Recipe Substitutions

If The Recipe Calls For:

Substitute:

apple cider vinegar (1/4 cup)

1/4 cup white vinegar

balsamic vinegar (1 Tbs.)

1 Tbs. sherry or cider vinegar

beer (1 cup)

1 cup non-alcoholic beer, beef broth, or apple cider

bread crumbs, dry (1/4 cup)

1/4 cup finely crushed cracker crumbs or corn flakes

brown sugar, packed (1 cup)

1 cup granulated sugar + 2 Tbs. molasses or dark corn syrup

corn syrup, light (1 cup)

1 cup granulated sugar + 1/4 cup water

corn syrup, dark (1 cup)

1 cup light corn syrup or
3/4 cup light corn syrup + 1/4 cup molasses or
1 cup maple-flavored syrup

cornstarch (1 Tbs.)

2 Tbs. all-purpose flour or
1 Tbs. potato or rice starch or
1 Tbs. arrowroot or
4 tsp. instant tapioca

cream, half and half (1 cup)

7/8 cup whole milk + 2 Tbs. melted unsalted butter

cream, heavy (1 cup)
(not for whipping)

2/3 cup whole milk + 1/3 cup melted unsalted butter

creme fresh

1 cup sour cream or
1 cup whipping cream + 1 Tbs. buttermilk or yogurt or
1/2 cup whipping cream + 1/2 cup sour cream or
1 cup mascarpone cheese

currants (1 cup)

1 cup raisins or
1 cup chopped dates or
1 cup other dried fruit (cranberries, blueberries, cherries)

flour, all-purpose (1 cup)

1 cup + 2 Tbs. cake flour

flour, cake (1 cup)

1 cup minus 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour

flour, self rising (1 cup)

1 cup all-purpose flour + 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder + 1/2 tsp. salt

garlic, finely chopped (1 clove)

1/8 tsp. garlic powder or
1/4 tsp. instant minced garlic

ginger root, grated (1 Tbs.)

1 Tbs. candied ginger; rinsed and finely chopped or
1 1/2 tsp. dry ground ginger + 1/2 tsp. lemon juice

herbs, fresh chopped (1 Tbs.)

1 tsp. of the same dry herb

honey (1 cup)

3/4 cup dark corn syrup + 1/2 cup granulated white sugar or
3/4 cup maple syrup + 1/2 cup granulated white sugar or
3/4 cup light molasses + 1/2 cup granulated white sugar or
1 1/4 cup sugar + 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar + 1/4 cup liquid. (Use whatever liquid is called for in the recipe)

lemon juice (1 Tbs.)

1 Tbs. bottled lemon juice, lime juice or white vinegar

lemon zest (1 tsp.)

1 tsp. lime or orange zest or
1/2 tsp. lemon extract

lime juice (1 Tbs.)

1 Tbs. lemon or orange juice

lime zest (1 tsp.)

1 tsp. lemon or orange zest

milk, nonfat (1 cup)

1/3 cup powdered milk + 3/4 cup water

milk, whole (1 cup)

1/2 cup evaporated milk + 1/2 cup water or
1 cup skim milk + 1 Tbs. melted butter

molasses (1 cup)

1 cup honey, dark corn syrup or maple syrup or
3/4 cup brown sugar heated to dissolve in 1/4 cup liquid

mustard, yellow (1 Tbs.)

1 tsp. ground mustard

oil (1 cup)

1 cup melted butter, margarine, or shortening depending on the recipe

orange juice (1 cup)

1 cup reconstituted frozen concentrate

orange zest (1 tsp.)

1 tsp. lemon or lime zest or
1 tsp. finely chopped candied orange peel

poultry seasoning (1 tsp.)

1/2 tsp. ground sage + 1/4 tsp. ground thyme + 1/4 tsp. ground rosemary

pumpkin pie spice (1 tsp.)

1/2 tsp. cinnamon + 1/4 tsp. ginger + 1/8 tsp. nutmeg + 1/8 tsp. cloves

shortening (1 cup)

1 cup butter or margarine. Do not substitute oil for shortening.

sour cream (1 cup)

1 cup plain yogurt

sugar, light brown (1 cup)

1/2 cup dark brown sugar + 1/2 cup white sugar

sugar, white (1 cup)

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

tomato juice (1 cup)

1/2 cup tomato sauce + 1/2 cup water

tomato paste (1/2 cup)

1 cup tomato sauce cooked until reduced by 1/2

tomato sauce (2 cups)

3/4 cup tomato paste + 1 cup water

tomatoes, canned (1 cup)

1 1/3 cup fresh cut-up tomatoes; simmered 10 minutes

treacle (1 cup)

1 cup corn syrup (light or dark) or light molasses

white vinegar (1/4 cup)

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar or
1/3 cup lemon juice

wine, red (1 cup)

1 cup non-alcoholic wine, apple cider, beef broth, tomato juice or water

wine, white (1 cup)

1 cup non-alcoholic wine, white grape juice, apple juice, chicken broth or water

yogurt, plain (1 cup)

1 cup sour cream, butermilk, or creme fresh or
1 cup heavy whipping cream + 1 Tbs. lemon juice

Baker's Substitutions

For best baking results, use the ingredients specified in the recipe. In the case of an emergency, try the following recommended equivalents and substitutions.

If The Recipe Calls For:

Substitute:

arrowroot (1 Tbs.)

1 Tbs. cornstarch, potato starch, or rice starch or
2 Tbs. all-purpose flour

baking powder (1 tsp.)

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar + 1/4 tsp. baking soda + 1/4 tsp. cornstarch

baking soda (1/2 tsp.)

2 tsp. baking powder (must replace the acidic liquid in recipe with non-acidic liquid)

butter (1 cup)

7/8 cup vegetable oil

buttermilk (1 cup)

1 cup plain yogurt or
1 Tbs. white vinegar or lemon juice and enough milk to equal 1 cup; let stand for a few minutes

chocolate, unsweetened (1 oz)

3 Tbs. cocoa powder + 1 Tbs. butter

chocolate, semi-sweet (1 oz)

1/2 oz unsweetened chocolate + 1 Tbs. sugar

chocolate, sweet (4 oz)

1/4 cup cocoa powder + 1/3 cup sugar + 3 Tbs. shortening

chocolate chips

chop a bar of chocolate into small chunks

cream of tartar (1/2 tsp.)

1/2 tsp. white vinegar or lemon juice