If you love creamy casseroles, comforting soups, slow-cooker meals, and quick weeknight recipes, having a jar of homemade Cream of Anything Soup Mix in your pantry can be incredibly useful.
The idea is simple: instead of keeping several cans of condensed cream soup on hand, prepare a dry homemade soup base and store it in an airtight jar. Whenever a recipe calls for cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, cream of celery, or another creamy soup, you can make the amount you need in just a few minutes.
The jars shown in the image are a great example of how convenient this pantry mix can be.
What Is “Cream of Anything” Soup Mix?
“Cream of Anything” is not one particular soup flavor. It is a versatile creamy soup base that can be adapted depending on what you want to make.
The basic mixture generally combines ingredients that provide:
- Creaminess
- Thickening
- Seasoning
- Savory flavor
Once prepared with liquid, the dry mixture becomes a thick, creamy base that can be used in countless recipes.
Instead of buying separate cans of:
- Cream of chicken soup
- Cream of mushroom soup
- Cream of celery soup
- Cream of onion soup
- Cream of vegetable soup
you can keep one versatile dry mix in your cupboard and customize it when needed.
Why Make Your Own Soup Mix?
There are several reasons this simple homemade mix has become popular.
1. It saves pantry space
Rather than storing several cans of different condensed soups, you can keep one jar of dry mix.
A single basic mixture can be transformed into different flavors depending on the recipe.
2. It is convenient
When a recipe calls for condensed cream soup, you don’t necessarily need to make an entire soup from scratch.
Simply measure the required amount of dry mix, add liquid, heat it, and you have a creamy cooking base.
3. You control the ingredients
One of the biggest advantages of homemade mixes is that you know exactly what goes into them.
You can adjust:
- Salt
- Herbs
- Bouillon
- Pepper
- Onion
- Garlic
- Mushroom seasoning
You can also choose lower-sodium ingredients when appropriate.
4. It can be customized
This is where the “anything” part comes in.
The same basic mixture can become a chicken-flavored sauce one day and a mushroom-flavored sauce the next.
A Simple Homemade Cream of Anything Soup Mix
A practical version can be made with a combination of:
Dry ingredients
- 1 cup powdered milk
- ¾ cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup chicken or vegetable bouillon powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
The exact proportions can be adjusted according to your taste and the ingredients you have available.
For a vegetarian version, simply use a vegetable bouillon rather than chicken bouillon.
If you’re using a commercially prepared bouillon, check its sodium content before adding additional salt.
How to Make the Dry Mix
Making the mix couldn’t be easier.
Step 1: Measure the ingredients
Measure all of your dry ingredients carefully.
For the best consistency, break up any lumps in the powdered milk or cornstarch before combining everything.
Step 2: Combine everything
Place the ingredients in a large bowl.
Whisk thoroughly until the herbs and seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
This step is important because you want every spoonful of the finished mix to have approximately the same balance of thickener and seasoning.
Step 3: Transfer to a jar
Pour the mixture into a completely dry, airtight container.
A glass Mason-style jar, like the one shown in the image, works particularly well.
Label the jar with:
Cream of Anything Soup Mix
You can also write the date you prepared it.
Step 4: Store in a cool, dry place
Keep the container tightly sealed in a cool, dry pantry away from heat and moisture.
Because the mixture contains powdered ingredients, moisture is the enemy. Always use a clean, completely dry spoon when measuring it.
