Homemade Swaps for the Top Holiday Grocery Products

Homemade Swaps for the Top Holiday Grocery Products is a simple guide to help you swap hand-crafted products for processed ones.

Did you know there are trends in grocery store purchasing, especially during the holidays? When preparing for holiday gatherings, most plan an extensive menu with the main course, sides, bread options, desserts, and beverages. However, most Americans purchase whole food items for the main course, but buy processed foods for sides, breads, and desserts?

Therefore, the Homemade Swaps for the Top Holiday Grocery Products guide was created to teach you how to swap homemade for the top holiday grocery products. Within this guide, you’ll find the grocery store products and the homemade swap. Additionally, you’ll uncover the links to recipes. Finally, ideas to prepare in advance are included to save time and energy during the busy holiday season!

Homemade Swaps for the Top Holiday Grocery Products Guide

Pie Crust

Store-bought pie crust is a go-to item for so many families year round. Pie crust can be used for sweet or savory pies, handpies, pizza, cookies, and more!

However, making homemade pie crust can be enjoyable and more cost-effective than buying this grocery product. Furthermore, Sourdough Discard Pie Crust can be easily tailored for a sweet or savory pie. In addition, this recipe can be made up to 3 months in advance. Finally, thaw the crust the night before you need to use it, and then prepare to your liking. You can also freeze the crust and filling together and bake from frozen the day of!

Crescent and Dinner Rolls

Homemade Dinner Rolls or Homemade Crescent Rolls are an easy swap for frozen or refrigerated rolls. Homemade rolls are full of flavor and an easy dish for your children to help out with.

Furthermore, the dough can be made and refrigerated up to three days or frozen up to one month in advance. The night before, thaw the dough in the refrigerator; let it come to room temperature for two hours before baking. Some of our family favorite rolls are Sourdough Crescent Rolls or Hawaiian Sourdough Dinner Rolls.

Pie Filling

Canned Pie Filling is a go-to grocery product that can be easily swapped for homemade filings. This is also a delicious gift to give to family and friends during the holiday season as the “hard work is done,” and they can enjoy the results quicker!

Homemade pie fillings can typically be prepared and refrigerated up to five days in advance and/or frozen up to 6 months in advance. Additionally, pie fillings can be used in Sourdough Discard Pie Crust for a full pie or hand pies, or stuffed into Empanada dough to make Pastelitos.

Seasonal Cookies

Seasonal and Slice-and-Bake Cookies are another grocery store product that can be easily swapped for homemade treats! Homemade cookie dough can easily be prepared and frozen for up to three months. Furthermore, if you’re planning to make homemade Slice-and-Bake cookies, like Matcha-Dragon Fruit cookies, you can prepare and roll the dough, freeze the dough log, slice, bake, and enjoy at a later date!

In addition, seasonal cookies such as Gluten-Free Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies, Candy Cane Cookies, German Pfeffernusse Cookies, Matcha White Chocolate Cookies, Bourbon Molasses Ginger Cookies, Chai Snickerdoodles, and more, can all be prepared and/or baked months in advance and enjoyed at later dates.

In conclusion, creating and baking homemade seasonal and Slice-and-Bake cookies is an easy swap to purchasing processed, grocery store products.

Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls are a refrigerated item most families stock up on throughout the year. But, did you know you can easily make homemade Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls that are better for you, taste even more delicious, and can be prepared months in advance?

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls and Pumpkin Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls can be prepared, risen, and frozen up to three months in advance. The night before you need them, simply place them in the refrigerator to thaw. Then, set the thawed rolls on the counter for 2 hours to let them warm to room temperature. Finally, bake, ice, and enjoy!

Biscuits

Store-bought biscuits is a refrigerated or frozen products most have on hand at all times. However, did you know it’s just as easy to make homemade biscuits as it is to bake them from a can or frozen bag?

In addition, homemade biscuits are more cost effective, fresh, healthier, and can be made up to three months in advance! Finally, Sourdough Discard Drop Biscuits, Bacon and Beer Sourdough Biscuits, and Sweet Potato Biscuits are some of our family favorites!

Cranberry Sauce

Jellied Cranberry Sauce is a top holiday grocery product. But, did you know the second ingredient in this product is High Fructose Corn Syrup? Swap the Jellied Cranberry Sauce for Homemade Cranberry Sauce, and enjoy a tangy and slightly sweet side dish that all will ask for year-after-year. Furthermore, this sauce can be made, cooled, and frozen up to three months beforehand! Finally, once you make and taste this sauce, you won’t go back to Jellied Cranberry Sauce!

Crackers

Store bought crackers are one of the hot-ticket items year round and the holiday season. Crackers are consumed as a grab-and-go snack for kids, served with dips, or on a charcuterie board.

Sourdough Discard Crackers can be easily swapped for grocery store crackers, and the crackers can be prepared and baked within one hour! Furthermore, you can create seasonal crackers, such as Sourdough Pumpkin Crackers. Finally, you can prepare these up to 2-3 days in advance, but prepare to make the recipe in bulk, because they go like hot cakes – fast!

Cookie Decorating Kits

Sugar Cookie Decorating Kits are an edible craft most kids love! However, with all of the processed and unpronounceable ingredients in grocery store frozen cookie dough and icing, you may be looking for a “healthier” alternative.

Sourdough Sugar Cookies are a delicious alternative and the dough can be made up to three months in advance! Better yet, you can prepare the dough, bake the cookies, and freeze the cookies for up to 1 month in advance. Finally, on the day you wish to craft, let the frozen cookies to warm to room temperature, craft your own icing, and let the kids go wild!

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla Extract is a top purchased item at the grocery store, year round, because it is an essential ingredient in most baking recipes.

But, did you know you can easily make your own Homemade Vanilla? Sally’s Baking Addiction’s recipe is one of my all-time favorites, and comes together within minutes! Better yet, not only is this recipe easy to make and use for yourself, but it’s a thoughtful gift to give to family and friends during the holiday season.

Wrapping Up

Although grocery store products provide convenience, homemade and artisan-crafted goods are easy and healthier swaps for you, your family, and friends.

Furthermore, use this guide to help you prepare what you can, in advance, so you can enjoy gatherings, too! Finally, if you have other products or homemade swaps to add to this guide, please comment on the post, and I’ll get those added! Check out other holiday recipes at Sourdough and More!