Minimalist Baker

Better Thanksgiving Essentials (Store-Bought Dupes!)

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Images of better Thanksgiving essentials

Want to level up your Thanksgiving? These homemade swaps for your favorite store-bought Thanksgiving essentials are an easy way to do it!

From cranberry sauce to cream of mushroom soup, cornbread, rolls, and more, these recipes are SO much fresher and more flavorful than their store-bought cousins. Plus, skip the processed ingredients — and lots of options for our vegan and gluten-free friends!

You’ll also find a couple helpful guides to make it a breeze to cut some of the trickier fruits and veggies popular around the holidays!

(Note: Dietary symbols listed throughout for easy navigation!)

Spoon in a bowl of fresh cranberry sauce
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Easy Orange Cranberry Sauce (3 Ingredients!)
Simple, flavorful cranberry sauce made in 1 dish with 3 simple ingredients! Perfectly tart-sweet, naturally sweetened with maple syrup, and incredibly easy to make!
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Overhead shot of a jar of vegan gluten free cream of mushroom soup
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Vegan Gluten-Free Cream of Mushroom Soup
Savory homemade cream of mushroom soup for casseroles and beyond! Vegan, gluten-free, and the perfect swap for the classic canned version. Just 1 pot, 9 ingredients, and 25 minutes required!
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Jars of homemade Easy 1-Pot Vegetable Broth on a cutting board with tomato paste, carrots, and herbs
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Easy 1-Pot Vegetable Broth
An easy, 1-pot recipe for homemade vegetable broth! The perfect way to use up vegetable scraps and skins to make delicious broth for soups and more!
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Stirring a batch of our Easy Vegan Gravy recipe
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Easy Vegan Gravy
Easy-to-make 15-minute vegan gravy! Saucy, hearty, flavorful, customizable, and perfect for holidays, topping mashed potatoes, and more!
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Stirring almond milk and lemon juice in a measuring glass to make vegan buttermilk
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How to Make Vegan Buttermilk
EASY vegan buttermilk made with 2 ingredients in 5 minutes. Perfect for biscuits, ranch, and other recipes that call for buttermilk.
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Hands holding the sides of a pie pan filled with homemade gluten free and vegan pie crust
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Flaky Gluten-Free Pie Crust (Vegan)
Flaky, buttery, and reliable GLUTEN-FREE pie crust that’s also vegan! Just 4 ingredients and 15 minutes of chill time required!
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Bowl of our Pumpkin Pie Spice recipe made with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and more
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DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice
Easy, customizable pumpkin pie spice ready in 5 minutes! Spicy, warming, and perfect for fall baking and beyond!
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Wooden spoon in a bowl of homemade Coconut Whipped Cream
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How to Make Coconut Whipped Cream
An easy, step-by-step recipe for how to make coconut whipped cream! Perfect for topping vegan and non-dairy desserts.
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Bowl of crispy gluten-free fried onions
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Easy Gluten-Free Fried Onions
EASY homemade crispy fried onions! Gluten-free, vegan, and perfect for topping all your favorite holiday dishes. Just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes required!
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Spoonful of homemade breadcrumbs over a jar
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How to Make Breadcrumbs (Plain or Italian)
A step-by-step guide to making homemade breadcrumbs, including the best types of bread, gluten-free options, and how to use and store them. Just 1 ingredient and 25 minutes required!
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Bowl and tray of Fluffy Vegan Spelt Rolls topped with oats
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Fluffy Vegan Spelt Rolls
Easy-to-make, 7-ingredient vegan dinner rolls made with 100% spelt flour and rolled oats! Wholesome, fluffy, tender, and perfect for the holidays!
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Batch of homemade Dinner Rolls with one having vegan butter and jam in the middle
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Simple Vegan Dinner Rolls
7-ingredient vegan dinner rolls that are fluffy, buttery, and so simple to make. Perfect for weeknight meals and holiday gatherings! No one would guess they’re dairy-free.
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Baking sheet with six freshly baked Vegan Biscuits
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The Best Damn Vegan Biscuits
Fluffy, buttery vegan biscuits that require just 30 minutes, 7 ingredients, and 1 bowl! Perfect for breakfast as is or smothered with jam!
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Slice of the best vegan cornbread with a bite taken out
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Perfect Vegan Cornbread
Easy-to-make, fluffy, perfectly sweet vegan cornbread made with 10 ingredients. The perfect comforting side for soups and chilis, or to bake into croutons for salads or stuffing.
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Spoonful of jam, slab of vegan butter, and stack of Vegan Gluten-Free Biscuits
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Fluffy Vegan Gluten-Free Biscuits
Fluffy vegan biscuits made with the perfect blend of gluten-free flours for the ultimate tender, buttery biscuit! Just 30 minutes and 1 bowl required!
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Using a fork to cut a corner off of a slice of Vegan Gluten-Free Cornbread
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The Best Vegan Gluten-Free Cornbread
The BEST vegan gluten-free cornbread made with 10 ingredients! Fluffy, crumbly, perfectly sweet, SO delicious! Pair with chili for the ultimate fall and winter treat.
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Wooden spoon in a glass baking dish filled with our Easy Vegan Stuffing recipe
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Simple Vegan Stuffing
My family’s prized stuffing recipe veganized! A hearty, healthy side dish that requires just 9 ingredients and is loaded with protein and fiber from lentils and whole-grain bread!
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Plate of vegan gluten-free stuffing topped with fresh rosemary
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Classic Vegan Gluten-Free Stuffing
Savory, herby, and CLASSIC stuffing that’s entirely gluten-free and vegan! The ultimate (and essential) holiday side dish made with just 10 ingredients!
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Breaking open a pomegranate to show how to get the seeds out
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The BEST Way to Cut a Pomegranate
A step-by-step guide on how to cut a pomegranate! The quickest and easiest method that’s no fuss, no mess, and guaranteed to get all the pomegranate seeds!
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Using a knife to cut the peel off of butternut squash
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How to Cut Butternut Squash
A visual, step-by-step tutorial on how to cut butternut squash! Plus, several ways to put your squash to use once it’s chopped.
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If you try any of these recipes, let us know! Leave a comment, rate them, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

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