Emergency Substitutions



Have you ever been short an ingredient when making a recipe? Well, here are some substitutions different ingredients using ones you might have in your cabinet.

Instead of: Use:
Food Amount Substitute
Baking Powder 1 tsp 1 tsp baking soda plus 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
Balsamic Vinegar 1 Tbsp 1 Tbsp sherry or cider vinegar
Bread Crumbs
Dry
1/4 cup 1/4 cup finely crushed cracker crumbs, corn flakes or quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
Broth, Chicken, Beef or Vegetable 1 cup tsp chicken, beef or vegetable bouillon granules (or 1 cube) dissolved in 1 cup boiling water
Buttermilk or Sour Milk 1 cup 1 Tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup. Let stand a few minutes. Or use 1 cup plain yogurt.
Capers 1 Tbsp 1 Tbsp chopped green olives.
Chocolate    
 Semisweet baking 1 oz 1 oz unsweetened baking chocolate plus 1 Tbsp sugar
 Semisweet chips 1 cup 6 oz semisweet baking chocolate, chopped
 Unsweetened baking 1 oz 3 Tbsp baking cocoa plus 1 Tbsp shortening or margarine
Cornstarch 1 Tbsp 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour or 4 tsp quick-cooking tapioca.
Corn Syrup    
 Light 1 cup 1 cup sugar plus 1/4 cup water.
 Dark 1 cup 1 cup light corn syrup; 3/4 cup light corn syrup plus 1/4 cup molasses; or 1 cup maple-flavored syrup.
Eggs 1 large 2 egg whites; 1/4 cup cholesterol-free egg product; 2 egg yolks (for custard or puddings); or 2 egg yolks plus 1 Tbsp water (for cookies or bars)
Flour    
 Gold Medal® all-purpose 1 cup 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp cake flour
 Softasilk® cake 1 cup 1 cup minus 2 Tbsp Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
 Gold Medal® self-rising 1 cup 1 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt
Garlic
(finely chopped)
1 medium clove 1/8 tsp garlic powder or 1/4 tsp instant minced garlic
Gingerroot
(grated or finely chopped)
1 tsp 3/4 tsp ground ginger.
Herbs
(chopped fresh)
1 Tbsp 3/4 to 1 tsp dried herbs
Honey 1 cup 1 1/4cups sugar plus 1/4 cup water or apple juice.
Leeks
(sliced)
1/2 cup 1/2 cup sliced shallots or green onions.
Lemon Juice
(fresh)
1 Tbsp 1 Tbsp bottled lemon juice or white vinegar
Lemon Peel
(grated)
1 tsp 1 tsp dried lemon peel
Milk
(regular or low-fat)
1 cup 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water; or nonfat dry milk prepared as directed on package
Molasses 1 cup 1/2 cup honey (flavor will be milder).
Mushrooms
(fresh)
1 cup cooked sliced 1 can (4 oz) mushroom stems and pieces, drained.
Mustard 1 Tbsp 1 tsp ground mustard (dry)
Orange Peel
(grated)
1 tsp 1 tsp dried orange peel.
Poultry Seasoning 1 tsp 1/4 tsp ground thyme plus 3/4 tsp ground sage
Pumpkin or Apple Pie Spice 1 tsp Mix 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/8 tsp ground allspice and 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg.
Red Pepper Sauce 3 or 4 drops 1/8 tsp ground red pepper (cayenne).
Sesame Seed 1 Tbsp 1 Tbsp finely chopped blanched almonds.
Sour Cream 1 cup 1 cup plain yogurt
Sugar, Brown
(packed)
1 cup 1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 Tbsp molasses or dark corn syrup
Sugar, Granulated
(packed)
1 cup 1 cup light brown sugar (packed) or 2 cups powdered sugar
Tomato Paste 1/2 cup 1 cup tomato sauce cooked uncovered to reduced to l/2 cup
Tomato Sauce 2 cups 3/4 cup tomato paste plus 1 cup water
Tomatoes
(canned)
1 cup About 1 1/3 cups cut-up fresh tomatoes, simmered 10 min
Whipping Cream
(whipped)
1 cup 1 cup frozen (thawed) whipped topping or 1 cup prepared whipped topping mix.
Wine, Red 1 cup 1 cup apple cider or beef broth
Wine, White 1 cup 1 cup apple juice, apple cider or chicken broth
Yeast
(regular or quick active dry)
1 pkg (1/4 oz) 2 1/4 tsp regular or quick active dry or 1 package (0.6 oz) compressed cake yeast.