It can be difficult to have everything on hand all the time. I have compiled a list of common substitutions, in case you have an ingredient, or simply want to try something else. It’s great for missing ingredients, dietary needs, and even the picky eater!
| Ingredient | Amount | Substitution |
| Allspice | 1 teaspoon | 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon granulated ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon ground clove combined |
| Arrowroot Starch | 1 teaspoon | 1 tablespoon flour, or 1 teaspoon cornstarch |
| Baking mix | 1 cup | 1 cup pancake mix |
| Baking powder | 1 teaspoon | 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar, or 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 cup buttermilk (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/2 cup) |
| Baking soda | 1 teaspoon | 4 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon potassium bicarbonate and 1/3 teaspoon salt (if the recipe calls for an acidic liquid such as sour cream, yogurt, buttermilk, vinegar, molasses, or citrus juice, you should replace it with the same amount of whole milk) |
| Beer | 1 cup | 1 cup nonalcoholic beer, or 1 cup chicken broth |
| Brandy | 1/4 cup | 1 teaspoon imitation brandy extract and enough water to make 1/4 cup total liquid |
| 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 and 1 cup boiling water, or 1 tablespoon soy sauce and enough water to make 1 cup total liquid, or 1 cup vegetable broth |
| Brown sugar | 1 cup, packed | 1 cup white sugar and 1/4 cup molasses (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 and 1/2 teaspoon salt, or 7/8 cup vegetable oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt, or 7/8 cup lard and 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 and enough milk to make 1 cup total liquid |
| 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 and 4 teaspoons sugar, or 1 ounce semisweet chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening |
| Chocolate (unsweetened) | 1 ounce | 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa and 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 and 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 and 1 tablespoon butter |
| Cream (heavy) | 1 cup | 1 cup evaporated milk, or 3/4 cup milk and 1/3 cup butter |
| Cream (light) | 1 cup | 1 cup evaporated milk, or 3/4 cup milk and 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 teaspoon | 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 | 2 1/2 tablespoons of powdered egg substitute and 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 and 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 (for breads) | 1 cup | 1 cup all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon wheat gluten (available at health food stores & some supermarkets) |
| Flour (for cakes) | 1 cup | 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons |
| Flour (self-rising) | 1 cup | 7/8 cup all-purpose flour, 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 |
| Ginger (powder or granulated) | 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 and 1/3 cup water, or 1 cup corn syrup |
| Hot sauce | 1 teaspoon | 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 1 teaspoon vinegar |
| Ketchup | 1 cup | 1 cup tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon vinegar, and 1 tablespoon sugar |
| Lard | 1 cup | 1 cup shortening, or 7/8 cup vegetable oil, or 1 cup butter |
| Lemongrass | 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 and 1/2 teaspoon salt, or 1 cup butter, or 7/8 cup vegetable oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt, or 7/8 cup lard and 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 and 1 cup water, or 2/3 cup evaporated milk and 1/3 cup water |
| Mint (fresh) | 1/4 cup, chopped | 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves |
| Molasses | 1 cup | 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar |
| Mustard (prepared) | 1 tablespoon | 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 (fresh) | 1 tablespoon, chopped fresh | 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chervil, or 1 teaspoon dried parsley |
| Pepperoni | 1 ounce | 1 ounce salami |
| Raisins | 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 bulgar, 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 and enough water to make 1 tablespoon total liquid |
| 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 | 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 and enough cream to make 1 cup total liquid, or 3/4 cup buttermilk and with 1/3 cup butter |
| Sour milk | 1 cup | 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice and enough milk to make 1 cup total liquid (let stand 5 minutes to thicken) |
| Soy sauce | 1/2 cup | 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce and 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 oz) can | 3/4 cup white sugar, 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 and 2 teaspoons vinegar, or 1 cup water |
| Yeast (active, dry) | 1 (0.25 oz) package | 1 cake compressed yeast, or 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast, or 2 1/2 teaspoons rapid-rise yeast |
| Yogurt | 1 cup | 1 cup sour cream, or 1 cup buttermilk, or 1 cup sour milk |