Substitution Guide
When I’m cooking, I am constantly discovering that I’m out of something I need. So, I have been collecting lists of items that have substitution and put together this handy guide for use in my own kitchen. I hope it helps you too!
Everything is listed in alphabetical order to make it easier to search. Need a substitution you don’t see? Have one I should add? Let me know!
| Item | Amount | Substitution |
|---|---|---|
| Allspice | 1 tsp | 1/2 tsp Cinnamon + 1/2 tsp Ground Cloves |
| Arrowroot Starch | 1 1/2 tsp | 1 tsp flour OR 1 1/2 tsp Cornstarch |
| Baking Powder | 1 tsp | 1/3 tsp Baking Soda + 1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar OR 1/4 tsp Baking Soda + 1/2 cup Buttermilk |
| Broth, Beef or Chicken |
1 cup | 1 Boullion Cube + 1 cup water OR 1 envelope powdered Broth in 1 cup water OR 1 tsp powdered Broth in 1 cup water |
| Butter | 1 cup | 7/8 to 1 cup Hydrogenated Fat + 1/2 tsp salt OR 7/8 cup Lard plus 1/2 tsp salt OR 1 cup margarine |
| Catsup | 1 cup | 1 cup Tomato Sauce + 1/2 cup Sugar + 2 tsp Vinegar |
| Chili Sauce | 1 cup | 1 cup Tomato Sauce + 1/4 cup Brown Sugar + 2 tsp Vinegar + 1/4 tsp Cinnamon + dash of Ground Cloves and Allspice |
| Chocolate, Semi-Sweet |
1 2/3 oz. | 1 oz. Unsweetened Chocolate + 4 tsp Sugar |
| Chocolate, Semi-Sweet Chips |
6 oz. pkg | 2 squares Unsweetened Chocolate + 2 tsp Shortening + 1/2 cup Sugar |
| Chocolate, Unsweetened |
1 oz. | 3 T Cocoa + 1 T Fat |
| Cocoa | 1/4 cup OR 4 T | 1 square Chocolate, decrease Fat by 1/2 T |
| Corn Syrup | 1 cup | 1 c. Sugar + 1/4 c. liquid (from recipe) OR 1 c. Honey |
| Cornstarch | 1 T | 2 T all-purpose flour OR 2 T granular Tapioca |
| Cream, Whipped | 2 cups | 13 oz. Evaporated Milk chilled for 12 hours + 1 tsp Lemon Juice, whipped |
| Egg Yolk | 2 Yolks | 1 whole Egg |
| Flour, All-Purpose |
1 cup | 1 cup + 2 tbs cake flour OR 1 1/2 cup Bread Crumbs OR 1 cup Rolled Oats OR 1/3 cup Cornmeal + 2/3 cup All-Purpose Flour |
| Flour, Cake |
1 cup | 1 c. minus 2 T. all-purpose flour + 2 T. Cornstarch. Sift well. |
| Flour, Self-Rising |
1 cup | 1 cup minus 2 tsp All-Purpose Flour + 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder + 1/2tsp Salt |
| Flour, Wheat |
1 cup | 1 c. Corn Flour OR 3/4 c. Corn Meal (course) OR 1 1/2 c. ground Rolled Oats |
| Gelatin, Flavored |
3 oz. | 1 tbs plain gelatin + 2 cups Fruit Juice |
| Honey | 1 cup | 1 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar + 1/4 liquid (from recipe) |
| Lemon Juice | 1 T | 1 tbs Distilled Vinegar OR 1/2 tsp Vinegar |
| Maple Sugar | 1/2 cup | 1 cup Maple Syrup |
| Mayonnaise | 1 cup | 1/2 cup Yogurt + 1/2 cup Mayonnaise OR 1 cup Sour Cream OR 1 cup Cottage Cheese pureed in blender |
| Marshmallow, Mini |
1 cup | 10 large Marshmallows |
| Marshmallow, Mini |
10 | 1 large Marshmallow |
| Milk, Buttermilk |
1 cup | 1 cup plain Yogurt OR 1 cup minus 1 tbs regular milk + 1 tbs Lemon Juice or Vinegar |
| Milk, Skim |
1 cup | 1/3 cup non-fat Dry Milk + 3/4 cup water |
| Milk, Sweetened |
1 cup | 1/3 cup Evaporated Milk + 3/4 cup Sugar + 2 tbs Butter, heated OR add 1 cup + 2 tbs Dry Milk to 1/2 cup Water. Add 3/4 cup Sugar. Stir |
| Milk, Whole |
1 cup | 1/2 cup Evaporated Milk + 1/2 cup water OR 1/4 cup Non-Fat Dry Milk + 2 tsp Butter + 7/8 cup Water |
| Molasses | 1 cup | 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar |
| Mushrooms, Fresh |
1 lb | 12 oz. Canned Mushrooms, drained |
| Orange | 1 med. | 6-8 tbs orange juice |
| Shortening, Melted |
1 cup | 1 cup cooking oil |
| Sour Cream | 1 cup | 1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 cup buttermilk OR 1 cup cottage cheese |
| Sugar, Brown |
1 cup | 1 cup granulated sugar + 2 T molassess |
| Sugar, Granulated |
1 cup | 1 1/3 cup Brown Sugar OR 1 cup Corn Syrup less 1/4 cup liquid in recipe |
| Tomatoes (Fresh) | 2 cups | 1 16oz. can, drained |
| Tomato Juice | 1 cup | 1/2 cup Tomato Sauce plus 1/2 cup water OR 2 oz. Tomato Paste + 6 oz. water |
| Tomato Sauce | 1 cup | 1 can (3 oz.) Tomato Paste + 1/2 cup Water |
| Yeast, Active-Dry |
1 tbs | 1 Cake Yeast (comp.) OR 1 pkg. (1/4 oz.) Active-Dry Yeast |
| Yogurt | 1 cup | 1 cup Buttermilk OR 1 cup Cottage Cheese OR 1 cup Sour Cream |