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    Home

    Baking and Cooking Substitutions

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    Baking and Cooking substitutions for many common ingredients, no need to run to the store!

    How many times have you looked at a recipe, started getting things together, and then realized that for some reason you either a) don't have an ingredient or b) can't use it due to a special diet or allergy? I certainly have!

    And when I'm at home in Minnesota it could be a 45-minute drive to go buy what is needed. So I have compiled a list of baking and cooking substitutions for many common ingredients!

    [lwptoc]

    Allspice Substitutions

    ½ teaspoon cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon ginger + ¼ teaspoon cloves = 1 teaspoon allspice

    Arrowroot Starch Substitutions

    9 of my best Arrowroot powder substitutions for baking and cooking!

    Baking Powder Substitutions

    ¼ teaspoon baking soda + ½ teaspoon cream of tartar = 1 teaspoon baking powder

    ¼ teaspoon baking soda + ½ cup buttermilk ( be sure to decrease the liquid in the recipe by ½ cup ) = 1 teaspoon baking powder

    Baking Soda Substitutions

    2-3x baking powder, so 2-3 teaspoon baking powder = 1 teaspoon baking soda

    Bay Leaf

    ¼ teaspoon crushed dried bay leaf = 1 bay leaf

    Brown Sugar Substitutions

    1 cup granulated sugar + 1 tablespoon light ( unsulphured ) molasses = 1 cup light brown sugar

    1 cup granulated sugar + 2 tablespoon light ( unsulphured ) molasses = dark brown sugar

    1 cup white sugar + ¼ cup molasses ( decrease the liquid called for in the recipe by ¼ cup ) = 1 cup brown sugar

    Using 1 cup granulated sugar or 1 ¼ cup confectioners sugar ( without added molasses ) works too and = 1 cup brown sugar ( packed )

    Butter (do not use substitutes, spreads, or low-fat butter when baking)

    1 stick (4 oz) salted butter - ¼ teaspoon salt (reduce the amount of salt called for in the recipe) = 1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter

    1 cup margarine = 1 cup butter

    1 cup shortening + ½ teaspoon salt = 1 cup butter (no salt for unsalted butter)

    ⅞ cup vegetable oil + ½ teaspoon salt = 1 cup butter (no salt for unsalted butter)

    ⅞ cup lard + ½ teaspoon salt = 1 cup butter (no salt for unsalted butter)

    You can substitute ½ the amount of butter called for in baking with applesauce for fewer calories, or you can substitute applesauce for the butter completely. It works best in cake, but it will yield a much more dense brownie, cake, cookie, etc...

    Buttermilk Substitutions

    6 of my best quick and easy buttermilk substitutions for cooking and baking!

    Cake Flour

    Start with 2 tablespoon cornstarch and top off with all-purpose flour until a level 1 cup = 1 cup cake flour (some suggest sifting several times before using as a cake flour substitute)

    Corn Syrup

    1 cup granulated sugar + ¼ liquid ( whatever liquid the recipe contains ) = 1 cup corn syrup

    1 cup honey = 1 cup corn syrup

    ¾ cup light corn syrup + ¼ cup molasses = 1 cup corn syrup

    1 cup maple ( or maple flavored ) syrup = 1 cup corn syrup

    Cornstarch

    2 tablespoon all-purpose flour = 1 tablespoon cornstarch

    2 tablespoon granulated tapioca = 1 tablespoon cornstarch

    1 tablespoon arrowroot starch = 1 tablespoon cornstarch

    1 tablespoon potato or rice starch = 1 tablespoon cornstarch

    4 teaspoon instant tapioca = 1 tablespoon cornstarch

    Creme Fraiche

    1 cup of heavy cream + 3 tablespoon of buttermilk = 1 cup creme fraiche

    1 cup plain yogurt = 1 cup creme fraiche

    *Make your own if you can wait 8 hours or let it sit out overnight (1 cup heavy cream + 2 tablespoon buttermilk, let it sit on the counter 8-24 hours at about 70 degrees F) 🙂

    Cream Cheese Substitutions

    18 Amazingly easy cream cheese substitutes including vegan, dairy-free, and more!

    Eggs Substitutions (Perfect for Vegans & Vegetarians)

    Some of these are sometimes referred to as a Vegan Egg

    3 tablespoons peanut butter = 1 egg

    ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce = 1 egg

    ½ mashed banana = 1 egg

    1 tablespoon ground flax  + 3 tablespoons water = 1 egg

    1 tablespoon chia seeds + ⅓ cup water = 1 egg

    The unsweetened applesauce is my go-to for both egg and sugar substitutions.  Great in cookies, brownies, muffins, and more!

    Heavy Cream Substitutions

    ⅓ cup unsalted ( melted ) butter + ¾ cup milk = 1 cup heavy cream

    ⅓ cup unsalted ( melted ) butter + ¾ cup low-fat milk + 1 tablespoon flour = 1 cup heavy cream

    ⅔ cup buttermilk + ⅓ cup oil = 1 cup heavy cream

    ½ cup low-fat cream cheese = 1 cup heavy whipping cream

    1 cup low-fat milk + 1 tablespoon cornstarch = 1 cup heavy whipping cream

    ½ cup part-skim milk ricotta cheese + non-fat plain yogurt = 1 cup heavy cream ( beat until smooth, will separate if heated )

    For sauces, substitute 1 cup half-and-half = 1 cup heavy cream

    *Substitutes will not whip up into whipped cream

    Marsala Cooking Wine Substitute

    16 of my best quick and easy Marsala wine substitutes that won't compromise flavor in sweet or savory recipes!

    Sugar Substitutions

    ¾ cup honey ( be sure to decrease the liquid in the recipe by 25% ) = 1 cup granulated sugar

    Coconut Sugar Substitutions

    14 Best coconut sugar substitutes to closely match the flavor and consistency!

    Vanilla Substitutions

    1 vanilla bean = 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

    1 teaspoon vanilla paste ( or powder ) = 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Sesame Oil Substitutions

    16 super easy substitutes for sesame oil to match your desired recipe flavor!

    Tarragon Substitutions

    11 tarragon substitutes based on replacing fresh or dried tarragon, or maintaining great herb flavor without the licorice 'bite'!

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    Hi there, I'm Angela! I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, recipe creator, animal lover, and total foodie. I love sharing recipes that are new, fun, and creative as well as great classic recipes just like my Grandma used to make!

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