Recently, I’ve noticed an upwards trend of homemade, copycat versions of fan-favorite treats made by successful companies. Up until a couple of months ago, I was unconvinced that one could remake my favorite Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin that was similar enough to pass as the original. It just didn’t click for me. How could a homemade baker, let alone an amateur like me, replicate the fragrant, cozy-smelling, one-of-a-kind baked good that a $100 billion company can batch-process?

Despite my incredulity, I gave in after seeing the recipe for the muffin after the fourth time it appeared on my social media. The result was unbelievable. Not only was the muffin I made, in my humble opinion, better than the store-bought ones, but it was also so relaxing to make! Every bite of the muffin transported me into memories of watching autumn’s amber dusk fall, the sweet taste of hot apple cider that warms the soul, and the festive flavor of pumpkin spice. It was like I was living in a different reality; my life must have been a lie. All this time I’ve gone to Starbucks for a muffin when I could have easily made the copycat, which is healthier, more cost-effective, and capable of filling my house with fall galore. 

It didn’t end there though. After my endeavor to perfect the copycat Starbucks muffin recipe, I set out to recreate my next favorite food: an acai bowl. Similar to Starbucks, up until a couple months ago, I’ve been going to VitaCane for acai bowls, costing up to $10 for a 12-ounce bowl and $11.95 for a 16-ounce bowl. After much research and practice, I’ve been able to perfect the ratio of acai packets, fruit, and liquid needed to craft my homemade bowl. Not only is it a healthy and tasty after-school snack to help escape the heat, but the acai bowl is also a great treat to share with family members and friends. 

The versatility of making homemade treats is beyond what words can express; by making your own snacks, you can control the ingredients of the treat and can directly implement your personal preference in your food. Want a pick-me-up after school? No problem! An acai packet, half a cup of mango, half a cup of mixed fruit, and a couple splashes of milk will do the trick. On the run after a morning workout heading off to school? A muffin can easily be thrown into a lunch box for a snack at school. 

Other successful copycat recipes I’ve made include Tasty’s Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chipotle Chicken, and Crumble Cookies. With homemade foods, excess oil, fat, sugars, and additives are out of the equation. Recipes that have fewer ingredients are generally better for overall health and can be digested better by the body. Additionally, homemade treats are a great way to spend time with family members, as cooking at home allows quality time with loved ones. Especially because most homemade foods are shared between family members, the food can contain special memories of their time spent together. My mom even knows the Chipotle Chicken recipe by heart now, simply from the amount of times we have made it together! 

All in all, homemade treats might seem intimidating at first because one might not think they can achieve the standard of a restaurant commodity, but they’re well worth the shot of the satisfaction it brings people with their affordable pricing and versatility. With endless options, homemade treats have a variety of flavors and recipes, and they should be enjoyed by people from all over!