Baking is fun. Really it is! Not only does it make your kitchen smells wonderful, but anything you back at home will taste a zillion times better than something you buy.

Absolute Necessities

All-purpose white flour
All-purpose whole-wheat flour
Granulated white sugar
Brown sugar (golden brown, not dark brown)
Icing (or confectioners) sugar
Baking powder
Baking soda
Quick-rise instant yeast granules
Butter
Vegetable oil
Solid Vegetable shortening
Eggs
Milk
Semisweet chocolate chips
Semisweet baking chocolate
Unsweetened baking chocolate
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Quick cooking rolled oats (not instant)
Pure vanilla extract
Peanut butter
Cinnamon
Raisins
Walnuts
Non-stick baking spray

Noncompulsory Bonus ingredients

Cake and pastry flour
Bread flour
Cornmeal
Graham cracker crumbs
Bran
Honey
Corn Syrup
Molasses
Whipping cream
Sour Cream
Buttermilk
Yogurt
Cream cheese
Cream of tartar
Ginger
Nutmeg
Pecans
Almonds
Hazelnuts
Dried cranberries
Dates
Coconut
Lemons