Kitchen Tips All About Ingredients Ingredient Substitutions Common Ingredient Substitutions Out of baking powder (or baking soda or even milk)? Make your own with our ingredient substitutions guide. By Allrecipes Editorial Team Updated on January 6, 2021 Close Photo: Candice Bell | Getty Images Ingredient Amount Substitution Allspice 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon cloves 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 plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar OR 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 cup buttermilk (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/2 cup) Baking soda 1 teaspoon 4 teaspoons baking powder OR 1 teaspoon potassium bicarbonate and 1/3 teaspoon salt. NOTE: 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 plus enough water to make 1/4 cup 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 plus 1 cup boiling water OR 1 tablespoon soy sauce plus enough water to make 1 cup OR 1 cup vegetable broth Brown sugar 1 cup, packed 1 cup white sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses and 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 plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup lard plus 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 plus enough milk to make 1 cup 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 plus 4 teaspoons sugar OR 1 ounce semisweet chocolate chips plus 1 teaspoon shortening Chocolate (unsweetened) 1 ounce 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa plus 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 plus 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 plus 1 tablespoon butter Cream (heavy) 1 cup 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup butter Cream (light) 1 cup 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 3 tablespoons butter Cream (whipped) 1 cup 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed 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 (3 tablespoons or 1.7 oz) 2 1/2 tablespoons of powdered egg substitute plus 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 with 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: bread 1 cup 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 teaspoon wheat gluten Flour: cake 1 cup 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons Flour: self-Rising 1 cup 7/8 cup all-purpose flour plus 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 agar Ginger (dry) 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 plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup corn syrup OR 1 cup light treacle syrup Hot pepper sauce 1 teaspoon 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper plus 1 teaspoon vinegar Lard 1 cup 1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil OR 1 cup butter Lemon grass 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 plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 1 cup butter OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup lard plus 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 plus 1 cup water OR 2/3 cup evaporated milk plus 1/3 cup water Mint (fresh) 1/4 cup chopped 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves Molasses 1 cup Mix 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar Mustard: prepared 1 tablespoon Mix together 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 1 tablespoon chopped fresh 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chervil OR 1 teaspoon dried parsley Pepperoni 1 ounce 1 ounce salami Raisin 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 bulgur 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, plus enough water to make 1 tablespoon 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, chopped 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 plus enough cream to make 1 cup OR 3/4 cup buttermilk mixed with 1/3 cup butter Sour milk 1 cup 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice mixed with enough milk to make 1 cup: Let stand 5 minutes to thicken Soy sauce 1/2 cup 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce mixed with 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-ounce) can 3/4 cup white sugar mixed with 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 mixed with 2 teaspoons vinegar OR 1 cup water Yeast: active dry 1 (.25-ounce) 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 Quick Guide to Baking Ingredient Substitutions Here's a quick, illustrated peek at some common baking ingredient substitutions. Don't have baking powder or unsalted butter? No worries. These ingenious substitutions will rescue you! Allrecipes Related: Get more tips and tricks for using and substituting baking power and baking soda. Bookmark this chart of weight and volume conversions, and learn how using a scale makes you a better baker. Are you a beginner baker? Here are the essential ingredients to stock in your baking pantry. Get a quick guide to ingredient substitutions for vegan baking. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit You’ll Also Love Common Substitutions For American Ingredients 5 Buttermilk Substitutes Sneaky Swaps for Guilt-Free Baking How to Make Your Own Boursin-Style Cheese at Home How to Make Your Own Brown Sugar I Love Greek Yogurt, But Never Waste Money Buying It My Easy Trick for Eating Less Meat Throughout the Week 15 Simple Swaps for When You Run Out of Common Ingredients What Can I Substitute for Evaporated Milk in Pumpkin Pie? 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