19 Copycat Recipes That Taste Better Than The Store-Bought Originals

We've all fallen victim to culinary laziness after a long, hard day. It takes close to no effort to pop open a sack of chips, rip open a wrapped Hostess cupcake or make a quick stop for a greasy bagged burger at the drive-thru.

But convenience need not trump taste. Food can be so much more enjoyable when made at home -- thanks, in part, to freshness and less-processed ingredients. So, we're particularly excited by copycat recipes that let us have the best of both worlds: delicious indulgences made and enjoyed in the comfort of our own homes. We put together some of our top picks for homemade alternatives -- including Hostess' snack cakes, Cinnabons and McDonald's Big Mac -- that taste way, way better than the original.

Want to read more from HuffPost Taste? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Tumblr.

Instead Of Baked! Lays...

Simply Recipes

Try the Oven-Fried Potato Chips Recipe by Simply Recipes

Instead Of Hostess Ding Dongs...

Beantown Baker

Try the Homemade Ding Dongs Recipe by Beantown Baker

Instead Of Fruit By The Foot...

Our Best Bites

Try the Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups Recipe by Our Best Bites

Instead Of Store-Bought Basil Pesto Hummus...

Simply Recipes

Try the Basil Hummus Recipe by Simply Recipes

Instead Of Dunkin' Donuts' Blueberry Cake Donut...

How Sweet It Is

Try the Glazed Blueberry Cake Donut Recipe by How Sweet It Is

Instead Of Jamba Juice's Apple 'N Greens Smoothie...

A Spicy Perspective

Try the Green Smoothie Recipe by A Spicy Perspective

Instead Of Hostess Cupcakes...

With Sprinkles On Top

Try the Homemade Hostess Cupcake Recipe by With Sprinkles On Top

Instead Of McDonalds' Big Mac...

Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice

Try the Homemade Healthier Big Macs Recipe by Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice

Instead Of Red Lobster's Biscuits...

Gimme Some Oven

Try the Garlic Cheddar Biscuits (a la Red Lobster) Recipe by Gimme Some Oven

Instead Of Gas Station ICEEs...

How Sweet It Is

Try the Melon Slush Recipe by How Sweet It Is

Instead Of Cinnabons...

Kelly Senyai/Epicurious

Try the Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe by Epicurious

Instead Of Auntie Anne's Pretzel Nuggets...

Annie's Eats

Try the Soft Pretzel Bites, Three Ways Recipe by Annie's Eats

Instead Of Gerber 1st Foods Sweet Potatoes...

Weelicious

Try the Sweet Potato Pudding Recipe by Weelicious

Instead Of Jamba Juice's Peanut Butter Moo'd Smoothie...

Macheesmo

Try the Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie Recipe by Macheesmo

Instead Of Chipotle's Barbacoa Tacos...

Bev Cooks

Try the Spicy Barbacoa Soft Tacos Recipe by Bev Cooks

Instead Of Dunkin' Donuts' Peanut Butter Kreme Donut...

How Sweet It Is

Try the Peanut Butter Cream Filled Donut Recipe by How Sweet It Is

Instead Of Smucker's Magic Shell...

James Ransom/Food52

Try the Magic Shell Recipe by Food52

Instead Of Kellogg's Pop Tarts...

A Beautiful Mess

Try the Homemade Pop Tart Mixology Recipe by A Beautiful Mess

Instead Of Drake's Devil Dogs...

What's Cooking in your World?

Try the Homemade Devil Dogs Recipe by What's Cooking in your World?

homemade Taste lay's big mac Fruit by the Foot

Before You Go

McDonald's Secret Menu

Submit a tip

What's Hot

19 Copycat Recipes That Taste Better Than The Store-Bought Originals

Related

Before You Go

McDonald's Secret Menu

From Our Partner

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE