We’ll explain how to make the equivalent of a large box (about 40 ounces) of baking mix, which can be stored on your pantry shelf. The trick here is to use a fat or shortening which is stable at room temperature. When you do, you have a combination that will keep for several months.

9 cups (2 pounds, 6 1/4 ounces) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
5 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp salt
1/4 cup (1 3/4 ounces) granulated sugar
1 cup (6 1/2 ounces) vegetable shortening

1. Ways to customize your mix:
2. —You can substitute up to 50% King Arthur Whole Wheat Flour, Traditional or White Whole Wheat for the unbleached all-purpose flour. This will mean the mix should be stored in the freezer; otherwise whole wheat flour will go rancid.
3. —Replace 1 cup of the unbleached all-purpose flour with 1 or more cups of the following: rye, buckwheat or oat flour; or 2 cups thick oat flakes, barley flakes or rye flakes. Store this mixture in the freezer as well.
4. —For a heartier blend, substitute 1 or 2 cups of our 7-Grain Flour.
5. —For even more nutrition, for each cup of flour, replace 2 tablespoons flour with 2 tablespoons wheat germ, wheat or other bran, and/or soy flour.
6. Putting Your Mix Together
7. In a large bowl, blend together the dry ingredients. Then, with a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut or rub in the vegetable shortening until it is evenly distributed and the resulting mixture looks like cracker crumbs. That’s all there is to it.
8. Storing Your Mix
9. Place the mix in a large, airtight container (a heavy duty zip-lock type plastic bag does nicely) or divide it into pre-measured 2 cup (don’t pack it) portions. It will make approximately 7 portions.
10. The advantage of store-bought mixes is that they don’t contain anything that will deteriorate at room temperature. When you start mixing in whole grains, you are introducing the perishable oils that you find in the germ of the grains. If you decide to put any of these in your mix, it’s best to store it in an airtight container in the freezer (not a large price to pay for a high-nutrition customized blend.)