Chocolate chips aren't cheap and neither are basics like flour and sugar, especially if you're buying for marathon sessions in the kitchen this holiday season.

So here's my gift to you -- a cheat sheet on the best prices I could find on seven key ingredients in holiday goodies: flour, sugar, eggs, butter, pure vanilla, chocolate chips and marshmallow cream.

I checked seven stores in the Triangle (Aldi, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Lowes Foods, Target and WalMart) and here's what I found.