Nara Smith From Scratch: 19 Store-Bought Staples Worth Making at Home, From Crackers to Cereal

Nara Smith from scratch videos turned simple home cooking into a viral sensation, and one short YouTube clip about her from-scratch cooking has passed 12 million views. Now her first cookbook, Homemade, is out with 80 family recipes, released on October 13. We picked the store-bought staples people ask about most and made them easy for a normal kitchen, with an honest note on each: is it really worth your time? Some take ten minutes, some are a weekend project, and a few make wonderful holiday gifts. Roll up your sleeves..

Nara Smith From Scratch: The Homemade Pantry

Nara Smith became famous for making cereal, crackers and even cookies from scratch. Some of those are worth your weekend, some are just for fun. Here is the honest list, starting with the one thing everyone should try: a simple no-knead loaf that tastes like a bakery made it..

You will need: 3 cups flour, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp instant yeast, 1 1/2 cups warm water, flour for dusting.

How to make it: 1. Stir the flour, salt and yeast in a large bowl. 2. Add the warm water and mix into a shaggy dough. 3. Cover and leave on the counter 12 to 18 hours. 4. Turn out, fold into a ball and rest 30 minutes on parchment. 5. Heat a covered Dutch oven at 450 F for 30 minutes, then lower the dough in on the parchment. 6. Bake covered 30 minutes, then uncovered 10 to 15 minutes until deep golden.

Nara Smith From Scratch: Cheddar Cheese Crackers

Cheese crackers are one of the recipes named from her new book, and they are a great first project. Sharp cheddar, butter and flour come together in a food processor in a minute, then you roll, cut and bake. They taste like the snack you grew up with, only cheesier. Worth it? Yes: about 40 minutes for a big batch, and kids love cutting the shapes. Squares or circles?

You will need: 8 oz sharp cheddar (finely grated), 4 tbsp cold butter (cubed), 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp paprika, 2 to 3 tbsp ice water.

How to make it: 1. Pulse the cheese, butter, flour, salt and paprika in a food processor until crumbly. 2. Add ice water a spoon at a time until a dough forms. 3. Wrap and chill 30 minutes. 4. Heat the oven to 350 F. 5. Roll 1/8 inch thick between parchment, cut into small shapes and set on a lined pan. 6. Bake 12 to 15 minutes until golden at the edges, then cool to crisp.

Chocolate Sandwich Cookies With Cream Filling

Chocolate sandwich cookies are another recipe named from the book, and homemade ones taste deeper and less sweet than the packaged kind. Dark cocoa makes a crisp, almost black wafer, and the filling is just butter, powdered sugar and vanilla. Worth it? For a party or a cookie tin, absolutely; plan about an hour. Twist apart or bite straight through?

You will need: 1 1/4 cups flour, 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 cup butter (soft), 2/3 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla. Filling: 1/2 cup butter (soft), 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 tbsp milk.

How to make it: 1. Beat the butter and sugar, then add the egg and vanilla. 2. Stir in the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. 3. Chill the dough 30 minutes, then roll 1/8 inch thick and cut small circles. 4. Bake at 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes and cool completely. 5. Beat the filling ingredients until fluffy. 6. Pipe or spread filling on half the cookies and sandwich.

Cinnamon Toast Cereal Squares

Cinnamon toast squares cereal is one of the viral recipes named from her book, and it is pure fun. You roll a thin, sweet dough, brush it with cinnamon sugar, cut it into tiny squares and bake until crunchy. Pour milk over a bowl and it really does taste like the cereal aisle. Worth it? As a weekend project with kids, yes. Do you drink the cinnamon milk at the end?

You will need: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, 4 tbsp butter (melted), 1/4 cup milk, 1 tsp vanilla. Topping: 3 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 2 tbsp melted butter.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F. 2. Mix the flours, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. 3. Stir in the butter, milk and vanilla to form a dough. 4. Roll very thin on parchment, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. 5. Cut into 1/2 inch squares with a pizza cutter. 6. Bake 15 to 18 minutes until crisp, then cool and break apart.

Nara Smith From Scratch Granola, the Easiest Swap

If you only try one Nara Smith from scratch swap, make granola. It costs a fraction of the store price, it is ready in 30 minutes, and you control the sugar. Oats, nuts, a little maple syrup and oil, then dried fruit after baking. Worth it? 100 percent. It also makes a lovely gift in a jar for the holidays. Clusters or loose?

You will need: 3 cups old-fashioned oats, 1 cup chopped nuts, 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, 1/3 cup maple syrup, 1/3 cup olive or coconut oil, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 cup dried fruit.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 325 F. 2. Mix the oats, nuts, seeds, cinnamon and salt. 3. Warm the maple syrup, oil and vanilla and pour over. 4. Press into a thin layer on a lined sheet pan. 5. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, turning the pan once, and do not stir if you want clusters. 6. Cool completely, break up and stir in the dried fruit.

Homemade Graham Crackers

Homemade graham crackers are honey-sweet, a little nutty from whole wheat flour, and much more tender than the boxed kind. They are great for s’mores, pie crusts and the kids’ lunch box. Roll the dough right on parchment so you do not have to move it. Worth it? Yes if you love them; about 45 minutes plus chilling. Do you dip yours in milk?

You will need: 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour, 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt, 6 tbsp cold butter (cubed), 1/4 cup honey, 3 tbsp milk, 1 tsp vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Pulse the flours, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a food processor. 2. Add the butter and pulse until crumbly. 3. Add the honey, milk and vanilla and pulse until a dough forms; chill 30 minutes. 4. Roll 1/8 inch thick on parchment and cut into rectangles. 5. Prick with a fork. 6. Bake at 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes until golden.

Nara Smith From Scratch Pasta: One Dough, Many Shapes

Her book includes a multi-use pasta dough, and fresh pasta is the swap that surprises people most. It is just flour and eggs, kneaded and rested, then rolled by hand or with a machine. Cut it into ribbons, sheets for lasagna or little pinched shapes. Fresh pasta cooks in about 2 minutes. Worth it? For a special dinner, yes. What shape would you make first?

You will need: 2 cups flour (or half 00 flour, half semolina), 3 eggs, 1 egg yolk, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt.

How to make it: 1. Make a well in the flour and add the eggs, yolk, oil and salt. 2. Beat with a fork, slowly pulling in the flour. 3. Knead 8 to 10 minutes until smooth. 4. Wrap and rest 30 minutes. 5. Roll very thin and cut into ribbons or shapes, dusting with flour. 6. Boil in salted water 2 to 3 minutes and toss with sauce.

Soft Sandwich Bread

Homemade sandwich bread is soft, fluffy and stays fresh for days thanks to a little butter and milk. Nara Smith from scratch fans know bread is the base of everything: toast, sandwiches and French toast. It is mostly waiting time while the dough rises. Worth it? Yes, especially on a cozy weekend; the whole house smells amazing. Crust on or crust off?

You will need: 3 1/2 cups bread flour, 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) instant yeast, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 1/4 cups warm milk, 3 tbsp soft butter.

How to make it: 1. Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. 2. Add the warm milk and butter and knead 8 to 10 minutes until smooth. 3. Cover and let rise 1 hour until doubled. 4. Shape into a log and place in a greased 9×5 loaf pan. 5. Rise 45 minutes until it crowns the pan. 6. Bake at 375 F for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden and hollow-sounding, then cool before slicing.

Homemade Butter in 10 Minutes

Making butter is a magic trick for kids: whip heavy cream past the whipped cream stage and it suddenly splits into butter and buttermilk. Rinse the butter, squeeze it and add a pinch of salt. You get creamy fresh butter and a bonus cup of buttermilk for pancakes. Worth it? For a special dinner or a gift, yes. Have you ever made butter in a jar?

You will need: 2 cups cold heavy cream (not ultra-pasteurized if possible), 1/4 tsp flaky salt, ice water for rinsing.

How to make it: 1. Pour the cream into a stand mixer and whip on medium-high. 2. Keep going past whipped cream until it turns grainy and yellow, about 8 to 10 minutes. 3. When it splashes and separates, pour off the buttermilk and save it. 4. Rinse the butter in ice water, squeezing, until the water runs clear. 5. Press out the water and mix in the salt. 6. Shape into a block and chill.

Nara Smith From Scratch Style Fresh Ricotta

Fresh ricotta is the quickest Nara Smith from scratch style win: 20 minutes and only three ingredients. Warm milk and cream, add lemon juice, and soft curds form like magic. Drain them in a cheesecloth and you have creamy, sweet ricotta for toast, lasagna or a simple dessert with honey. Worth it? Yes, it tastes nothing like the tub. Sweet with honey or savory with herbs?

You will need: 4 cups whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream, 1/2 tsp salt, 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, cheesecloth.

How to make it: 1. Heat the milk, cream and salt in a pot to about 190 F, stirring so it does not scorch. 2. Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice gently. 3. Let it sit 5 minutes as curds form. 4. Line a strainer with damp cheesecloth. 5. Ladle in the curds and drain 15 to 60 minutes, depending on how thick you like it. 6. Chill and use within 4 days.

Soft Flour Tortillas

Once you try warm homemade flour tortillas, the bagged kind is hard to go back to. The dough is flour, salt, a little fat and hot water, and it rolls out easily after a short rest. Cook them in a dry skillet until they puff and get golden spots. Worth it? Yes for taco night; about 40 minutes for 12. How many can you eat straight from the pan?

You will need: 3 cups flour, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/3 cup butter or lard (soft), 1 cup hot water.

How to make it: 1. Mix the flour, salt and baking powder. 2. Rub in the butter until crumbly. 3. Stir in the hot water and knead 2 minutes until smooth. 4. Divide into 12 balls, cover and rest 20 minutes. 5. Roll each into an 8-inch circle. 6. Cook in a hot dry skillet 30 to 45 seconds per side and keep warm in a towel.

Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Homemade barbecue sauce is a Nara Smith from scratch staple that takes 20 minutes and beats most bottles. Ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard and smoked paprika simmer into a sticky, tangy glaze. Brush it on chicken wings, ribs or pulled pork, and keep the rest in a jar in the fridge for two weeks. Worth it? Yes, and you can make it as sweet or spicy as you like. Sweet or smoky?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups ketchup, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp molasses, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne.

How to make it: 1. Put everything in a saucepan. 2. Whisk until smooth. 3. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. 4. Lower the heat and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until thick. 5. Taste and adjust with more sugar or vinegar. 6. Cool and store in a jar in the fridge.

Fruit Snacks Made With Real Juice

Homemade fruit snacks are a fun Nara Smith from scratch style project that kids can help with. Real fruit juice, a little honey and gelatin set in silicone molds in about an hour. They are softer than the packaged ones and you can pick any juice: grape, cherry or orange. Worth it? Yes for a rainy afternoon. Which flavor would your kids choose?

You will need: 1 cup 100 percent fruit juice (grape, cherry or orange), 2 tbsp honey, 3 tbsp unflavored gelatin, 1 tbsp lemon juice, small silicone molds.

How to make it: 1. Pour the juice into a small saucepan and sprinkle the gelatin over it. 2. Let it sit 5 minutes to bloom. 3. Warm over low heat, stirring, until fully dissolved; do not boil. 4. Stir in the honey and lemon juice. 5. Use a dropper to fill the molds. 6. Chill 1 hour, pop out and store in the fridge up to a week.

Breakfast Toaster Pastries

Homemade toaster pastries are flaky little hand pies with jam inside and a sweet glaze on top. Use homemade or store-bought pie dough, fill it with strawberry or brown sugar cinnamon, crimp with a fork and bake. They freeze well, so you can warm one up on a busy morning. Worth it? Yes for a special breakfast. Strawberry or brown sugar?

You will need: 2 rounds pie dough (homemade or store-bought), 1/2 cup thick strawberry jam, 1 egg (beaten), 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tbsp milk, 1/2 tsp vanilla, sprinkles.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 375 F. 2. Roll the dough and cut into 3 by 4 inch rectangles. 3. Spoon jam on half the rectangles, leaving a border. 4. Brush edges with egg, top with the other rectangles and press with a fork. 5. Prick the tops and bake 20 to 25 minutes until golden. 6. Cool, then spread with the glaze and add sprinkles.

Nara Smith From Scratch Pizza Rolls

A video of her making pizza rolls from scratch has more than 300,000 views on YouTube, and homemade ones are much better than the frozen kind. A quick dough wraps around mozzarella, pepperoni and a spoon of sauce, then the little pockets bake until golden. Freeze extras for game day. Worth it? Yes for a party; plan about an hour. Pepperoni or cheese only?

You will need: 1 lb pizza dough (homemade or store-bought), 1 cup thick pizza sauce, 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup mini pepperoni, 1 egg (beaten), 2 tbsp grated parmesan, 1 tsp Italian seasoning.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 425 F and line a baking sheet. 2. Roll the dough very thin and cut into 3-inch squares. 3. Add a little sauce, cheese and pepperoni to each. 4. Fold into pockets and pinch the edges tightly closed. 5. Brush with egg and sprinkle with parmesan and Italian seasoning. 6. Bake 12 to 15 minutes until golden and serve with extra sauce.

Lucky Blue Smith’s Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Her book includes oat chocolate chip cookies credited to her husband, Lucky Blue Smith, and it is a sweet family touch. Oats make the cookies chewy and hearty, and brown sugar keeps them soft in the middle. Chill the dough for thicker cookies. This is our easy home version. Worth it? Cookies are always worth it. Gooey middle or crispy edges?

You will need: 1 cup butter (soft), 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 cups old-fashioned oats, 2 cups chocolate chips.

How to make it: 1. Beat the butter and sugars until fluffy. 2. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. 3. Stir in the flour, baking soda and salt. 4. Fold in the oats and chocolate chips and chill 30 minutes. 5. Scoop onto lined pans. 6. Bake at 350 F for 11 to 13 minutes until golden at the edges.

English Muffins on the Griddle

For a Nara Smith from scratch brunch, try English muffins. They are cooked on a griddle, not in the oven, which gives them that famous flat top and bottom. Split them with a fork to get all the nooks and crannies, then toast. They make the best breakfast sandwiches with egg and bacon. Worth it? Yes for a lazy Saturday. Butter and jam, or a breakfast sandwich? Bake extra and add them to your homemade edible gifts people love.

You will need: 3 cups flour, 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) instant yeast, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup warm milk, 2 tbsp soft butter, 1 egg, cornmeal for dusting.

How to make it: 1. Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. 2. Add the milk, butter and egg and knead into a soft dough. 3. Let rise 1 hour. 4. Roll 1/2 inch thick, cut 3-inch rounds and set on cornmeal for 30 minutes. 5. Cook on a low griddle 7 to 8 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. 6. Cool, split with a fork and toast.

Chewy Homemade Bagels

The secret to a real chewy bagel is a quick boil before baking. The dough is stiff and simple, the bagels are shaped by poking a hole with your thumb, then boiled for a minute and baked until shiny. Everything seasoning or sesame on top makes them bakery-worthy. Worth it? Yes for a brunch crowd. Plain, sesame or everything?

You will need: 4 cups bread flour, 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) instant yeast, 1 tbsp sugar, 2 tsp salt, 1 1/2 cups warm water, 1 tbsp honey for the boil, 1 egg white, sesame seeds or everything seasoning.

How to make it: 1. Knead the flour, yeast, sugar, salt and water 8 to 10 minutes into a stiff dough. 2. Rise 1 hour. 3. Divide into 8, roll into balls and poke a hole in each, stretching to 2 inches. 4. Boil in water with honey 1 minute per side. 5. Brush with egg white and add toppings. 6. Bake at 425 F for 20 to 22 minutes until golden.

Fluffy Homemade Marshmallows

Homemade marshmallows are softer and fluffier than store-bought, and they melt into hot cocoa like a dream. Hot sugar syrup is whipped with gelatin until thick and glossy, then set in a pan overnight. Cut them into big squares and dust with powdered sugar. Worth it? Yes, and they make a great Christmas gift in a jar. For a full Nara Smith from scratch holiday, see Forbes list of the best fall 2026 cookbooks.

You will need: 3 packets (3/4 oz) unflavored gelatin, 1 cup cold water (divided), 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 cup light corn syrup, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup powdered sugar mixed with 1/2 cup cornstarch.

How to make it: 1. Bloom the gelatin in 1/2 cup cold water in a mixer bowl. 2. Heat the sugar, corn syrup, salt and remaining water to 240 F. 3. With the mixer on low, carefully pour the hot syrup into the gelatin. 4. Whip on high 12 minutes until thick and white, adding vanilla at the end. 5. Spread in a 9×13 pan dusted with the sugar mix and let set overnight. 6. Cut into squares and roll in more sugar mix.