Homemade Sauces And Spices Archives - mom makes dinner

Peppermint mocha syrup

Kelley — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:09:00 +0000

As soon as the air turns crisp and the holiday lights start to twinkle, one flavor combination seems to take over coffee shops everywhere — peppermint and chocolate. There’s something about the cool freshness of peppermint blended with the rich, comforting taste of cocoa that instantly feels like Christmas in a cup.

If you’re a fan of Starbucks’ famous Peppermint Mocha, you’ll be thrilled to know that it’s easy (and affordable!) to make your own version at home. With just four simple ingredients — water, sugar, cocoa powder, and peppermint extract — you can whip up a delicious Peppermint Mocha Syrup that turns any cup of coffee, latte, or hot chocolate into a festive holiday treat. Let’s dive into how to make it and a few fun ways to enjoy it all season long.

? Why You’ll Love This Peppermint Mocha Syrup

There’s no need to wait in line or spend extra money at the coffee shop when you can create your own peppermint mocha magic at home. This syrup is:

Perfectly festive – it brings the spirit of the holidays straight into your mug.
Simple and quick – made with pantry staples in about 10 minutes.
Customizable – you can adjust the sweetness or intensity of the peppermint to your taste.
Versatile – use it in coffee, hot chocolate, desserts, or even cocktails.

Once you make a batch, you’ll wonder why you ever bought flavored syrups again!

? Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe keeps things simple and classic. You only need four ingredients — and chances are, you already have most of them at home:

1 cup of water
1 cup of granulated sugar
2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon of peppermint extract

That’s it! These ingredients come together to form a smooth, chocolatey syrup with the perfect hint of peppermint.

??? How to Make Peppermint Mocha Syrup

Making this syrup couldn’t be easier. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have a jar of holiday cheer ready in no time:

Combine the water, sugar, and cocoa powder.
In a small saucepan, add the water, sugar, and cocoa powder. Whisk the mixture over medium heat until the sugar completely dissolves and the cocoa is fully incorporated. You should have a smooth, glossy mixture.
Simmer gently.
Once everything is combined, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent any sticking or burning. The syrup will start to thicken slightly as it cooks.
Add the peppermint extract.
Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract. Be careful — peppermint extract is strong, so a little goes a long way!
Cool and store.
Allow the syrup to cool completely, then transfer it to a glass jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

? How to Use Your Peppermint Mocha Syrup

Once you’ve made your syrup, the fun begins! Here are some delicious ways to use it:

? Peppermint Mocha Latte

The classic! Brew a strong cup of coffee or espresso, then add 1–2 tablespoons of peppermint mocha syrup and top with steamed milk. Garnish with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or crushed candy canes for a festive touch.

? Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Stir a spoonful of syrup into a mug of hot milk or hot chocolate for a minty twist on a winter classic.

? Peppermint Mocha Milkshake

Blend vanilla or chocolate ice cream with a splash of milk and a few tablespoons of syrup for a cool, creamy treat that tastes like the holidays.

? Dessert Drizzle

Drizzle the syrup over brownies, cheesecake, or ice cream. It adds a gorgeous shine and rich flavor that’s irresistible.

? Pro Tips for the Best Peppermint Mocha Syrup

Adjust sweetness to taste. If you prefer your drinks less sweet, reduce the sugar slightly or use a darker cocoa powder for a more intense chocolate flavor.
Use high-quality cocoa powder. The flavor of the syrup depends heavily on the cocoa you use, so pick a good unsweetened brand like Ghirardelli or Hershey’s Special Dark.
Don’t overdo the peppermint. It’s easy to go from “festive” to “toothpaste” — so start with 1 teaspoon and taste before adding more.
Store it right. Keep it in the fridge in a sealed jar or squeeze bottle. It’ll stay fresh for about 2 weeks — perfect for the entire holiday season.

? Make It a Homemade Gift

This syrup also makes a wonderful DIY holiday gift! Pour it into a small glass bottle or mason jar, tie it with a festive ribbon, and add a handwritten tag that says “Peppermint Mocha Syrup – Add to coffee or cocoa for instant holiday joy!”

Pair it with a cute mug or a small bag of coffee beans, and you have a thoughtful, homemade present that friends and family will love.

Peppermint Mocha Syrup

Yield: 1 cup

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Make a smooth and chocolate-y peppermint mocha syrup!

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon peppermint extract

Notes

In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, and cocoa powder.
Whisk over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth.
Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
Remove from heat and stir in peppermint extract. (Be careful not to add too much — it’s strong!)
Let the syrup cool completely.

Transfer to a jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid.

Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

To Use: Add 1–2 tablespoons of syrup to coffee, espresso, or hot chocolate.

Stir well and top with steamed milk, whipped cream, or chocolate shavings for a festive touch.

Other Peppermint Mocha Treats to try

We love a good peppermint mocha treat over here! Here are some other chocolate+peppermint combos to try:

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the comments below or the recipe card above. Want to try it later? Pin the image below to your favorite coffee board!

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Lemon Cream

Kelley — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000

This lemon cream is similar to lemon curd but smoother and quite possibly more delicious. It’s made with 5 ingredients and is great pancakes, ice cream and even biscuits. Let me show to make this decadent lemon cream sauce.

With the zest of a lemon, whipping cream, sugar, and other simple ingredients, this silky smooth lemon cream becomes a rich custard that tastes just like sunshine in your mouth. It’s sweet, tangy, and incredibly delicious.

What is lemon cream?

Lemon cream is a decadent lemony custard sauce. It’s similar to lemon curd, but smoother, and I think it’s more delicious. The consistency is a lot like yogurt: not too thick and not too runny, but deliciously creamy. Lemon cream can be used in a variety of different desserts as well as a spread on things like biscuits and toast.

Lemon cream ingredients

You only need 5 common ingredients (and ice for an ice bath) to make this creamy lemon sauce. You will need:

eggs
sugar
lemon zest
lemon juice
unsalted butter
heavy cream

Eggs– Allow the eggs to sit on the counter at room temperature for about 30-minutes.

Sugar– Use your measuring cup to scoop and pack the sugar tightly.

Lemon zest– You can use a vegetable peeler or knife to peel the top layer of the lemon’s skin. I use this zester for my lemon cream.

Lemon juice– You will need about 3 lemons to get the right amount of lemon juice for this recipe.

Butter– Be sure to use unsalted butter. Set the butter on the counter with the eggs to soften.

Heavy cream– If you don’t have heavy cream, you can make 1 cup by mixing ? cup whole milk and ? cup melted butter together.

Ice– You’ll need ice to make an ice bath for cooling and thickening the cream.

Uses for lemon cream

Lemon cream pairs well with a variety of desserts and is classically used as a cake, tart or pastry filling. Additionally, you can use it as a spread for biscuits, scones and bread. You can use it on your toast and ice cream, too! It would be delicious with the following:

on top of pancakes or waffles
over ice cream
on homemade biscuits
Banana Fosters Ice Cream
in crepes
Cranberry Orange Scones
used as a filling for desserts
Lemon Buttercream Sandwich Cookies– use the lemon cream instead.

It’s also great as a quick sweet treat right off the spoon.

How to make lemon cream sauce

Lemon cream is super easy to make and so delicious. Follow the steps below to make a super creamy dessert sauce.

Step 1: Whisk eggs and sugar

First, whip together the eggs and sugar until they are a fluffy pale yellow.

Step 2: Add Lemon

Next, mix the lemon zest and the lemon juice into the egg mixture.

Step 3: Make a Double Boiler

To make a double boiler, grab two similar sized saucepans. Put a few inches of water in the bottom pan, set the other pan on top of it, and place the lemon mixture in it. Bring the bottom pan to a boil.

Step 4: Boil Lemon Mixture

Once your pans are placed on top of each other, cook the lemon mixture, whisking it often for about 10-minutes or until it thickens to a pudding consistency.

Step 5: Add the Butter and Ice Bath

Remove the lemon mixture from the heat, add the butter, and stir. Then, place the pan in an ice bath so that the lemon cream continues to thicken.

Step 6: Add Heavy Cream

After the mixture has cooled a bit, fold in the heavy cream. Whisk it until it is smoother.

Cool and Enjoy!

How Do You Thicken Lemon Cream?

The best way to thicken this cream is by placing it in the ice bath immediately after cooking. If it’s not thickened to your liking, you can add gelatin, flour, or cornstarch to thicken it. Only add a teaspoon at a time until it reaches your desired thickness.

Does Lemon Juice Curdle Cream?

No! In fact, it actually helps to thicken it. Lemon juice acidifies the cream which causes the proteins in the cream to clump, and then the fat from the cream and butter prevent it from clumping tightly. Thus, instead of curdling like milk, the mixture thickens.

What’s the Difference Between Lemon Cream and Lemon Curd?

The flavor of lemon cream and lemon curd is similar, however, the textures are very different. Additionally, lemon cream is made by adding the butter after the cooked eggs, juice and sugar have cooled whereas lemon curd everything is cooked together.

What is a double boiler?

A double boiler is a way to heat softer ingredients such as eggs so they don’t overcook or scramble. It is essential a pot of water on the bottom and a heat proof bowl or another pot on top. You can buy a double boiler, or you can easily make one with a saucepan and a heat proof glass bowl on top. You don’t need to fill the bottom with water, a few inches will do.

How much lemon cream does this recipe make?

This recipe yields a 1/2 pint jar of lemon cream.

How to Store Leftovers

You can use your cream immediately, but you can store any leftovers. Pour your lemon cream into an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator for up to 5-days.

Can I Freeze It?

I would not recommend freezing the lemon cream. This recipe uses heavy whipping cream which will separate when frozen. The texture and flavor would change.

Lemon Cream

Ingredients

2 large eggs
1/2 cup of sugar
Zest of 1 small lemon
1/3 cup of lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
ice for cooling
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions

Whip together the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy and a pale yellow.

Mix in the lemon zest and the lemon juice.

Make a double boiler by placing two similar sized saucepans on top of each other. The bottom pan should have a few inches of water. Bring to a boil and place the saucepan with the lemon mixture on top.

Cook the lemon mixture, whisking often, until it starts to thicken and becomes pudding like. About 10 minutes.

Remove from heat. Mix in the butter and place the pan/bowl in an ice bath to allow the mixture to thicken.

When slightly cooled, fold in the heavy cream and whisk until smooth.

Allow to cool and enjoy!

Notes

Can be used for up to 3 days if placed in the fridge.

Like this recipe? Be sure to check out:

Did you try this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or the comments below. Want to make it later? You can pin the image below. THANK YOU for the support!

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White Chocolate Sauce

Kelley — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 03:35:00 +0000

Homemade white chocolate sauce is super easy to make and perfect for pancakes, coffee and more! You are going to love this delicious 3 ingredient white chocolate recipe.

So now I have to confess something. Remember how I made homemade butterscotch and caramel sauce? Yea, well when I was making both of those I also made homemade white chocolate sauce. Phew. I feel so much better. And yes, I really did make three sauces in one day. And yes, I might have been slightly buzzed from sugar the rest of the day. But look! White chocolate sauce!

What is white chocolate sauce?

This sauce is dairy based similar to chocolate sauce, but is made with white chocolate instead. White chocolate is a delicious alternative to classic chocolate and has a unique flavor. This sauce is creamy and is great in white chocolate mochas!

White chocolate sauce ingredients

The reason that I love this white chocolate recipe so much is that you only need a few common ingredients to make it at home. I bet you even have a few at home! You need:

Half and half
White chocolate
Butter

Half and half – You can find this near the milk in the dairy section. You can also use light cream or even whole milk here.

White chocolate – The better the chocolate, the better the chocolate sauce! You will want to use a good quality white chocolate here. I love Ghiradelli white chocolate. You can use white chocolate chips or a chocolate bar.

Butter – I prefer unsalted butter, but salted would work as well.

How to make white chocolate sauce

Once you have all your ingredients you will also need to grab:

medium saucepan
spoon or spatula
airtight container such as a mason jar

Step 1 Simmer the half and half

In your sauce pan, over medium heat, bring the cream to a slight boil. You don’t want it to boil over or become a rolling boil. Once it starts to boil, remove from heat.

Step 2 Add the white chocolate

Add your white chocolate to the hot cream. Stir until smooth. You will have to stir vigorously to make sure that the white chocolate is well combined.

Step 3 Add the butter

After you have the completely combined the white chocolate and cream, add in the butter. The sauce should still be hot so it will slowly melt the butter. Stir to incorporate into the sauce.

Step 4 Pour into container

Allow the white chocolate sauce to cool slightly and then pour it into an airtight container, such as a mason jar. I suggest using a funnel to help pour it into your cotainer.

Step 5 Enjoy

Use your fresh white chocolate sauce to make a white chocolate mocha, pour it over homemade pancakes, or serve with ice cream!

How to store leftovers

You will want to place any leftovers in an airtight container such as a mason jar. Your container will need to be placed in the fridge since it has dairy in it.

Can I freeze it?

I’ve had a few people ask this question and unfortunately, I don’t think you can.

FAQs about white chocolate sauce

-It hardens in the fridge! What do I do?

You can reheat it in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between. You can also reheat in a saucepan on the stove top.

-What is the difference between light cream and heavy cream?

It has to do with the milk fat content. Here is a great reference on the differences.

-Can I use white chocolate chips?

You can! I used white chocolate bark but white chocolate chips should work just fine.

Hey! I also have a free coffee e-book for YOU! Enter your email below and I will send it right over!

White Chocolate Sauce

Yield: 1

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

8 oz white chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup half and half or light cream
2 teaspoons unsalted butter

Instructions

Heat the cream on the stove top in small pot.

Once it starts to boil, remove from heat and add the butter and chocolate.

Whisk until smooth.

Let cool and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1448Cholesterol: 113mgSodium: 255mgCarbohydrates: 140gSugar: 134gProtein: 17g

Like this recipe? Be sure to check out my other homemade sauce recipes:

Other white chocolate recipes:

Love this white chocolate recipe? You may also want to check out:

White chocolate puppy chow – Your favorite puppy chow (or muddy buddies!) made with white chocolate.
White hot chocolate – This is a Starbucks copycat and you can use your homemade white chocolate sauce for it.
White chocolate raspberry muffins – These are a family favorite and perfect for grab-n-go breakfasts.
Iced white chocolate mocha – Another Starbucks copycat that is super easy to make at home.
White chocolate cake batter fudge – A white chocolate twist on the classic fudge recipe.

You can also save this recipe to your chocolate board!

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Apple Pie Spice

Kelley — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 16:56:34 +0000

Apple pie spice is an aromatic combination of spices that make you think of fall. This homemade spice recipe combines 6 common spices to create one out of this world mix. Use it in your favorite fall baked goods or add it to your coffee! You are going to love this easy apple pie spice.

There are just some smells or flavors that remind you of a certain season. With spring and summer it’s citrus and lemon and bright, bold flavors. When it comes to fall or winter it’s aromatic, comforting flavors that remind you of warm fires and hot drinks. This apple pie spice is bound to make you think of apple pie, pumpkin donuts and all things fall.

What is Apple Spice?

Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves come together in a sweet delicious apple spice. It is a comforting spice that can be blended and used in so much more than just apple pie.

What is the Difference Between Apple Pie Spice and Pumpkin Pie Spice?

Apple pie spice is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and cardamom. Pumpkin spice includes a combination of those ingredients, but the key difference is pumpkin spice usually contains cloves.

The recipe below also contains ground cloves. However, there is a note at the bottom where you can use cardamom instead.

The two blends also use different proportions of the spices so they both have a distinct flavor.

Apple Pie Spice Ingredients

The great thing about making your own spices is that you probably have some of these basic spices in your cupboard already. You probably won’t even need to go to the store! But, if you do, you can always just head over to Amazon and have it delivered right to your door. Here’s what you need!

4 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground mace

Note: you can replace the cloves with 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom.

How to Make Apple Pie Spice

Basically when you make certain spices, you really don’t have to do any cooking, cleaning, or much of anything to make it. All you do is the following:

Place all spices in a small bowl and whisk to combine.

2. Store in an airtight jar for up to 1 year.

Use your homemade spice on a variety of different recipes to add a sweet, apple spice flavor!

How to Store Apple Pie Spice

You can store your apple pie spice in any airtight jar. I personally like to get spice containers. You can snatch these containers up on Amazon. Here are the links to some I have gotten in the past:

Glass Spice Jars: This is a set of 24 spice containers. It comes with labels, shaker lids, airtight metal caps, and a collapsible funnel to easily pour your spice into the container.
Clear Plastic Spice Jars: These are good if you have young, curious kiddos. This set comes with 16 spice containers, labels, and lids.
Magnetic Spice Tins: These are super fun because you can put them on your refrigerator if you don’t have a lot of cabinet space. You get 12 magnetic spice tins.

Recipes that use Apple Pie Spice

The recipes below either use apple pie spice or would could use them by substituting other spices. Either way, they are all delicious and worth a try!

Apple chai latte – This recipe uses chai tea paired with fresh apples and apple pie spice. It’s made in the crock pot and is so delicious!
Apple pie overnight oats – These oats are perfect for busy mornings and are full of fall flavors!
Apple zucchini quick bread– Combine fall flavors with summer produce to make this yummy bread!
Cinnamon apple crumb cake – I would call this crumb cake dessert or breakfast! It can go both ways.
Homemade apple pie – The perfect dessert for all fall gatherings!
Cinnamon apple puffs – These puffs are so easy to make and will surely be gobbled up quick!

Other Homemade Spice Recipes to Try

Are you looking for other spices to make? If so, here are some great ones to try!

Apple Pie Spice

How to make homemade apple pie spice for fall baking!

Ingredients

4 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground mace

Instructions

Measure out all your spices and mix together in a small bowl.
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Enjoy with all your favorite baked goods!

Sharing is caring. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest so others can enjoy it!

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Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce

Kelley — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 03:38:58 +0000

Having a great homemade BBQ Sauce can take a dish from good to great. Taking a perfectly cooked piece of meat and adding the tasty coating of BBQ sauce just means that you’re giving your taste buds an even better flavor. And now that summer is right around the corner, grillers are rejoicing that BBQ season is among us! Let me show you how to make easy homemade BBQ sauce!

How many times have you found yourself staring at the hundreds of options for BBQ sauce at the store and having no idea which one to pick? I’ve been there, trust me. That’s about the time that I decided I needed to make up my very own easy BBQ sauce recipe and that’s exactly what I did.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that this BBQ sauce recipe literally goes with everything. But you’re going to have to make it and find that our for yourself.

What is Homemade BBQ Sauce?

For my sauce recipe, it’s a compilation of a few simple ingredients that can be used to on meats or have as a side option for dipping. I’m all about the ease and convenience of this recipe and I think that you’re going to like it as well.

The flavor of this easy BBQ sauce recipe is a little sweet and a little tangy and in my books, it’s the perfect combination. It makes a great base recipe that you can adjust to your tastes. You can use this sauce on all your Blackstone griddle recipes!

Homemade BBQ Sauce Ingredients

If you’re wondering why there are so many ingredients listed on the BBQ sauce labels at the store, I do as well! This brown sugar BBQ sauce recipe couldn’t be more simple.

Tomato Sauce
Apple Cider Vinegar
Brown Sugar
Tomato Paste
Molasses
Worcestershire Sauce
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Smoked Paprika
Salt/Pepper

Tomato Sauce – Since this is the base of the BBQ sauce, don’t skimp out on this ingredient. And if you’re lucky enough to have your own garden, you can even make your own tomato sauce at home.

Apple Cider Vinegar– Just a little splash of this really brings the whole recipe together. If you don’t have apple cider, you could use white vinegar as well.

Brown Sugar – This is where the sweetness for this recipe comes from! No brown sugar? You can make your own or use regular white sugar.

Molasses – Adding in molasses gives it a bit more sweetness and a little bit of that tackiness, too.

Worcestershire Sauce – Hard to pronounce but big on flavor! Don’t miss this addition, it really brings the whole recipe together.

Garlic Powder/Onion Powder/Smoked Paprika – These ingredients add a great flavor to the sauce and a smoky aftertaste, too.

What gives BBQ sauce flavor?

The spices give this BBQ sauce it’s flavor. The sweet and tangy part come from the brown sugar and the vinegar. It’s a great combo!

No liquid smoke?

Some people like liquid smoke in their homemade BBQ sauce. I prefer mine without it. You can easily add a teaspoon of liquid smoke to this recipe to give it that smoky BBQ goodness.

Is BBQ sauce made from ketchup?

Technically, no. Ketchup is a mixture of tomato sauce, vinegar, sugar and spices. BBQ sauce has a few extra ingredients like Worcestershire Sauce and molasses. Really, BBQ sauce is just a jazzed up version of ketchup.

How is BBQ sauce made?

All you need to do to get this simple BBQ recipe started is to whisk together all the ingredients into a medium-sized pot on medium heat.

Once you notice that it starts to bubble, you need to reduce it to medium-low heat and let the mixture simmer for about 15 minutes or so. The longer you let it simmer, the thicker it is going to get. (Just be careful here as you don’t want it to be too hot and burn the bottom of the pan and sauce!)

As soon as it’s the consistency that you want, apply to your meat or store it in an airtight container and place it in the fridge for later.

What to use BBQ Sauce On

Even though I touched on this a bit earlier, there are so many things that you can use BBQ sauce on! Some of my favorite recipes to use this sauce with are

Easy Baked Chicken Tenders (great for dipping!)
Instant Pot ribs
Copycat Chick-fil-a-Nuggets
BBQ chicken tostadas

You can also use BBQ sauce on any chicken recipe, pork recipe, or a side dish dipping recipe for vegetables, too.

How to store leftovers

This is the great part about this easy BBQ sauce recipe. Once you add it to a storage container, you can have it stored in your fridge for several days without issue. Then, when you’re ready to eat, just pull it out and add to your favorite foods.

Can you freeze Homemade BBQ Sauce?

You can. If you’ve made a batch that you know you won’t be able to use in time, simply add it to a freezer bag or freezer-safe storage container and store it for later when you’re ready.

Other Sauce Recipes:

Easy homemade BBQ sauce

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

How to make the perfect sweet and tangy BBQ sauce.

Ingredients

15 ounce can tomato sauce
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Whisk together all of the ingredients in a medium pot over medium heat on the stove.
Allow to come to a simmer and reduce heat.
Simmer for 10-15 minutes, until the sauce thickens up.
Remove from heat, allow to cool and enjoy.

Notes

Use this recipe as a base for your own homemade sauce! Add or omit spices based on your taste. It's easy to customize.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1/4 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 119Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 611mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 2gSugar: 25gProtein: 2g

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Homemade Bisquick Mix

Kelley — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Homemade Bisquick is a great pantry basic that can be used for a variety of things. From pancakes to biscuits to dumplings, having homemade Bisquick in your kitchen makes a huge difference. Let me show you how to make and store your own baking mix.

As much as I love breakfast foods, I’m just not a morning person. Most mornings, while the coffee is brewing, Ryon starts breakfast. He normally cooks bacon and eggs or makes a hash, but some days he whips up pancakes. The kids (and this mama!) get really excited on pancake days.

Since me and mornings don’t get along to well, I decided to help in another way. I whipped up a batch of homemade Bisquick mix to help make pancake days even better, for everyone!

What is Homemade Bisquick?

Bisquick is a baking mix that can be used to make a variety of different recipes. Traditional Bisquick from the store is loaded with ingredients that I can’t even begin to pronounce. I like making my own because I know exactly what’s in it and it’s cheaper. Homemade Bisquick is a mix of flour, baking soda, sugar salt and butter.

Homemade Bisquick Ingredients

Like I mentioned, store bought Bisquick is loaded with a bunch of stuff that isn’t easy to pronounce. My homemade version uses:

flour
sugar
salt
baking powder
butter

Flour – You need plain baking flour for this mix. Do not buy self rising or cake flour as those will not work the same. Plain white flour will do.

Sugar – To add a bit of sweetness, you need a little bit of sugar in your Bisquick mix. Plain white sugar works perfectly but coconut sugar or even a sugar substitute like Stevia are other options.

Baking powder – Baking powder is what helps the mix rise and produces fluffy biscuits and pancakes. If you don’t have any baking powder, you can make some or use baking soda as a substitute. You would use 2/3 tablespoon baking soda instead of baking powder in this recipe.

Butter – The butter is what brings everything together in this recipe. You want to use unsalted butter here or you can remove the salt and use salted butter. You can also sub out the butter for vegetable shortening.

Does homemade Bisquick have to go in the fridge because it has butter in it?

No, it can be left on the counter if you’d like. Butter is ok to be on the counter if it’s in an airtight container. It can also go in the fridge if you prefer.

How to make Homemade Bisquick

Once you have gathered all your ingredients you will also need to grab:

a mixing bowl or food processor
pastry cutter
measuring cups and spoons
airtight container or jar

Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients – In your bowl or food processor, mix together the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder.

Step 2: Cut in the butter – Take your cold butter and cut it into squares. If using a food processor – add it to the dry ingredients and pulse until the mixture resembles sand.

If not using a food processor – add the butter to the dry ingredients in the bowl. Either using your hands or a pastry cutter, combine the butter with the flour mixture. If you are using your hands roll the butter between your thumb and pointer finger to create smaller pieces of butter. Do this under the mixture resembles sand.

Step 3: Store – Place the homemade Bisquick mix in an airtight container.

How to use homemade Bisquick

Now that you have your homemade Bisquick mix, you can make biscuits, pancakes or even dumplings! It’s a pretty versatile recipe and you can use it whenever a recipe calls for Bisquick.

To make pancakes –

Combine 2 cups homemade Bisquick with 1 cup of milk and 2 eggs. Place 1/4 cup batter into a greased skillet. Cook 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Slather in homemade butter.

To make biscuits –

Combine 2 cups of homemade Bisquick mix with 1 cup of milk. Stir dough to combine. Pour out onto a floured surface and knead until the dough comes together. Roll out the dough using a rolling pin and cut out using a biscuit butter. Bake at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

To make dumplings –

Combine 1 1/2 cup of homemade Bisquick with 3/4 cup milk until a dough forms. Drop balls of dough onto hot meat or vegetables in boiling soup or stew. Cook for 10 minutes uncovered and then 10 minutes covered.

Homemade Bisquick Mix

Ingredients

5 cups flour
1 cups butter [2 sticks, softened], chopped
1/6 cups baking powder
1/4 cups sugar
2 tsp. salt

Instructions

Combine all the dry ingredients and mix.

Place them in a food processor along with the chopped butter.

Blend for about 2 minutes.

Remove from processor and place in an air tight container.

Enjoy as needed!

Notes

For pancakes -
2 cups mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs
For biscuits -
2 cups mix
1 cup milk

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 4135Cholesterol: 488mgSodium: 4790mgCarbohydrates: 546gFiber: 18gSugar: 52gProtein: 67g

You may also want to check out these other great pantry basic recipes:

Be sure to PIN this recipe!

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Pumpkin Syrup

Kelley — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 13:00:00 +0000

This homemade pumpkin syrup is like fall in a jar! Put it over pancakes, brownies or anything you’d like! It’s easy to make and you only need 4 common ingredients to make the best pumpkin sauce ever.

Oh hey, pumpkin. It’s the time of year where food turns from normal flavors to pumpkin spice everything. Pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin brownies, pumpkin cake. Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin.

To be clear – I am NOT complaining. I am merely stating a fact that this time of year everything turns to the pumpkin side.

Pumpkin Syrup or Sauce

No let’s talk about one of the best pumpkin spice recipes – pumpkin syrup. Or pumpkin sauce. I originally coined this pumpkin sauce but realized later that it really is more like a syrup.

Especially since I use it as a pumpkin simple syrup in my coffee most mornings after I make a batch.

The good thing is that you can call it whatever you like and put it literally on whatever you like.

I’ve used this pumpkin syrup on pancakes, in my coffee and even on top of ice cream. I’ve even snuck a quick spoonful of just the sauce one afternoon.

It’s delicious and super easy to make.

Pumpkin Syrup Ingredients

One of the best things about this easy pumpkin sauce is how simple the ingredient list is. You should be able to get everything at your local grocery store.

(I say should because the second I say you ABSOLUTELY can find everything you need, someone will say they couldn’t find it. It’s like Murphy’s Law of grocery shopping.)

To make this homemade pumpkin syrup you will need:

pumpkin puree
sugar
water
pumpkin pie spice

No, seriously. That’s all you need. If you have ever made simple syrup, this is similar, just pumpkin flavored.

To start, you can find the pumpkin puree in the baking aisle at the grocery store. Grab your favorite can and you are good to go.

You can either buy pumpkin pie spice or try your hand at homemade pumpkin spice. I love making homemade because I can make a big batch and have it all pumpkin season long.

How to Make Pumpkin Syrup

Once you have all your ingredients, you will also need to grab a medium pot, whisk and measuring cup.

Pour the water and the sugar in the pot over medium heat. Bring to a boil and allow the sugar to dissolve. You can use the whisk to stir every so often.

Add in the pumpkin puree and whisk to combine. You may have to whisk it vigorously to combine until smooth-ish. I used a blender to make mine smoother and more syrup like when it cools down. You can do this or just whisk it as smooth as possible.

Mix in your pumpkin pie spice, remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

You can blend it smooth after it’s cooled or use it as is. Either way, store in an airtight container such as a mason jar. It will keep in the fridge for about 2 week.

What to use pumpkin syrup with/on

Pumpkin syrup (or sauce) goes great on or in:

fluffy pancakes
vanilla ice cream
cold brew coffee
buttermilk biscuits

Pumpkin Sauce

Ingredients

1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 - 2 tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan on the stove.

Allow the sugar to dissolve then add the pumpkin puree and the spice.

Let boil for about 5 minutes. If too thick, add a few tablespoons of water to thin a bit.

Remove from heat, place in a resealable jar and enjoy!

Notes

Should be stored in the fridge.
Also, I mashed my puree when it was in the pot but there was pumpkin chunks so I tossed it in a food processor. Pulse for a few seconds and it should be smooth!

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 494Sodium: 26mgCarbohydrates: 125gFiber: 8gSugar: 108gProtein: 3g

If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to check out these other great recipes:

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Chocolate sauce with cocoa powder

Kelley — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 16:00:00 +0000

How to make homemade chocolate sauce with cocoa powder. This chocolate sauce only uses a few common ingredients and comes out silky smooth!

Do you know what my kids love more than anything? Chocolate milk. And whipped cream too. Those are my kids top two favorite things of all time.

Do you know what is super easy to make? Chocolate sauce. (And homemade whipped cream too, if you’re interested.) I made this chocolate sauce with cocoa powder one afternoon and my kids thought I was some sort of chocolate milk magician.

It’s so good and perfect in a cold glass of milk or on top of ice cream. Let me show you how to make it at home so you can become a chocolate milk magician too. (If you want, totally optional.)

Chocolate sauce with cocoa powder

There are two main reasons that you are going to love this homemade sauce recipe –

It’s super easy to make.
You only need 5 basic ingredients.

If I had to rank this on a scale of beginner to expert level of cooking skill, I would say it’s a beginner type recipe. But it deserves an expert level badge. I say that because once you make it, everyone will think you are so sort of chocolate wizard. (Which you might be, I can’t be for sure.)

It’s easy, it comes out silky smooth and you only need a few basic ingredients. It’s chocolate sauce perfection if you ask me.

Chocolate sauce ingredients

Don’t let the small ingredient list fool you, this chocolate sauce is amazing! To make it you need:

cocoa powder
sugar
water
vanilla
salt

Yes, really! That’s all you need to make this homemade chocolate sauce. I bet you have the majority of the ingredients already in your pantry!

You want to use a good quality cocoa powder here. The better the quality cocoa powder you have, the richer your chocolate sauce will turn out. Something like a Ghiradelli cocoa powder or similar work great. If you already have cocoa powder in your pantry, use that! No need to buy new cocoa powder for this recipe.

Any type of sugar works in this easy recipe. You can also use coconut sugar, Stevia or even monk fruit here as well.

You also want a higher quality vanilla extract here as well. Use pure vanilla extract not the imitation version. You can also try your hand at homemade vanilla extract too!

How do you make chocolate sauce with cocoa powder?

To make this recipe you start by mixing your cocoa powder and sugar together in a sauce pan. Place the pan on the stove over medium heat. Add in your water and stir it together. Continue to stir until the cocoa powder/sugar mixture is dissolved. Bring to a boil and add in the vanilla plus your pinch of salt.

Allow to boil for about a minute or two and remove from heat. The chocolate sauce will thicken as it cools but make sure it coats the back of spoon before you pull it off the stove.

Allow it to cool and then transfer it to a mason jar or similar container with a lid.

Chocolate sauce for coffee

One of the many things that this chocolate sauce recipe is great for is COFFEE! You can use this sauce in your regular coffee or make a homemade chocolate mocha with it. (You can make white chocolate sauce for a white chocolate mocha too.)

Chocolate sauce for ice cream

You can also use this chocolate sauce on ice cream. Some of my favorite ice cream recipes for this chocolate sauce are:

Chocolate sauce with cocoa powder

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Active Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Homemade chocolate sauce with cocoa powder! Super easy to make and silky smooth.

Ingredients

1 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 cups water
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt

Instructions

Over medium heat and in a saucepan, mix together the cocoa powder and sugar.
Pour in the water and bring to a boil.
Add in the vanilla and salt and let boil for a minute or two.
Remove from heat, allow to cool and transfer to a resealable jar.
Enjoy over ice cream, in coffee or chocolate milk!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 111Total Fat: .9gSaturated Fat: .6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 14mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 2.1gSugar: 25.2gProtein: 1.3g

Homemade pumpkin pie spice

Kelley — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 13:00:46 +0000

Looking for a homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe? I’ve got one for you! Whether you need a small amount or are looking to make a large batch, this easy pumpkin spice mix is perfect for all your baking and cooking needs.

I’m going to file this recipe under “things I should have made sooner”. Two reasons I should have made this recipe sooner – I love making homemade spices and I use pumpkin pie spice SO OFTEN! Especially in the fall.

It just makes sense to make my own homemade pumpkin pie spice and have it on hand in my spice cabinet. I also love that I can make a big batch or small batch and customize it to my taste.

What is homemade pumpkin pie spice

The funny thing about pumpkin is that it is a pretty tasteless fruit. Fun fact – although pumpkin is part of the gourd and squash family, it is considered a fruit since it is full of seeds. You all know what I’m talking about – those gooey seeds that we all scoop out when we want to carve or bake with pumpkin.

You know.

Another fun fact about pumpkin is that it is low in:

saturated fat
cholesterol
sodium

Plus it’s also a good source of:

iron
fiber
potassium
vitamins E, B6 and C

Basically, pumpkin is a pretty big deal. But tasteless. Pretty darn tasteless. That’s where pumpkin pie spice comes in. It takes tasteless pumpkin and makes it flavorful. It’s great for adding flavor to savory and sweet recipes. Plus, it’s simple to make it at home.

What’s in pumpkin pie spice

I bet that you have at least one or two of the spices needed for this pumpkin spice blend. Heck, you may even have ALL of them sitting in your spice cabinet. You will need:

cinnamon
ginger
allspice
nutmeg
cloves

See? I told you that you probably have some of the spices to make pumpkin spice mix already. The spices are fairly common and can be found at most grocery stores. I bought mine in the bulk section of my local grocery store.

I used ground spices for this recipe. The whole pods in the picture are just for looks but if you want to grind your own spices – go ahead! I haven’t tried that method before but it would be fun to try one day.

The measurements below will help you make a small batch or a larger batch of pumpkin pie spice, depending on what you need. Feel free to adjust and customize the spices to your liking. That’s the fun thing about making your own homemade spices – you can customize them to your taste!

How do you make pumpkin spice mix

The best part about this recipe is all you have to do is mix the spices together and seal them in an airtight container. If you want to grind your own you have an extra step before you can mix them, but it’s still simple process.

I used a small canning jar to hold my pumpkin spice mix but a Tupperware, spice jar or a mason jar would work as well. Here are some cute suggestions for jars to hold your pumpkin spice seasoning:

Recipes with pumpkin spice seasoning

There are SO many recipes that you can use your pumpkin spice mix in. Like I mentioned, pumpkin itself is a pretty tasteless fruit.

Homemade pumpkin pie spice

Ingredients

Small batch -
4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
Large batch -
1 cup ground cinnamon
1/4 cup ground ginger
1/4 cup ground nutmeg
1/4 ground allspice
1/4 cup ground cloves

Instructions

Mix all the spices together and seal in an airtight container.

Notes

Nutrition information is for the small batch recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 49Cholesterol: 0mgSodium: 6mgCarbohydrates: 11.8gFiber: 6.4gSugar: .9gProtein: .8g

Love this homemade spice recipe? Be sure to check out:

Homemade taco seasoning

Homemade Italian seasoning

Chai spice mix

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How to make enchilada sauce

Kelley — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 22:24:38 +0000

Ever wondered how to make enchilada sauce? You won’t believe how easy it is to make it at home!

Fun fact about me – I love Mexican food. I grew up in South Texas so I was surrounded by tacos, burritos, nachos, migas, and my favorite – enchiladas! My favorite when I was younger was always cheese enchiladas. I would devour a plate of cheese enchiladas with rice and beans. I say would like I still don’t devour my enchiladas. I do. I have just expanded my pallet from cheese to all.the.enchiladas.

Of course if I’m going to make all the enchiladas, I need to have a great enchilada sauce on hand. And yall, is this homemade enchilada sauce great!

Why make homemade enchilada sauce

When I started making a list of the reasons to make homemade red sauce I was shocked at how many I came up with! I thought I would have one or two reasons but I found six! Yup! Six! Six reasons to make this delicious homemade enchilada sauce.

You know the ingredients going into your sauce.
You can cater to your taste – Want it to be spicier? Add some red pepper flakes. Want a milder enchilada sauce? Don’t add any red pepper or cumin. Easy peasy.
You can use fresh produce – Tomatoes on sale or overflowing in the garden? Whip up a batch or two of this enchilada sauce!
It’s cheaper to make at home.
You can make more than the standard enchilada sauce in a can.
It’s easy to make in a blender or food processor.

What’s in homemade enchilada sauce

Another great thing about this sauce is that the ingredient list is short and totally customizable. You can make it more or less spicy, you can make it thicker or thinner, you can add other fresh herbs besides cilantro. It’s a great recipe to take and make your own! The basic ingredients for this red enchilada sauce are:

tomato sauce – store bought or homemade
chicken broth – store bought or homemade
spices – such as onion powder, garlic powder, cumin
cilantro

See? Simple ingredients that make one great enchilada sauce!

How to make enchilada sauce

This is my favorite part of this enchilada sauce recipe! It is so, so easy to make. There are three ways that you can make this sauce – in a blender, in a food processor or in a mason jar.

My favorite way is in a blender WITH a mason jar! Fun fact – you can attach most blender blades to a regular mason jar. You just toss everything in a mason jar (I used a quart sized mason jar) and screw on the blade. Pop it on your blender base and process away.

I was leery of using a mason jar on my blender, but it worked! I love it because I don’t have to use my big blender jar and then pour it into a smaller container. Less dishes to clean is always my favorite!

If you don’t want to use the mason jar trick or you want to make a bigger batch of this enchilada sauce, feel free to use your blender jar for this recipe. I just really love the mason jar trick and wanted to share it!

You can also use your food processor or just a mason jar. With the food processor you toss everything in and pulse it until combined. With the mason jar you toss it all together and shake, shake, shake!

Recipes that use red enchilada sauce

The recipe below will make enough enchilada sauce for one meal. If you plan on using it for more then double the recipe and store it for later. You can always use a good enchilada sauce! These are my favorite ways to use my homemade enchilada sauce:

How to make enchilada sauce

An easy and delicious enchilada sauce that is totally customizable.

Ingredients

1 14 ounces can of tomato sauce
1 cup of chicken broth
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 tablespoon cumin
2 teaspoons onion powder
3 cloves of garlic (or 2 teaspoons garlic powder)
handful of cilantro

Instructions

If using a blender or food processor - toss everything in and blend together until smooth.

If using a mason jar - Mince the garlic or omit the garlic cloves for garlic powder. Mince the cilantro. Toss everything into the mason jar and shake until combined.

If the sauce is too thick, add a tablespoon of chicken broth at time until desired consistency is reached.

Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 26Cholesterol: 0mgSodium: 387mgCarbohydrates: 4.5gFiber: 1.2gSugar: 2.7gProtein: 1.7g

Be sure to check out these other homemade sauces and spices –

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