Mixes, mixes, mixes!

In my attempts to save money and streamline my meal planning I decided to investigate homemade baking mixes.   Over a period of several weeks, I looked over some of the many mix recipes that are out there.  After trying various ones I compiled my own by mixing and matching.  Through experimentation I made tweaks to each recipe so I feel that I can share them with you.

I decided that I would invest $20 and purchase these containers at Walmart.  I am very thankful I did.  I believe they were each about $3.  All but one of the mixes did not fit in the 1 gallon containers.  The baking mix was about double.  So, I put the remainder of the mix in a tupperware and stored it in the freezer.

Because these mixes were to put together to make baking quicker and easier, I decided to also print out the recipes for each one on these tags and hang them on the back of the mix jar.  Then I would also have the recipe handy, and wouldn't have to take the time finding the recipe each time I wanted to use it.

Click on the following words to print each out :  
  Printable Recipes         Printable Labels


Using the same template, I created labels for the front as well.  Feel free to print the recipes and labels out for your own personal use.  I printed the labels on label paper and the recipes on card stock so they would hold up better.

I settled on 6 mixes that I thought would be helpful to our family.  So far the only mix I haven't tried yet is the cornbread mix.  We are very happy with all the rest!  

UPDATE as of 12/29/12:  We have used all the mixes and remade them several times.  The only one that I don't seem to make as much is the muffin recipe, even though we do like it.  They have been a huge blessing over and over, and have gotten me out of a pinch many times.  Trust you are enjoying them as well.  :0)

{New to Redfly? Many more great ideas to come!}

Brownie Mix:

8 cups sugar
6 cups flour
2 cups cocoa powder
1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp salt

To Make: (this is the recipe that is on the tag)
(just lightly mix the ingredients, if you beat them a lot it gets too much air in the eggs and gives more of a cake-like texture.)

2 1/4 cups brownie mix
2 eggs beaten
1/3 c melted butter
2 tsp vanilla

Pour into an 8x8 " pan.  Serves 8-9  (these brownies are quite thick- about 2"-- if you want them thinner place them in an 9 x 13 pan.  They will be about 1/2-1" thick then) 
 Bake for 30-35 min at 350 degrees.  (25-30 min. for the 9x13 pan- serves 12-15)

All Purpose Quick Mix

5 lbs flour (20 cups)
4 c. dry milk
3/4 cups baking powder
2 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp Cream of Tartar
5 cups vegetable shortening

(you should not use margarine or butter in substitution for the shortening unless you are going to refrigerate your mix)

To Make:

Biscuits
3 cups quick mix
3/4-1 cup water
Spread  2 tablespoons of melted butter on biscuits before baking.
Bake for 10-12 min at 450 degrees

Try to handle the dough as little as possible, as this will create rubberiness if handled too much.

Shortcake
3 cups quick mix
2 Tbsp sugar
3/4 cup  water
Bake 10-12 min at 450 degrees

Coffee Cake
3 cups quick mix
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup  water 
1 tsp vanilla
(optional: add 1/2 cup sour cream to make it creamier)

Filling
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine quick mix, sugar, egg, water and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients.  Prepare filling by mixing dry ingredients together, then cut in the butter.   Spread half of the cake mix, half of the filling, then the other half of the cake mix, then the other half of the filling in an 8x8 pan.  I used a 2" deep pan and it filled the pan to the top.  So, you could probably use a larger pan and the cake would be just a little thinner. Bake for 40-50 min. (mine was done in 30 min.)

The original recipe I found only had half the filling recipe and used it only in the middle.  The coffee cake really needed some sweetness sprinkled on the top though.  So I double the filling and sprinkled the other half on the top----much better!!

UPDATE:  Another delicious and quick recipe to make with this mix is:

Cinnamon Roll Biscuits

4 1/2 cups baking mix
1 1/3 c milk

2 T butter 
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 T. cinn

Glaze:  
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
2-3 T milk

Mix together mix and milk.  Roll out the dough on floured surface.  Spread butter, then sprinkle on brown sugar/cinnamon mix.  Roll up the dough and cut into 2" wide slices.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 min.  Mix together the glaze then spread on rolls when cooled a little.



Homemade Tortilla Mix
(I just made half of this recipe)

16 cups flour
2 Tbsp baking powder
2 Tbsp salt
1/2 cups shortening

To make:
2 cups of tortilla mix
1 cup of water

Divide dough into 15 little balls, cover and let them rise 10-15 min.  Roll them out as thin as you can get them.  (You can use a tortilla press, but I have found that a rolling pin works just as well, or better) .  Fry on a dry, hot griddle, about 2 min. on each side or until little brown spots begin to appear.  If it takes longer than 2 minutes your griddle is not hot enough.  

The consistency you are looking for in the dough is almost like play dough.  If it is too crumbly they will not roll out well.  That is why the water amount is so varied.  Depending on the humidity of the day, you will need more or less.


Pancake/Waffle Mix

8 cups of unbleached flour
2 cups nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 Tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 Tbsp baking soda
2 tsp salt

To Make Pancakes:
2 cups mix
1 3/4 cups of water or milk
1 egg
2 Tbsp vegetable oil

To Make Waffles:
2 1/2 cups of mix
2 cups of water
3 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Corn Bread Mix

4 cups flour
4 cups yellow cornmeal
2 cups dry milk
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup baking powder
1 Tbsp baking soda
2 tsp salt

To Make:
1 1/4 cups cornbread mix
1 egg beaten
1/2 cup water or milk (butter milk is even better!)
2 Tbsp oil
Pour into 8x8" pan.  Bake 12-15 min at 425 degrees

(you can also make corn muffins by baking them in muffin tins for 15 min. at 425 degrees)

Muffin Mix

12 cups flour
4 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
4 1/2 cup sugar

Plain muffins:

2 3/4 cups mix
2 eggs
1 cup milk 
1/4 cup oil
Bake 15-18 min at 400*

Optional Streusel Topping:
1/2 cup of flour
1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 tbsp butter
Cut the butter into the flour/brown sugar mix.  Pour half of muffin mix into half of muffin cups.  Sprinkle half of the streusel, then cover with the rest of the muffin mix, and finally top with the rest of the streusel.

Blueberry Muffins:

2 3/4 cups of muffin mix
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
1 cup blueberries
1 tsp vanilla
Bake 15-18 min at 400*

The final cost:

$20 for the containers @ $3 each
$ 6.36 for the 20 lbs of flour
$2.38 for a large container of Baking Powder
$2.19 for 4lb sugar
$4.00 for shortening

All the other ingredients I already had on hand.  Probably the most expensive item, if you don't already have it in your pantry, is the powdered milk.

So about $35  total.  Only about $14 if you take out the containers.  Not bad considering you have the equivalent of  about:

8 brownie mixes
6 muffin mixes
8 cornbread mixes
5 pancake/waffle mixes
8 tortilla recipes that make at least 15 tortillas each
8-9 shortcake/biscuit/coffe cake mixes

So, let's say I spent a total of $20 (because of counting in the cost of the items I already had on hand) then it would be about $.46 a mix.  Not bad!

How about you?  What mixes have you used?  Are there many that you continually make?

Free Common Food Substitution Printable Charts!