Have you ever started cooking, only to realise that you’ve run out of a specific ingredient and wanted to know how you could replace it? Maybe you have allergies or just aren’t a big fan of a specific ingredient! Below is a basic guide to substitutions for emergencies.
Please remember: They may not perform like the original ingredient!
| Ingredient | Quantity | Substitution |
|---|---|---|
| Butter | 1 Cup | 1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil OR 7/8 cup lard. |
| Buttermilk | 1 Cup | 1 tbsp lemon juice/vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup OR 1 cup yogurt. |
| Brown Sugar | 1 Cup | 1 cup white sugar plus ¼ cup molasses and decrease the liquid in recipe by ¼ cup OR 1 cup white sugar plus ½ tsp lemon juice. |
| Egg | 1 Egg | 2½ tbsp of powdered egg substitute plus 2½ tbsp water OR 3 tbsp mayonnaise OR half a banana mashed with ½ tsp baking powder. |
| Cream | 1 Cup | 1 cup evaporated milk OR ¾ cup milk plus 1/3 cup butter. |
| Baking Powder | 1 tsp | ¼ tsp baking soda plus ¼ tsp cream of tartar OR ¼ tsp baking soda plus ½ cup buttermilk (decrease liquid in recipe by ½ cup). |
| Baking Soda | 1 tsp | 1 tsp baking powder. NOTE: If the recipe calls for an acidic liquid such as sour cream, yogurt or citrus juice, you should replace it with the same amount of whole milk. |
| Beer | 1 Cup | 1 cup non-alcoholic beer OR 1 cup chicken broth |
| Cocoa | 1/4 cup | 30g/1oz unsweetened dark chocolate. |
| Cornflour/Corn-starch | 1 tsp | 2 tsp plain flour/ rice flour OR 1 tsp arrowroot powder OR 1-1½ tsp potato starch. |
| Corn Syrup | 1 Cup | 1½ cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup honey |
| Cream of Tartar | 1 tsp | 2 tsp lemon juice or vinegar. |
| Crème Fraiche | 1 Cup | Combine 1 cup of cream and 1 tsp of plain yogurt. Let stand for 6 hours at room temperature. |
| Evaporated Milk | 1 Cup | 1⅔ cup dairy/oat/soy milk simmered over medium heat until enough evaporates to get 1 cup OR ½ cup milk + ½ cup cream. |
| Flour – Bread | 1 Cup | 1 cup plain flour plus 1 tsp wheat gluten. |
| Flour – Cake | 1 Cup | 1 cup minus 2 tbsp plain flour plus 2 tbsp cornflour/corn-starch. |
| Flour – Self Raising | 1 Cup | 1 cup plain flour plus 2 tsp baking powder and ¼ tsp of salt. |
| Maple Syrup | 1 Cup | 3/4 cup light brown sugar plus 3/4 water plus pinch cinnamon and a little lemon juice. |
| Molasses | 1 Cup | Mix ¾ cup brown sugar and 1 tsp cream of tartar |
| Oil | 1 Cup | 1¼ cup melted butter OR 1 cup margarine OR 1 cup shortening |
| Shortening | 1 Cup | 1 cup butter OR 1 cup margarine minus ½ tsp salt from recipe. |
| Sour Cream | 1 Cup | 1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar plus cream to make 1 cup. |
| Stock/ Broth | 1 Cup | 1-2 tsp stock powder plus 1 cup boiling water OR 1 tsp soy sauce plus enough water to make 1 cup OR 1 cup vegetable broth. |
| Vinegar | 1 tsp | 1 tsp lemon or lime juice OR 2 tsp white wine. |
| Yoghurt | 1 Cup | 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup heavy whipping cream plus 1-2 tsp lemon juice /vinegar |
| Wine – Red | 1 Cup | 1 cup non-alcoholic wine, 1 cup beef stock. 1 cup tomato juice, 1 cup water |
| Wine – White | 1 Cup | 1 cup non-alcoholic wine, 1 cup apple juice, 1 cup chicken stock, 1 cup water |
Looking for a specific substitute or have an idea of something we can add? Comment below and we’ll try to help you out. You’ll help us build onto this list and also help others!