Ever found yourself wondering how to substitute cooking ingredients? There’s nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of a recipe and realizing you don’t have what you need.
Do yourself a favor and print this, then tape it inside your kitchen cupboard. Next time you’re out of something called for in a recipe, you’ll have the information you need!
How To Substitute Cooking Ingredients
Check out these common cooking substitutions to get your meal back on track.
| If you’re out of…… | Try using…. | To replace this amount… (use only what your recipe calls for) |
| Allspice | 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves | 1 teaspoon |
| Baking mix | 1 cup pancake mix | 1 cup |
| Baking powder | 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar | 1 teaspoon |
| Beer/wine | 1 cup chicken broth | 1 cup |
| Breadcrumbs | 1 cup cracker crumbs OR 1 cup ground instant oatmeal | 1 cup |
| Broth (chicken or beef) | 1 bouillon cube dissolved in 1 cup boiling water OR 1 cup vegetable broth | 1 cup |
| Brown sugar | 1 cup white sugar and 1 tablespoon molasses, mixed well. (For dark brown sugar use 1 1/2 tablespoons molasses.) | 1 cup |
| Butter, salted | 1 cup unsalted butter OR 1 cup shortening and 1/2 teaspoon salt | 1 cup |
| Butter, unsalted | 1 cup shortening | 1 cup |
| Buttermilk | 1 tablespoon white vinegar OR lemon juice and enough milk or plain yogurt to make 1 cup | 1 cup |
| Chocolate, semisweet(not chips) | 1 ounce (a square) of unsweetened baking chocolate and 3 tsp. white sugar | 1 ounce |
| Chocolate, semisweet chips | 1 cup chocolate candy bar, chopped | 1 cup |
| Chocolate, unsweetened | 3 tablespoons cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon shortening or neutral-flavored cooking oil | 1 ounce |
| Cocoa powder | 1 once (a square) of unsweetened baking chocolate, ground | 1/4 cup |
| Corn syrup, light | 1 1/4 cup white sugar dissolved in 1/3 cup water OR use dark corn syrup (though the flavor will be affected) | 1 cup |
| Cracker crumbs | 1 cup bread crumbs OR 1 cup ground instant oats | 1 cup |
| Cream, half-and-half | 1 tablespoon melted butter and enough milk to make 1 cup | 1 cup |
| Cream, heavy (for baking or cooking, not whipping) | 1/3 cup melted butter and 3/4 cup milk OR 1 cup evaporated milk (not fat-free) | 1 cup |
| Cream cheese | 1 cup cottage cheese put through a blender | 1 cup |
| Crème fraiche | 1 cup heavy cream and 1 tablespoon plain yogurt left to stand at room temperature 2-4 hours | 1 cup |
| Egg | 1/4 cup liquid egg substitute (Egg Beaters) OR 1 tablespoon flax-seed soaked in 3 tablespoons warm water until gel forms | 1 egg |
| Egg white | 3 tablespoons meringue powder mixed in 6 tablespoons water | 3 egg whites |
| Evaporated milk | 1 cup light cream | 1 cup |
| Flour, bread | 1 cup all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon vital wheat gluten | 1 cup |
| Flour, self-rising | 7/8 cup all-purpose flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt | 1 cup |
| Garlic, clove | 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder | 1 clove |
| Ginger, powdered | 2 teaspoons finely minced fresh ginger | 1 teaspoon |
| Ginger, fresh | 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger | 1 teaspoon minced |
| Green onion | 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion or leek | 1/2 cup |
| Herbs, dried | 1 tablespoon fresh herb | 1 teaspoon dried herb |
| Herbs, fresh | 1 teaspoon dried herb | 1 tablespoon fresh herb |
| Honey | 1 cup light corn syrup OR 1 1/4 cup white sugar dissolved in 1/3 cup water | 1 cup |
| Hot sauce | 3/4 teaspoon cayenne powder and 1 teaspoon white vinegar | 1 teaspoon |
| Ketchup | 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar mixed into 1 cup tomato sauce | 1 cup |
| Lard | 1 cup shortening or 1 cup butter | 1 cup |
| Lemon grass | 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest | 2 stalks |
| Lemon juice | 1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice OR 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar | 1 teaspoon |
| Lemon zest | 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice OR 1 teaspoon lime zest | 1 teaspoon |
| Lime juice | 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice OR 1 teaspoon white vinegar | 1 teaspoon |
| Lime zest | 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest | 1 teaspoon |
| Margarine | 1 cup shortening and 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 1 cup butter | 1 cup |
| Mayonnaise | 1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 cup Greek yogurt OR 1 cup sour cream | 1 cup |
| Milk, Whole | 1/2 cup evaporated milk and 1/2 cup water OR 1/3 cup dry milk powder and 1 cup water OR 1 cup rice milk, soy milk or almond milk | 1 cup |
| Molasses | 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar, mixed well | 1 cup |
| Mustard, dry | 1 tablespoon prepared mustard | 1 teaspoon |
| Mustard, prepared | 1 tablespoon dry mustard mixed with 1 teaspoon water and 1 teaspoon white vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar | 1 tablespoon |
| Oil (for baking) | 1 cup applesauce | 1 cup |
| Oil (for sautéing) | 3 tablespoons chicken, beef or vegetable broth | 2 tablespoons |
| Onion | 1 cup chopped leeks OR 1 cup chopped green onions OR 1/4 dried onion flakes OR 1 tablespoon onion powder | 1 cup, chopped |
| Orange juice | 1 tablespoon other citrus juice | 1 tablespoon |
| Orange liqueur | 1/2 teaspoon orange extract and 1 tablespoon water | 2 tablespoons |
| Orange zest | 1 teaspoon lemon juice | 1 tablespoon |
| Pumpkin pie spice | 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon dried ginger and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves | 1 teaspoon |
| Raisins | 1 cup dried cranberries or 1 cup dried currants | 1 cup |
| Ricotta cheese | Drain 2 cups cottage cheese in a sieve for 30 minutes, measure out 1 cup after draining OR 1 cup silken tofu | 1 cup |
| Shallots | 1/2 cup chopped leek or 1/2 cup chopped green onion (white part only) | 1/2 cup |
| Shortening | 1 cup butter | 1 cup |
| Sour cream | 1 cup plain or Greek yogurt OR 1 tablespoon vinegar and enough cream to make 1 cup | 1 cup |
| Sugar, Brown | 1 cup white sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon molasses | 1 cup |
| Sugar, White | 1 cup packed brown sugar (flavor will be affected) | 1 cup |
| Tomato sauce | 1/2 cup tomato paste combined with 1/2 cup water (adjust flavor as desired) | 1 cup |
| Vegetable oil (baking) | 1 cup applesauce | 1 cup |
| Vinegar | 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice | 1 teaspoon |
| Wine | 1 cup chicken, beef of vegetable broth | 1 cup |
| Yogurt | 1 cup sour cream or 1 cup buttermilk | 1 cup |
Keep this list handy, so you always know how to substitute cooking ingredients!
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Pin How to Substitute Cooking Ingredients
Natalie says
Super resource, thanks so much am pinning this!
x
Natalie
Katie B. says
Thanks, Becky!
Nina says
I’m a huge fan of substituting common ingredients, so this list is very helpful. The one that I normally substitute are broth for white wine or panko for bread crumbs. Anything that’ll keep me from running out to the grocery mid-week! 🙂
Katie B. says
I like using broth for wine, too, after finding out that the alcohol doesn’t really cook away. Now I think back to all the times I made pot roast with a red wine sauce and how my kids just raved about how delicious it tasted. Doh!
Alicia says
Wow what a great chart to have around.
Katie B. says
Thanks, Alicia!
Terry says
Oh Mighty Katie, I believe it was YOU who once wrote to use finely minced mushrooms to expand a recipe when you want to stretch ground beef (or ground whatever). I haven’t had a need to do that yet, but it stuck in my mind. It qualifies as a substitute, right? Also: last night I found a low-carb meatball recipe which calls for flaxseed meal instead of bread crumbs (which I would normally use). The meatballs had a beautiful, light texture. Of course, they’re only low-carb if you don’t serve them over egg noodles or mashed taters or something… 🙂
Katie B. says
You’re right, I did recommend using minced mushrooms to replace, or supplement, ground beef. What an excellent memory you have, Terry!
The flax seed meal one as a substitute for bread crumbs is new to me. As you can see above, ground seeds when mixed with water make a good substitution for eggs. Maybe they worked the same in your meatballs? I’ll have to give that a try!
Sarah says
Oh my word, what a useful list! I definitely need to remember this for future reference! I have been known to bundle the kids into the car and rush out to the shop at the last minute for some essential ingredient i was SURE i had already. 😉
Katie B. says
See, I’m too lazy for that. If I’m out of an ingredient, I hop on Google and look up a substitute. For the longest time, I had dozens upon dozens of Post-It Notes stuck inside my cupboard doors listing all of these things. Then one day it dawned on me: time for a blog entry!
Mixed Kreations says
I don’t know how many times that I have started making something and find out that I out of one of the ingredient. This list will come in very handy. Thanks so much. As for Wacky Cake it’s one of the best cakes ever. My mother made it when I was little and I still make it to this day. One of my favorites. So moist and chocolately. Mmmm good!!
Katie B. says
Okay, between you and Boyd I am convinced I must try this Wacky Cake. This weekend sounds like a good time. Thanks!
Mixed Kreations says
You won’t be sorry. It’s supper delicious 😀
Mariette's Back to Basics says
Dearest Katie,
Great post and I did use already several as you listed. It was shocking to read the ½ cup of salt for making salted butter. That is a LOT. I have to cut sodium out of my diet so it is even more shocking for my mind…
Hugs to you and hope you stay well,
Mariette
Katie B. says
Oh Mariette, I am so glad you caught my typing error! 1/2 teaspoon, not 1/2 cup. My goodness!
Boyd says
When I was a kid, I was once making Wacky Cake (a very moist, tasty chocolate cake with no eggs or milk), and I discovered too late that we were out of sugar. I put on my thinking cap and recalled that everything I’d ever eaten called Vanilla (something) was sweet, so I dumped in a ton of vanilla.
Just in case anyone reading this is in doubt, no amount of vanilla can be used as a substitute for sugar. I know this from experience.
I’d provide a link to the Wacky Cake recipe, but apparently your protections against comment spamming don’t allow links in comments.
Katie B. says
Apparently my spam filter likes you, because your prior entry made it through without any intervention on my part!
Boyd says
When I was a kid, I was once making Wacky Cake (a very moist, tasty chocolate cake with no eggs or milk), and I discovered too late that we were out of sugar. I put on my thinking cap and recalled that everything I’d ever eaten called Vanilla (something) was sweet, so I dumped in a ton of vanilla.
Just in case anyone reading this is in doubt, no amount of vanilla can be used as a substitute for sugar. I know this from experience.
For the curious, the Wacky Cake recipe can be found at: http://TexasNative.com/Recipes/2004/08/wacky-cake.html
Katie B. says
You know, Boyd, I think I remember reading that back in 2004 when you first posted it. Just glancing over it now, I still think “seriously, vinegar in a cake? Now that IS wacky!”