Cooking Substitution Guide
Ever get part way through a recipe before realizing you're out of an important ingredient? Us too. That's why we created a chart of substitutions for common ingredients. We recommend printing it and handing it on your refrigerator. Click here for a printable version.
| Item | Volume | Substitute |
|---|---|---|
| Allspice | 1 tsp | 1/2 tsp cinnamon + 1/4 tsp ginger + 1/4 tsp cloves |
| Arrowroot Starch | 1 tsp | 1 tbsp flour OR 1 tsp cornstarch |
| Baking Powder | 1 tsp | 1/4 tsp + 1/2 tspcream of tartar |
| Baking Soda | 1 tsp | 4 tsps baking powder OR 1 tsp potassium bicarbonate |
| Bread Crumbs | 1 cup | 1 cup cracker crumbs OR 1 cup ground oats |
| Brown Sugar | 1 cup | 1 cup white sugar and 1/4 cup molasses (leave out 1/4 cup liquid from recipe) |
| Butter | 1 cup | 1 cup shortening + 1/2 tsp salt OR 1 cup oil + 1/2 tsp salt |
| Buttermilk | 1 cup | 1 cup yogurt OR 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice + 1 cup milk |
| Chocolate (Baking) | 1 oz | 3 tbsp cocoa powder + 1 tbsp vegetable oil or shortening |
| Corn Syrup | 1 cup | 1/4 cup sugar + 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup honey |
| Cream of Tartar | 1 tsp | 2 tsp lemon juice or vinegar |
| Egg | 1 whole | 1/2 a banana + 1/2 tsp baking powder OR 1 tbsp flax powder or chia seeds soaked in 3 tbsp water for 15 minutes |
| Flour (Bread) | 1 cup | 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1 tsp wheat germ |
| Flour (Cake) | 1 cup | 1 cup all-purpose flour - 2 tbsp |
| Flour (Self-Rising) | 1 cup | 7/8 cup all-purpose flour + 1 1/2 tsp baking powder + 1/2 tsp salt |
| Gelatin | 1 tbsp | 2 tbsp agar agar |
| Half & Half | 1 cup | 7/8 cup milk + 1 tbsp butter |
| Heavy Cream | 1 cup | 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup + 3 tbsp butter (not this doesn't work for whipped cream) |
| Herbs (Fresh) | 1 tbsp | 1 tsp dreid herbs |
| Ketchup | 1 cup | 1 cup tomato sauce + 1 tsp vinegar + tbsp sugar |
| Lemon Grass | 2 stalks | 1 tbsp lemon zest |
| Mace | 1 tsp | 1 tsp nutmeg |
| Mayonnaise | 1 cup | 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup plain yogurt |
| Milk (Whole) | 1 cup | 1 cup non-dairy milk substitute OR 1/4 cup dry milk + 1 cup water |
| Molasses | 1 cup | 3/4 cup brown sugar + 1 tsp cream of tartar |
| Saffron | 1/4 tsp | 1/4 tsp turmeric |
| Sour Cream | 1 cup | 3/4 cup buttermilk + 1/3 cup butter OR 1 cup plain yogurt |
| Sweetened Condensed Milk | 14 oz | 3/4 cup white sugar + 1/2 water + 1/8 cup dry milk, cooked on the stove top for 20 minutes, stirring constantly |
| Oil for Baking | 1 cup | 1 cup apple sauce OR 1 cup fruit juice |
| White Sugar | 1 cup | 1 1/4 cup confectioners sugar OR 3/4 cup honey |