Cooking Tip-Ingredient Substitutions

Common Ingredient Substitutions

It happens to everyone at one time or another, you are in the middle of a recipe only to find out you are missing an essential ingredient. No need to worry here are some substitutions that will work in an emergency (or at least until you can get to the store).

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Dry Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking powder= 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar+1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch=2 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup sifted cake flour= 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 cup self rising flour=1 cup all-purpose flour+ 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder+1/2 teaspoon salt

Dairy

• 1 cup milk= 1/2 cup evaporated milk+ 1/2 cup water or 1/3 cup dry milk powder+1 cup water
• 1 cup buttermilk= 1 cup milk+ 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice (let stand for 5 minutes before using)
• 1 cup heavy cream= 1/3 cup melted butter+ 3/4 cup milk (use for baking only- not whipping)
• 1 cup light cream or half-and-half= 1 tablespoon melted butter+ enough hole milk to equal 1 cup
• 1 cup plain yogurt= 1 cup sour cream, 1 cup buttermilk or 1 cup blended cottage cheese
• 1 cup sour cream=1 cup plain yogurt

Eggs

• 1 large egg= 1/4 cup egg substitute

Sweeteners

• 1 cup granulated sugar= 1 cup packed brown sugar or 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar= 1 cup granulated sugar+ 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 cup powdered sugar=3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup honey= 1-1/4 cup granulated sugar+ increase the liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup

Chocolate

• 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate= 3 tablespoons cocoa powder+1 tablespoon coking oil
• 1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate= 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate+4 teaspoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder= 1 ounce melted unsweetened chocolate
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard= 1 tablespoon prepared mustard

Herbs & Spices

• 1 small clove garlic=1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger root= 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon fresh herbs=1 teaspoon dried herbs
• 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice=1/2 teaspoon cinnamon+1/4 teaspoon nutmeg+1/8 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice= 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon+1/4 teaspoon ginger+1/8 teaspoon all spice & nutmeg

Liquids

• 1 cup tomato juice=1/2 cup tomato sauce+1/2 cup water
• 2 cups tomato sauce= 3/4 cup tomato paste+ 1 cup water
• 1 cup red wine= 1 cup water, tomato juice or beef broth
• 1 cup white wine=1 cup water, chicken broth or apple juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice=1/2 teaspoon vinegar