Common Substitutions

By: Allrecipes Staff

Out of baking powder? Make your own with our substitutions guide.

Ingredient Amount Substitution

Allspice (1 t) = 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon cloves

Arrowroot starch (1 t) = 1 tablespoon flour, OR 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Baking mix(1 cup) = 1 cup pancake mix OR 1 cup Easy Biscuit Mixture

Baking powder (1 t) =1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar OR 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 cup buttermilk (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/2 cup)

Beer (1 cup) = 1 cup nonalcoholic beer OR 1 cup chicken broth

Brandy (1/4 cup) = 1 teaspoon imitation brandy extract plus enough water to make 1/4 cup

Bread crumbs (1 cup) = 1 cup cracker crumbs OR 1 cup matzo meal OR 1 cup ground oats

Broth: beef or chicken (1 cup) = 1 bouillon cube plus 1 cup boiling water OR 1 tablespoon soy sauce plus enough water to make 1 cup OR 1 cup vegetable broth

Brown sugar(1 cup, packed) = 1 cup white sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses and decrease the liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup OR 1 cup white sugar OR 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

Butter (salted)(1 cup) = 1 cup margarine OR 1 cup shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt

Butter (unsalted)(1 cup) = 1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil OR 7/8 cup lard

Buttermilk (1 cup) = 1 cup yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup

Cheddar cheese (1 cup shredded) = 1 cup shredded Colby cheddar OR 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Chervil (1 tablespoon chopped fresh) = 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Chicken base (1 tablespoon) = 1 cup canned or homemade chicken broth or stock. Reduce liquid in recipe by 1 cup

Chocolate(semisweet) (1 ounce) = 1 (1-ounce) square of unsweetened chocolate plus 4 teaspoons sugar OR 1 ounce semisweet chocolate chips plus 1 teaspoon shortening

Chocolate (unsweetened) (1 ounce) = 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa plus 1 tablespoon shortening or vegetable oil

Cocoa (1/4 cup) = 1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened chocolate

Condensed cream of mushroom soup (1 (10.75-ounce) can) = 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of celery, cream of chicken, OR golden mushroom soup

Corn syrup (1 cup) = 1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup honey OR 1 cup light treacle syrup

Cottage cheese (1 cup) = 1 cup farmer's cheese OR 1 cup ricotta cheese

Cracker crumbs (1 cup) = 1 cup bread crumbs OR 1 cup matzo meal OR 1 cup ground oats

Cream (half and half)(1 cup) = 7/8 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon butter

Cream (heavy)(1 cup) = 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup butter

Cream (light) (1 cup) = 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 3 tablespoons butter

Cream (whipped) (1 cup) = 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Cream cheese (1 cup) = 1 cup pureed cottage cheese OR 1 cup plain yogurt, strained overnight in a cheesecloth

Cream of tartar (1 t) = 2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar

Crème fraiche (1 cup) = Combine 1 cup of heavy cream and 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt. Let stand for 6 hours at room temperature

Egg (1 whole (3 tablespoons or 1.7 oz)= 2 1/2 tablespoons of powdered egg substitute plus 2 1/2 tablespoons water OR 1/4 cup liquid egg substitute OR 1/4 cup silken tofu pureed OR 3 tablespoons mayonnaise OR half a banana mashed with 1/2 teaspoon baking powder OR 1 tablespoon powdered flax seed soaked in 3 tablespoons water

Evaporated milk (1 cup) = 1 cup light cream

Farmer's cheese (8 ounces) = 8 ounces dry cottage cheese OR 8 ounces creamed cottage cheese, drained

Fats for baking (1 cup) = 1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree

Flour--Bread (1 cup) = 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 teaspoon wheat gluten (available at health food stores & some supermarkets)

Flour--Cake (1 cup) = 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons

Flour--Self-Rising (1 cup) = 7/8 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt

Garlic (1 clove) = 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder OR 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic OR 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt--reduce salt in recipe

Gelatin (1 tablespoon, granulated) = 2 teaspoons agar agar

Ginger--dry (1 teaspoon) = 2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger

Ginger--fresh (1 teaspoon, minced) = 1/2 teaspoon ground dried ginger

Green onion (1/2 cup , chopped) = 1/2 cup chopped onion, OR 1/2 cup chopped leek OR 1/2 cup chopped shallots

Hazelnuts (1 cup whole) = 1 cup macadamia nuts OR 1 cup almonds

Herbs--fresh (1 tablespoon chopped fresh) = 1 teaspoon (chopped or whole leaf) dried herbs

Herring (8 ounces) = 8 ounces of sardines

Honey (1 cup) = 1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup corn syrup OR 1 cup light treacle syrup

Hot pepper sauce (1 teaspoon) = 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper plus 1 teaspoon vinegar

Ketchup (1 cup) = 1 cup tomato sauce plus 1 teaspoon vinegar plus 1 tablespoon sugar

Lard (1 cup) = 1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil OR 1 cup butter

Lemon grass (2 fresh stalks) = 1 tablespoon lemon zest

Lemon juice (1 teaspoon) = 1/2 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lime juice

Lemon zest (1 teaspoon) = 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract OR 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Lime juice (1 teaspoon) = 1 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Lime zest (1 teaspoon) = 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Macadamia nuts (1 cup) = 1 cup almonds OR 1 cup hazelnuts

Mace (1 teaspoon) = 1 teaspoon nutmeg

Margarine (1 cup) = 1 cup shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 1 cup butter OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt

Mayonnaise (1 cup) = 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup plain yogurt

Milk--whole (1 cup) = 1 cup soy milk OR 1 cup rice milk OR 1 cup water or juice OR 1/4 cup dry milk powder plus 1 cup water OR 2/3 cup evaporated milk plus 1/3 cup water

Mint--fresh (1/4 cup chopped) = 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves

Molasses (1 cup) = Mix 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Mustard--prepared (1 tablespoon) = Mix together 1 tablespoon dried mustard, 1 teaspoon water, 1 teaspoon vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar

Onion (1 cup, chopped) = 1 cup chopped green onions OR 1 cup chopped shallots OR 1 cup chopped leeks OR 1/4 cup dried minced onion OR 1/4 cup onion powder

Orange juice (1 tablespoon) = 1 tablespoon other citrus juice

Orange zest (1 tablespoon) = 1/2 teaspoon orange extract OR 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Parmesan cheese (1/2 cup, grated) = 1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese OR 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese

Parsley (1 tablespoon chopped fresh) = 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chervil OR 1 teaspoon dried parsley

Pepperoni (1 ounce) = 1 ounce salami

Raisin (1 cup) = 1 cup dried currants OR 1 cup dried cranberries OR 1 cup chopped pitted prunes

Rice--white (1 cup, cooked) = 1 cup cooked barley OR 1 cup cooked bulgur OR 1 cup cooked brown or wild rice

Ricotta (1 cup) = 1 cup dry cottage cheese OR 1 cup silken tofu

Rum (1 tablespoon) = 1/2 teaspoon rum extract, plus enough water to make 1 tablespoon

Saffron (1/4 teaspoon) = 1/4 teaspoon turmeric

Salami (1 ounce) = 1 ounce pepperoni

Semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup) = 1 cup chocolate candies OR 1 cup peanut butter or other flavored chips OR 1 cup chopped nuts OR 1 cup chopped dried fruit

Shallots, chopped (1/2 cup) = 1/2 cup chopped onion, OR 1/2 cup chopped leek OR 1/2 cup chopped green onion

Shortening (1 cup) = 1 cup butter OR 1 cup margarine minus 1/2 teaspoon salt from recipe

Sour cream (1 cup) = 1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough cream to make 1 cup OR 3/4 cup buttermilk mixed with 1/3 cup butter

Sour milk (1 cup) = 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice mixed with enough milk to make 1 cup: Let stand 5 minutes to thicken

Soy sauce (1/2 cup) = 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce mixed with 1 tablespoon water

Stock--beef or chicken (1 cup) = 1 cube beef or chicken bouillon dissolved in 1 cup water

Sweetened condensed milk (1 (14-ounce) can) = 3/4 cup white sugar mixed with 1/2 cup water and 1 1/8 cups dry powdered milk: Bring to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 20 minutes

Vegetable oil--for baking (1 cup) = 1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree

Vegetable oil--for frying (1 cup) = 1 cup lard OR 1 cup vegetable shortening

Vinegar (1 teaspoon) = 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice OR 2 teaspoons white wine

White sugar (1 cup) = 1 cup brown sugar OR 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar OR 3/4 cup honey OR 3/4 cup corn syrup

Wine (1 cup) = 1 cup chicken or beef broth OR 1 cup fruit juice mixed with 2 teaspoons vinegar OR 1 cup water

Yeast-active dry (1 (.25-ounce) package) = 1 cake compressed yeast OR 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast OR 2 1/2 teaspoonsrapid rise yeast

Yogurt (1 cup) = 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup buttermilk OR 1 cup sour milk