Recipes  

8 Homemade Recipes That Are Cheaper Than Store Bought

Making homemade versions of grocery store staples is a great way to save some money. Whether it’s peanut butter or a simple granola, you either already have the ingredients you need in the pantry or you can buy them in bulk, which costs less. Check out these eight simple and economical recipes to recreate some of your faves right in your own kitchen!

1. Peanut Butter

Making homemade peanut butter is cheaper than buying the pre-made stuff. All you need are peanuts (be sure to buy in bulk, especially if you eat peanut butter often!) and a food processor to create a natural spread that’s free of sugars and oils. 

2. White Bread

Who can resist that smell of freshly baked bread every time you walk by your neighbourhood bakery? Nobody! But while supporting a local bakery is fantastic, it’s great to occasionally make a few loaves at home, too. This recipe is extremely easy to make, because it requires zero kneading. How can you say no to that?

3. Pizza Dough

When you don’t feel like cooking some evenings, pizza delivery is a given! But if you only knew how simple pizza dough is to make at home (and how cheap!), you’d whip up your own more often. This fuss-free recipe with only five ingredients–instant yeast, flour, sugar, salt and water–is extremely popular; it yields two 8-inch pizzas and you can top them as you like.

4. Yogurt and Fruit Drink

Kids definitely love those little bottles of fruity yogurt drinks that you stock up on each week and that surely make a dent in your grocery bill! With simple ingredients like milk, yogurt, sugar and frozen fruit of your choice, you can easily make them yourself in a blender. The kids will be happy, as will you.

5. Granola

The perfect topper for your morning yogurt, sweet and crunchy granola is always great to keep on hand in your kitchen! By buying ingredients like oats, seeds and dried fruits in bulk, you can make large batches at a lower cost. This recipe, for example, yields six cups of tasty granola, so you definitely won’t run out.

6. Muffins

If you’ve ever bought a six-pack of pricey muffins and thought, I can make these at home, you’re right. This kid-approved snack is made using ingredients you already have in your pantry, so you can take those muffins out of your cart and put them back on the shelf. No excuses!

7. Oatmeal Cookies

This oatmeal cookie recipe is our very best, boasting basic ingredients like quick oats, butter, brown sugar and flour. They’re not only fresher than the ones out of a box, you can also customize them with whatever mix-ins you want! The best part is that they’re freezer friendly, so you can make large batches to freeze and enjoy at a later date.

8. Pumpkin Spice Latte

When fall rolls around, a significant part of your “eating out” budget probably goes to your favourite coffee chain to get your regular pumpkin spice latte fix. But did you know that by making this pumpkin spice syrup at home, it’ll be enough to make six lattes at a fraction of the cost? And best of all, pumpkin spice season can last all year round at your house!

Looking for more fun recipe ideas to try at home? Be sure to check out this article: