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 |