For some great ingredient substitutions and swaps, check these out from my dear friend Regina. When in a bind, you will now have some great choices and ideas for your next recipe. Cook and bake away!
A note from Regina: It has happened to me before…I get inspired to try a new recipe and discover I have either run out of a staple ingredient or simply have never bought it before, but am really interested in cooking now rather than later. It is nice to have a reference list for ingredient substitutions.
Keep this handy list near by incase you need to substitute an ingredient.
Recipe Ingredient Substitutes and Swaps
| DRY INGREDIENTS | |
| Recipe Calls For: | Substitution: |
| Cake Flour (1 cup) | 1 cup All purpose flour + 2 tbsp’s Cornstarch |
| Self-Rising Flour (1 cup) | 1 cup All Purpose Flour + 1 tsp Baking Powder + 1/2 tsp Salt + 1/4 tsp Baking Soda |
| Baking Powder (1 tsp) | 1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar + 1/4 tsp Baking Soda |
| Superfine Sugar | Process Granulated Sugar in a blender or food processor until powdery, about 1 minute |
| Confectioners’ Sugar (1 cup) | 1 cup Superfine Sugar + 2 tbsp’s cornstarch |
| Light Brown Sugar (1 cup) | 1 cup Granulated Sugar + 1 tbsp Light Molasses |
| Dark Brown Sugar (1 cup) | 1 cup Granulated Sugar + 2 tbsp’s Dark Molasses |
| Cornstarch (1 tbsp) | 2 tbsp Flour or 2 tsp Quick Cooking Tapioca |
| Dry Mustard (1 tsp) | 1 tbsp prepared Mustard |
| Chili Powder | Dash of bottled Hot Pepper Sauce + equal measures of Ground Oregano and Cumin |
| SPICES | |
| Start with 1/2 the amount the recipe calls for & suit to taste | |
| Recipe Calls For: | Substitution: |
| Ground Allspice | Ground Cinnamon, Nutmeg or Cloves |
| Ground Cloves | Ground Allspice, Cinnamon or Nutmeg |
| Ground Cumin | Chili Powder |
| Paprika | Cayenne Pepper (just a dash – it is hotter than paprika) |
| Ground Cayenne Pepper (1/8 tsp) | 2 to 3 drops bottled Hot Pepper Sauce |
| WET INGREDIENTS | |
| Recipe Calls For: | Substitution: |
| Buttermilk (1 cup) | 1 cup Whole Milk + 1 tbsp Lemon Juice or Vinegar; or 1 cup Plain Yogurt |
| Half & Half or Light Cream (1 cup) | 1 tbsp Melted Butter + enough Whole Milk to make 1 cup |
| Whole Milk (1 cup) | 1/2 cup Evaporated Milk + 1/2 cup Water |
| Sour Cream (1 cup) | 1 cup Plain Yogurt, 1 cup Cottage Cheese + 1 to 2 tsp Lemon Juice blended smooth |
| Balsamic Vinegar (1 tbsp.)
Whole Egg |
1 tbsp Cider Vinegar or Red Wine Vinegar + 1/2 tsp Sugar
1/3 cup applesauce, 1/2 large pureed banana, 1 tbsp. ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tbsp cold water |
| ALCOHOL | |
| Recipe Calls For: | Substitution: |
| White Wine | White Grape Juice; Chicken or Vegetable Broth; Gingerale |
| Red Wine | Grape Juice; Cranberry Juice; Chicken, Beef or Vegetable Broth; Tomato Juice |
| Brandy | White Grape Juice; Apple Juice; Cherry, Peach or Apricot Syrup |
| Beer | Chicken, Beef or Mushroom Broth; White Grape Juice; Ginger Ale |
| Rum | Pineapple Juice with Almond Extract or Molasses; Vanilla Extract |
| Vodka | Water; Apple Cider or White Grape Juice mixed with Lime Juice |
| Sherry | Vanilla Extract; Orange or Pineapple Juice, or Coffee |
