Ingredient Substitution Tables

Contributed by: Delma

There's nothing more frustrating than running out of an ingredient when you're right in the middle of cooking. Consider substituting the missing ingredient with something else from your kitchen. Here are a few common substitution ideas.

Allspice 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon plus 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Apple pie spice 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg & 1/8 teaspoon cardamom
Baking powder 1 teaspoon 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 5/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
Broth, beef or chicken 1 cup 1 bouillon cube dissolved in 1 cup boiling water OR 1 envelope (or 1 teaspoon) powdered broth base dissolved in 1 cup boiling water
Butter 1/4 cup Use 1/4 cup Crisco Regular or Butter Flavor Shortening plus 1-1/2 teaspoons water.
1/3 cup Use 1/3 cup Crisco Regular or Butter Flavor Shortening plus 2 teaspoons water.
1/2 cup Use 1/2 cup Crisco Regular or Butter Flavor Shortening plus 1 Tablespoon water.
2/3 cup Use 2/3 cup Crisco Regular or Butter Flavor Shortening plus 4 teaspoons water.
3/4 cup Use 3/4 cup Crisco Regular or Butter Flavor Shortening plus 1 tablespoon water plus 1-1/2 teaspoons water.
1 cup Use 1 cup Crisco Regular or Butter Flavor Shortening plus 2 tablespoons water
Buttermilk 1 cup 1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 cup milk minus 1 tablespoon plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar
Catsup 1 cup 1 cup tomato sauce plus 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons vinegar (for use in cooking)
Chocolate, semisweet 1 ounce 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate plus 1 tablespoon sugar
Cocoa 1/4 cup 1 ounce chocolate; decrease fat in recipe by reducing the recipe by 1/2 tablespoon oil or butter
Cornstarch 1 tablespoon 2 tablespoons flour
Cream, half-and-half 1 cup 7/8 cup milk plus 3 tablespoons butter
Egg 1 whole 2 egg whites OR 1/4 cup egg substitute
Flour, all purpose 1 cup 1/2 cup whole wheat flour plus 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Flour, cake 1 cup 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons sifted all-purpose flour
Garlic 1 clove 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder OR 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
Gingerroot 1 tablespoon 1/8 teaspoon powdered ginger
Herbs, fresh 1 tablespoon 1 teaspoon dried
Ketchup 1 cup 1 cup tomato sauce plus 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons vinegar (for use in cooking)
Lemon juice 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
Mushrooms, fresh 1 pound 1 10-ounce can, drained
Mustard, dry 1 teaspoon 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
Onion, fresh 1 small 1 tablespoon instant minced
Onion powder 1 tablespoon 1 medium onion, chopped OR 4 tablespoons fresh chopped onion
Orange 1 medium 1/2 cup juice
Pimento 2 tablespoons chopped 3 tablespoons fresh red bell pepper, chopped
Pumpkin pie spice 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/8 teaspoon allspice & 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Sour cream 1 cup 3/4 cup buttermilk plus 1/3 cup butter or margarine OR
1/3 cup buttermilk, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 cup cottage cheese-blended until smooth OR
1 cup plain yogurt OR 3/4 cup milk, 3/4 teaspoon lemon juice, and 1/3 cup butter or margarine
Sugar, brown 1 cup firmly packed 2 tablespoons molasses
Sugar, granulated 1 cup 1 cup powdered sugar OR 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed OR
1 cup corn syrup or honey (decrease liquid called for in recipe by 1/4 cup)
Tomatoes, fresh 2 cups, chopped 16-ounce can, drained
Yogurt, plain 1 cup 1 cup buttermilk OR 1 cup sour cream OR
1 cup cottage cheese + 1 teaspoon lemon juice-blended until smooth


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Created on ... April 30, 2007