Get Ready for Fall Baking With These 15 Pantry Essentials

Autumn is meant for breezy, no-hassle baking. No one wants to be in baker’s mode only to realize a few missing ingredients are separating them from the perfect creation. By the time you make the blustery trek to the store, the passion to bake is often gone. Prepare your pantry well, and you can whip up pumpkin pie bars or an apple crumble whenever your heart desires. 

Not sure where to start or what to prep? We’ve listed 15 tips below, complete with recommendations for some of our favorite products. 

RELATED: Start Fall Early With 20 of the Best Vegan Pumpkin Spice Products

Monty’s

1Finding a good vegan butter is crucial

Butter is, of course, a key part of baking. Some people who are lactose intolerant continue to eat butter, which can cause confusion about whether it contains dairy. For the most part, butter is made from cow’s milk, or occasionally sheep’s, goat’s, or yak’s milk, which means it is not vegan. Fortunately, there are plenty of plant-based butter alternatives available. You can check out our ultimate guide to vegan butter for a full, in-depth round-up of all the vegan butters on the market, but here are a few of our top picks:
SHOP Monty’s Original Pure Plant-Based Butter
SHOP Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks
SHOP Miyoko’s Plant Milk Butter

Nutiva

2Coconut oil is a must for no-bake desserts

Unless a recipe specifically allows you to swap coconut oil for another vegetable oil, don’t do it. Because this oil is solid at room temperature, it’s a necessary component for no-bake desserts. Without it, they’d never firm up. Melted coconut oil can also double as an egg wash substitute for pie crusts and enriched breads. 
shop nutiva organic coconut oil

Valeria Boltneva

3Stock up on warming spices (and not just pumpkin pie spice) 

Pumpkin pie spice is obvious, but if that’s the only spice you use during fall, you’ll tire of it quickly. Make sure you have cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cardamom, and black peppercorns on hand. A pinch of crushed peppercorns can add just the perfect touch of subtle heat and a complementary depth of flavor to pies, bars, puddings, and cheesecakes. 
shop mccormick fall spices

Green Jay Gourmet

4Pick up jars of pumpkin and apple butter for ease

These concentrated fruit spreads always make baked goods even better. You could make them yourself by cooking down a colossal amount of apples or pumpkin with sugar and some spices, but the jarred varieties are so much more convenient. Watch out for honey lurking in the ingredients (such as in the Trader Joe’s variety). Pair with apple spice muffins, pumpkin waffles, cinnamon pancakes, and flaky biscuits for the ultimate fall treat. 
shop green jay gourmet pumpkin butter
Shop Green Jay Gourmet Apple Butter

Madhava

5Experiment with different sweeteners

Granulated sugar is a given, but fall baking can also be achieved with a variety of granulated sweetners. Grab brown sugar for brownies, blondies, and cookies; powdered sugar for frostings and dusting bundt cakes; maple syrup for fillings and sweet sauces (find our guide to baking with maple syrup here!); and coconut sugar for a slightly lower gylcemic option.
shop madhava organic coconut sugar
Shop 365 Organic Dark Maple Syrup

Malidate Van

6Always keep the pantry stocked with different kinds of flour

Pretty much all flour varieties are vegan, however, there are some unusual exceptions (bug flours, for example, are having a moment, but these are far from the norm). Most mainstream flours such as white, whole wheat, self-raising, and all-purpose, are vegan. While some have raised concerns in the past that white flour contains bone char, the Vegan Society has confirmed there is no evidence to support these claims.

You’ll need multiple types of flour for baking, but all-purpose, almond, and wheat tend to be the most commonly used. You can substitute wheat-based flours interchangeably, but the measurements will differ if opting for almond, chickpea, or other gluten-alternative flours. For a longer shelf-life, keep them in the freezer (just be sure to bring them to room temperature before using). 
shop king arthur all-purpose organic flour
Shop Nature’s Eats Almond Flour
Shop 365 Organic Whole Wheat Flour

7Cornstarch is key for more delicate bakes 

Cornstarch is often used as a thickening agent for pie fillings, fruit sauces, custards, and puddings. Cornstarch can also help make baked goods, like cakes and cookies, more tender and delicate. To achieve this, you can replace a portion of the flour in your recipe with cornstarch. (just not too much!) In some recipes, cornstarch can also be used as a binding agent, similar to how eggs or other thickeners work.
shop argo cornstarch

Melissa di Rocco

8Oats are vital for those quintessential fall crumbles

What’s the difference between a crisp and a crumble? Oats. A crisp is oat-free, a crumble should always have oats. Pro tip: never buy oat flour. If you have old-fashioned oats on hand (not steel-cut), you can make your own oat flour at a fraction of the price by pulverizing oats in a high-speed blender. 
shop anthony’s organic rolled oats

North Coast

9Applesauce is a handy egg replacer

You don’t need to use eggs at all. Because they serve as a binding ingredient, many plant-based alternatives such as flax seeds, mashed banana, and applesauce can do the same job. In fact, applesauce serves two applications, but it can also be used to swap out oil in a recipe for a healthy spin. Learn more about basic vegan baking swaps here. 
shop north coast applesauce

Farmer’s Market

10Canned pumpkin is convenient and affordable

There is no need to go through the hassle of making your own pumpkin purée. The canned option is convenient, affordable, and works just as well. Just be sure you’re grabbing pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling (the latter is sweetened and spiced). 
shop farmer’s market organic pumpkin puree

Native Forest

11Full-fat coconut milk or cream is vital for moist cakes

For creamy fillings, moist cakes, and fluffy whipped creams, you need a can of full-fat coconut milk. Many recipes call for just the solid part, so save time by storing a few cans in the fridge and do not shake them unless the recipe specifies. It tends to sell out during the holiday months, so make sure to stock up. 
shop Native Forest Organic coconut cream

Violife

12Keep vegan cream cheese on hand for frosting

Who doesn’t love a giant, tender pumpkin spice muffin with a sweet cream cheese filling? Cream cheese frosting and pumpkin go hand-in-hand, so make sure you always have a tub in the fridge. For our favorite brands, check out our ultimate vegan cream cheese taste test, but here are some of the highlights:

Shop Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese
Shop Violife Cream Cheese Original
Shop Treeline Plain Cashew Cream Cheese

13Use canned chickpeas to make aquafaba egg white

Don’t drain the chickpeas! You need the brine to make vegan meringue magic. Aquafaba (also known as chickpea brine) is another popular alternative to eggs. When whisked into oblivion with a bit of sugar, this bean liquid transforms into pillowy-soft peaks that perfectly mimic an egg white. Throw the actual chickpeas onto a salad or make chickpea blondies. For tips on how to make and use aquafaba, follow our guide—but beware! It just might change your life.
shop 365 organic chickpeas

Coop’s

14A jar of caramel makes for an easy fall drizzle

You could make your own, but we like to have a jar of caramel sauce on hand to instantly drizzle over apple spice cakes, vegan pumpkin ice cream, and whip cream-topped apple cider. 
shop coop’s salted caramel sauce

Vanilla Bean Project

15 Choose vanilla paste over extract for subtle, nuanced flavor

When vanilla isn’t the star of the show in a recipe, it helps add subtle flavor and nuance to other ingredients. You don’t have to splurge on actual vanilla beans (though it is nice if you want a really pronounced vanilla flavor), but avoid imitation vanilla extract. Instead go for a more budget-friendly, but still premium vanilla paste. It’s a blend of concentrated vanilla extract and vanilla bean powder. 
shop vanilla bean project organic vanilla bean paste