Substitutions

If an ingredient runs out, never fear; there may be an innovative solution to your problem. Scroll down to view food substitutions, or click on a letter to the right to browse all ingredients beginning with that letter.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Recipe Ingredient: If you don’t have: Use:
A
Anise Extract 1 teaspoon Pure Anise Extract 1 1/2 teaspoons Anise Seed
Apple Pie Spice 1 teaspoon Apple Pie Spice 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon plus 1/8 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
Arrowroot 1 tablespoon Arrowroot 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or 1 tablespoon cornstarch
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B
Baking powder 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon Cream of Tartar plus 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Beau Monde 1 teaspoon Beau Monde 1 teaspoon Bon Appétit or 3/4 teaspoon Celery Salt
Brandy 5 teaspoons brandy 1 teaspoon Brandy Extract
Bread Crumbs 1 cup bread crumbs 3/4 cup cracker crumbs
Brown sugar 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar plus 1/2 cup sugar. (There may be slight flavour differences.)
Butter 1 cup butter 1 cup margarine or 1 cup unsalted butter. (It is not necessary to add salt). Do not use low-fat spreads or light butter in baked goods.
Buttermilk 1 cup reduced-fat buttermilk 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough 2% milk to make 1 cup (let stand 5 minutes before using), or 1 cup 2% milk plus 1 3/4 teaspoons Cream of Tartar, or 2/3 cup plain yogurt plus 1/3 cup milk.
Buttermilk 1 cup whole buttermilk Same as above, but use whole milk
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C
Chervil 1 teaspoon chervil 1 teaspoon Dried Parsley Flakes plus 1/8 teaspoon Rubbed, Dried Sage
Chicken or beef broth 1 cup chicken or beef broth 1 cup hot water and 1 teaspoon Chicken or Beef Flavour Base or 1 bouillon cube.
Chili Powder 1 teaspoon Hot Chili Powder 1 teaspoon regular Chili Powder plus 1/8 teaspoon Ground Red Pepper
Chocolate 1 square (1 ounce) unsweetened chocolate 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder plus 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening or cooking oil
Corn syrup 1 cup corn syrup 1 cup sugar plus 1/4 cup milk or water. Dark can be substituted for light, but there may be flavor differences.
Cornstarch 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening) 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or 2 teaspoons Arrowroot
Cream 1 cup heavy cream, whipped 2 cups whipped dessert topping
Cream 1 cup light cream 1 tablespoon melted butter plus enough milk to make 1 cup
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E
Egg white 1 egg white 1 tablespoon meringue powder plus 2 tablespoons water (in a meringue application)
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F
Flour 1 cup cake flour 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Flour 1 tablespoon flour (as thickener) 1/2 tablespoon Arrowroot, cornstarch, potato starch or rice starch, or 1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca
Flour 1 cup self-rising flour 1 cup all-purpose plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt
Fresh Herbs
3 teaspoons fresh chopped Basil 1 teaspoon dried Basil
3 teaspoons fresh chopped Dill 1 teaspoon dried Dill
2 teaspoons fresh chopped Marjoram 1 teaspoon dried Marjoram
2 teaspoons fresh chopped Mint 1 teaspoon dried Mint
2 teaspoons fresh chopped Oregano 1 teaspoon dried Oregano
2 teaspoons fresh chopped Rosemary 1 teaspoon dried Rosemary
2 teaspoons fresh chopped Sage 1 teaspoon dried Sage
3 teaspoons fresh chopped Tarragon 1 teaspoon dried Tarragon
3 teaspoons fresh chopped Thyme 1 teaspoon dried Thyme
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G
Garlic 1 medium-size clove garlic 1/8 teaspoon Garlic Powder
Ginger 1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger 1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger
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H
Herbs
1 teaspoon dried Basil 3 teaspoons fresh chopped Basil
1 teaspoon dried Dill 3 teaspoons fresh chopped Dill
1 teaspoon dried Marjoram 2 teaspoons fresh chopped Marjoram
1 teaspoon dried Mint 2 teaspoons fresh chopped Mint
1 teaspoon dried Oregano 2 teaspoons fresh chopped Oregano
1 teaspoon dried Rosemary 2 teaspoons fresh chopped Rosemary
1 teaspoon dried Sage 2 teaspoons fresh chopped Sage
1 teaspoon dried Tarragon 3 teaspoons fresh chopped Tarragon
1 teaspoon dried Thyme 3 teaspoons fresh chopped Thyme
Honey 1 cup honey 1 1/4 cups sugar plus 1/4 cup milk or water
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I
Italian Seasoning 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning 1/4 teaspoon EACH Oregano Leaves, Marjoram Leaves and Basil Leaves plus 1/8 teaspoon Rubbed Sage
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M
Milk 1 cup whole milk 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water or 1 cup water plus 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder
Mustard 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 teaspoon Ground Mustard (in cooked dishes)		 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon Ground Mustard plus 2 teaspoons vinegar (in cold or uncooked dishes)
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O
Onion 1 medium-size onion, chopped (2/3 cup) 1 tablespoon Onion Powder or 1/4 cup Instant Minced or Chopped Onion
Orange or lemon peel 1 teaspoon grated fresh orange or lemon peel Slightly less or equal amounts of Dehydrated Lemon or Orange Peel
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P
Poultry Seasoning 1 teaspoon Poultry Seasoning 1/4 teaspoon Ground Thyme plus 3/4 teaspoon Ground Sage
Pumpkin Pie Spice 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon plus 1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger and 1/8 teaspoon EACH Ground Cloves and Ground Nutmeg
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R
Rum 1 tablespoon dark (gold) rum 1 1/2 teaspoons Rum Extract
1 tablespoon light rum 1/2 teaspoon Rum Extract
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S
Sour cream 1 cup dairy sour cream 1 cup plain yogurt plus 3 tablespoons melted butter
Sugar 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar or 2 cups sifted confectioners sugar
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T
Tomato juice 1 cup tomato juice 1/2 cup tomato sauce plus 1/2 cup water
Tomato sauce 2 cups tomato sauce 3/4 cup tomato paste plus 1 cup water
Tomatoes 1 cup canned tomatoes 1 1/3 cups cut-up fresh tomatoes simmered 10 minutes
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W
Wine 1 cup wine 1 cup fruit juice in desserts or cup chicken broth in savoury recipes
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Y
Yeast 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast 1 cake compressed yeast