Five Meal in a Jar Baking Mixes to Replace Store-Bought Boxes
Welcome back! Today I’m sharing another meal in a jar baking mixes project, and this one might be my favorite yet. These are pantry-friendly baking mixes that replace store-bought boxes and save money while keeping baking convenient.
Lately, I’ve been buying boxed mixes for the sake of convenience. They work, but they add up fast. Making my own meal in a jar baking mixes means I still get that grab-and-go ease without relying on store-bought options.
Today I’m making five different mixes:
- Biscuit mix
- Yellow cake mix
- Chocolate cake mix
- Chocolate chip cookie mix
- Brownie Mix
- Fudgy Brownies – Mix: 1/2 cup Flour 1 1/8 cup Sugar 1/2 cup Cocoa Powder 1/4 tsp salt Wet Ingredients: 1/2 cup melted butter 1 tbsp oil 2 eggs 2 tsp vanilla Bake: Bake in an 8×8 square pan for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees until center of the brownies no longer jiggle. Toothpick will not come out clean
All of these store beautifully on the pantry shelf and use simple ingredients.
Why Meal in a Jar Baking Mixes Make Sense
These mixes let you do the messy work once and enjoy easy baking later. I love that I only have flour everywhere one time. Once the jars sit on the shelf, baking becomes as easy as adding a few wet ingredients.
Another bonus? These meal in a jar baking mixes use quart jars that don’t always get much love in my kitchen outside of sourdough starter or summer iced tea.
Biscuit Mix
I start with biscuits because this mix stays incredibly versatile. I add:
- Flour
- Butter powder (instead of shortening or fresh butter)
- Baking powder
- Salt
When it’s time to use it, I shake the jar to mix everything and add cold water until I get the consistency I want. This mix works for biscuits, dumplings, or topping a pot pie.
Yellow Cake Mix
Next up is a classic yellow cake mix. This one just barely fits into a quart jar, but it works.
I layer in:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Milk powder
- Baking powder
- A pinch of salt
I write the baking instructions right on the jar so it works just like a boxed mix. Grab it, add the wet ingredients, and bake.
Chocolate Cake Mix
For the chocolate cake mix, I cut the recipe in half so it fits into a quart jar. Since we’re a family of two, this size makes more sense for us.
This mix includes:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Milk powder
- Cocoa powder
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Instant coffee granules (instead of espresso powder)
The coffee deepens the chocolate flavor without making it taste like coffee.
Brownie Mix
This brownie mix is a longtime favorite in my kitchen. I converted it into a jar mix so it’s always ready when a chocolate craving hits.
The dry mix includes:
- Flour
- Cocoa powder
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
When baking, I add eggs, melted butter, a little oil, and vanilla. These brownies turn out rich and fudgy every time.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
The last meal in a jar baking mix is chocolate chip cookies. Even though cookies usually start by creaming butter and sugar, this mix still works surprisingly well.
The jar includes:
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Brown sugar
- White sugar
- Chocolate chips
When I’m ready to bake, I cream butter, an egg, and vanilla, then stir in the dry mix.
Why I Love These Pantry Mixes
Having these meal in a jar baking mixes on the pantry shelf makes baking feel effortless again. They save money, reduce packaging waste, and eliminate the need to run to the store for boxed mixes.
They also make great gifts, especially around the holidays, and they help rotate pantry staples like flour and sugar before they sit too long.
If you enjoyed this project, be sure to check out my other meal-in-a-jar recipes like seasoned rice mixes and homemade marinades. These pantry staples make everyday cooking easier and more intentional.
