep everything organized and easily accessible.
For smaller ingredients I try to use pretty glass jars
You may not get them all at once it can be expensive at first. I spent months/years building my collection.
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