I know you’ve been there before: halfway through making a favourite recipe it occurs to you that you’re missing an essential ingredient in your culinary creation. Before you jump in the car and drive to the nearest store, take a quick glance around your kitchen and decide if it might be possible to make a substitution for the missing item. Ingredient swapping is easier than you probably think, and the list below will serve as a guide to making many of your own cooking and baking staples. I like to keep a copy of this handy list on my fridge for quick reference whenever I find myself without something I need (surprisingly, it happens often).
Baking
- 1 teaspoon baking powder = ¼ teaspoon baking soda + ½ teaspoon cream of tartar + ¼ teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda = 2 teaspoons baking powder (must replace acidic liquid with non-acidic liquid)
- 1 oz. semi-sweet chocolate = 1 tablespoon cocoa powder + 1 tablespoon sugar
- Melted butter = unscented/unflavoured oil (vegetable, olive oil)
- 1 cup cake flour = 7/8 cup all-purpose flour + 2 tablespoons cornstarch, sifted together
- 1 cup pastry flour = ½ cup all-purpose flour + ½ cup cake flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar = 1 cup packed brown sugar or 1 cup caster (superfine) sugar
- 1 cup fats (butter, margarine, lard) = 1 cup applesauce
Dairy and Eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar + enough milk to equal one cup (let stand 10 minutes) OR 2/3 cup plain yoghurt + 1/3 cup milk
- 1 cup sour cream = 1 cup plain yoghurt
- 1 cup plain yoghurt = 1 cup sour cream or 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup half & half = ½ cup milk + ½ cup cream
- 1 cup coconut milk = 1 cup milk
- 1 cup whole milk = 1 cup coconut, almond, rice milk (in cooking)
- 1 egg = ¼ cup egg substitute or 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (in baking)
- 2 egg yolks = 1 whole large egg
- 1 cup evaporated milk = ½ cup half & half + ½ cup milk
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon allspice = 2 parts cinnamon + 1 part ginger + 1 part cloves
- Apple Pie Spice = 4 parts cinnamon + 1 part cardamom + 2 parts nutmeg
- Lemon Pepper = 1 part lemon zest + 2 parts black pepper + 1 part salt
- Poultry Seasoning = Equal parts dried sage, thyme, marjoram or oregano
- Pumpkin Pie Spice = 4 parts cinnamon + 2 parts ginger + 1 part allspice + 1 part nutmeg
- Herbs de Provence = 4 parts thyme + 4 parts summer savoury + 2 parts lavender + 1 part rosemary
- Italian Seasoning = Equal parts basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme
Pantry Items
- 1 tablespoon vinegar = 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup breadcrumbs = 1 cup crushed crackers crumbs OR 1 cup oats OR 1 cup panko
- 1 cup coconut milk = 1 cup milk
- 1 cup ketchup = 1 cup tomato sauce + 1 teaspoon vinegar + 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 clove garlic = ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup honey = 1 ¼ cup sugar + 1/3 cup water
- 1 cup all-purpose baking mix = 1 cup pancake mix
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce = ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper + 1 teaspoon vinegar
Tagged under: cooking,substitutions,swap in,missing ingredient,cooking substitutions
Category: baking
