Surprisingly, I’m not a big planner when it comes to baking. I tend to decide last-minute what I want to prepare based on what I’m currently craving. Rather than last-minute and stressful trips to the grocery store, I rely on a well-stocked pantry and a few basic tools for most baking situations. On any given day you’ll find many essential ingredients in my cupboards ready for baking on a whim. If you’re still deciding on what to bake for Thanksgiving next week or just want to prepare for any recipe (like Thanksgiving morning pumpkin pancakes!), these basics will carry you through tons of Thanksgiving dessert recipes. Plus, it’s just good sense to have these on hand. Right? The tools are my favorites and most-used; I wouldn’t enter the holidays without them.

{One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven}

Happy baking! What are your baking essentials?