It is almost a shame how easy it is to run out to the store, buy some cake mix and a tub of frosting, and have the whole thing made in less than an hour. Making homemade pies and cakes used to be a big production, and thus, a fun experience. It is not one that should be lost just because the options for instant batters are there. There are actually a lot of reasons to consider making these desserts from scratch.

Parents, grandparents, older siblings, and babysitters can all use the experience of making treats from scratch as one for bonding. It is a great opportunity to let younger members of the family help out and learn something, all while getting to enjoy some sweets. You will get to spend some time together and the little ones will learn something about cooking. These are the types of memories that people always seem to look back on, so why rush the process?

Making them from scratch is also a great opportunity to start a traditional recipe. So many people have their great-grandmothers' recipes for their famous pies tucked away in recipe books or stuck on the fridge with a magnet. Why not take a recipe and start tweaking it until you find one that everyone seems to love? That way, it can be passed down from generation to generation, and the family can have something that ties the generations together.

Anyone who has allergies can also benefit from making desserts from scratch. This makes it easier to be sure to avoid gluten, nuts, berries, or anything else that a person might be allergic to without having to worry about compromising on taste. People with allergies often have a hard time finding a suitable dessert that still has the combination of flavors they enjoy, so making it on their own might be beneficial.

Finally, homemade desserts can be synonymous with healthy desserts! It is difficult to walk into a grocery store and find lower fat or lower calorie desserts -- or even ones without so much processed sugar. By making them from scratch, you can replace butter with low-fat margarine, oil with applesauce, sugar with sugar substitutes, and eggs with egg whites in order to make a healthier cake or pie.

So, basically, if you choose to take the quicker and easier route, you are compromising many other things. By making homemade pies and cakes, you are creating an opportunity to spend time with family and perhaps even use or invent recipes that can be passed down for generations. In addition, making them from scratch means that the recipe can be adjusted to suit your needs, whether they are allergies or health concerns.