Ingredient Alternatives
Sometimes you run out of key ingredients - don't worry, there are super easy alternatives you probably have on hand. And sometimes you want to make
| When you need... | | Use this... |
| Baking Powder | 1 teaspoon | 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar + 1/4 teaspoon baking soda |
| Buttermilk | 1 cup | 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar + enough milk to measure 1 cup. Stir and let stand 5 minutes before using. |
| Cake Flour | 1 cup | 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons (7/8 cup) all-purpose flour |
| Chocolate, semisweet | 1 square, 1 ounce | 1 square (1 ounce) unsweetened chocolate + 1 tablespoon sugar OR 3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips |
| Chocolate, unsweetened | 1 square, 1 ounce | 3 tablespoons baking cocoa + 1 tablespoon shortening or canola oil |
| Cornstarch, for thickening | 1 tablespoon | 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour |
| Corn Syrup, dark | 1 cup | ¾ cup light corn syrup + ¼ cup molasses |
| Corn Syrup, light | 1 cup | 1 cup sugar + ¼ cup water |
| Cracker Crumbs | 1 cup | 1 cup dry bread crumbs |
| Cream, half-and-half | 1 cup | 1 tablespoon melted butter + enough whole milk to measure 1 cup |
| Garlic, fresh | 1 clove, minced | 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder |
| Garlic Salt | 1 teaspoon | 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder + 7/8 teaspoon salt |
| Honey | 1 cup | 1 – ¼ cups sugar + ¼ cup water |
| Lemon Juice | 1 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon cider vinegar |
| Lemon Peel | 1 teaspoon | ½ teaspoon lemon extract |
| Milk, whole | 1 cup | ½ cup evaporated milk + ½ cup water. OR 1 cup water + 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder |
| Molasses | 1 cup | 1 cup honey |
| Mustard, prepared | 1 tablespoon | ½ teaspoon ground mustard + 2 teaspoons vinegar |
| Onion | 1 small, chopped (1/3 cup) | 1 teaspoon onion powder OR 1 tablespoon dried minced onion |
| Sour Cream | 1 cup | 1 cup plain yogurt |
| Sugar | 1 cup | 1 cup packed brown sugar OR 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar |
| Tapioca | 2 tablespoons | 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour |
| Tomato Juice | 1 cup | ½ cup tomato sauce + ½ cup water |
| Tomato Sauce | 2 cups | ¾ cup tomato paste + 1 cup water |
Practical Pan Substitutions
If you don't have the pan a recipe recommends, here's how to substitute another size.
| If the recipe calls for… | You can substitute…. |
| One 8 inch x 4 inch loaf pan | Two 5 – ¾ inch x 3 inch loaf pans |
| One 9 inch round baking pan | One 8 inch square baking pan |
| Two 9 inch road baking pans | One 13 inch x 9 inch baking pan OR two 8 inch square baking dishes |
| One 10 inch fluted tube pan | One 10 inch tube pan OR two 9 inch x 5 inch loaf pans |
