24 Most Common Ingredient Substitutions

24 Most Common Ingredient Substitutions! Everyone who knows me, knows I’m a fly by the seat of my pants, lose my phone 50 times a day, make dinner like I’m a contestant on “Chopped” kinda gal!  And while my cute neighbors are always so willing to lend me a cup of sugar, I got sick of asking!  Every time in the middle of making something and… “Oh, crap! There’s no butter!”, I’d research lists of substitutions!  I quickly found out that you can substitute just about any ingredient with something else!  And lots of  the time, I have them right in my pantry or fridge!  It’s actually super fun and sometimes more healthy to DIY seasoning mixes or substitutions! 

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Ran out of oil, baking soda, sugar?  Guess what?!  There are easy swaps right in your kitchen!  In the middle of making German Pancakes and realized you only have 5 of the 6 eggs you need to make them?  Does that sound extremely specific???  Thaaaat may or may not have happened to me during Brooke’s HORRID spending freeze.  And TACO SEASONING!  Why do I always have a million packets of it when I have no intention of making tacos, but when Taco Tuesday rolls around… NO MAS!!! Aghhhh!  I’m convinced that all of the taco seasoning packets are having a party with the missing socks and disappearing hair elastics!  But alas!  What do we do when we’ve already cooked the tortillas and shredded the cheese?

I have pulled together a MASTER list of substitutions for all things that might be missing from your pantry.  Well, most things… come on!  I’m only human!  So put down your car keys, don’t text your neighbors, just bookmark this page for every time you find yourself in a kitchen pickle!  What can I say, except:  YOU’RE WELCOME!

Baking Powder: 1 teaspoon = 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar + 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon = 3 teaspoons baking powder (but omit the salt from the recipe)

24 Most Common Ingredient Substitutions

What is the best brown sugar cooking substitutions?

Brown Sugar: 1 cup = 1 cup granulated (white) sugar + 2 Tablespoons molasses (if you have it, but it’s completely ok to do the sub without molasses) or 1 cup coconut sugar or 1 cup date sugar

What is the best butter substitute for cooking? –

24 Most Common Ingredient Substitutions

Butter: 1 cup = 1 cup pureed avocado (increase other liquids a little) or 1 cup applesauce (for you health nuts) or 1 cup shortening + 1/2 teaspoon salt or 7/8 cup vegetable oil + 1/2 teaspoon salt (don’t use oil for butter when baking, only in cooking) ***if replacing with avocado or applesauce for health purposes, just reduce the butter by half and use the avocado or applesauce for the other half

What is the best buttermilk ingredient substitution?

Buttermilk: 1 cup = 1 cup yogurt (NOT GREEK) or 1 cup milk + 1 Tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice.  Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes, until it curdles.

What is the best cake flower cooking substitutions?

Cake Flour: 1 cup = 1 cup {minus} 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour + 2 Tablespoons cornstarch

What is the best cream of tartar substitute for cooking?

Cream of Tartar: 1/4 teaspoon = 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

What is the best dry bread crumb substitute for cooking?

Dry Bread Crumbs: 1/4 cup = 3/4 cup soft bread crumbs or 1/4 cup cracker crumbs or cup crushed cornflakes or 2/3 cup oats (I’d pulse them once or twice in a blender)

24 Most Common Ingredient Substitutions

 

What is the best egg substitute for cooking? 

Eggs: 1 whole egg = 3 Tablespoons mayo or 1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 Tablespoons water (let sit 5 minutes before using)

What is the best half and half substitution? 

Half and Half: 1 cup = 1/2 cup whole milk + 1/2 cup heavy cream

What is the best egg heavy cream substitutions? 

Heavy Cream: 1 cup = 1 cup whole milk + 1 Tablespoon melted butter.  Use Almond or Coconut milk for milk substitute for cooking. 

What is the best salt substitution? 

Iodized Salt: 1/2 teaspoon = 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Kosher Salt: 1/2 teaspoon = 1/4 teaspoon iodized (regular) salt

What is the best lemon juice cooking substitutions? 

Lemon Juice: 1 teaspoon = 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

What is the best oil substitutes for cookings?

Oil: Apple sauce is one of the best substitutes for oil in cooking. 

What is the best ranch seasoning substitution? 

Ranch Seasoning: 6 packets = 4 saltine crackers (I know… weird, but totally legit) + 1/2 cup dried parsley + 1/8 cup dried minced onion + 1/2 Tablespoon dried dill + 1 Tablespoon onion salt + 1 Tablespoon garlic salt + 1 Tablespoon onion powder + 1 Tablespoon garlic powder (pulse in a blender)  2 Tablespoons = 1 packet

What is the best pumpkin pie spice substitution? 

Pumpkin Pie Spice: 1 teaspoon = 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger + 1/8 teaspoon ground clove + 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

What is the best self rising flour ingredient substitution? 

Self-Rising Flour: 1 cup = 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder + 1/4 teaspoon salt

What is the best semi sweet chocolate cooking substitution?

Semi-Sweet Chocolate: 1 oz = 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder + 3 Tablespoons sugar + 1 Tablespoon oil or melted butter

What is the best sour cream ingredient substitution? 

Sour Cream: 1 cup = 1 cup plain yogurt

What is the best taco seasoning ingredient cooking substitution? 

Taco Seasoning: 1 Tablespoon chili powder + 1 1/2 teaspoon cumin + 1 teaspoon salt + 1 teaspoon pepper + 1/2 teaspoon paprika + 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder + 1/4 teaspoon onion powder + 1/4 teaspoon oregano

What is the best vanilla extract cooking substitution? 

Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon = 1 teaspoon bourbon or rum (I may have to ask the neighbors for this one… and then I might as well ask them for vanilla)

What is the best vegetable oil cooking substitution? 

Vegetable Oil: 1/4 cup = 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (if making brownies, cakes or cookies reduce the other liquids by half)

What is the best white wine cooking substitution? 

White Wine:  a substitute for white wine in cooking white grape juice or apple cider vinegar is the substitute for wine in cooking. 

What is the milk substitute for cooking?

Whole Milk: 1 cup = 1 cup skim or low-fat milk + 2 Tablespoons melted butter

What is the best yogurt substitute? 

Yogurt: 1 cup = 1 cup sour cream