Handy Substitutions

I don't know about you but I always find myself flipping to the back of a cookbook trying to find an easy substitution for something when I suddenly find myself without rum. I mean baking powder. ;)

But now you don't have to search for a solution either. You can bookmark this page and the next time you need 1 cup of miniature marshmallows but only have 10 large ones, you'll know where to turn!


Baking Products

• Baking powder, 1 tsp.: 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar + 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  
• Semisweet chocolate, 1 oz.: 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate + 1 Tbsp. sugar
• Unsweetened chocolate, 1 oz. or square: 3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa + 1 Tbsp. butter, margarine, shortening, or oil
• Semisweet chocolate chips, 6 oz., melted: 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, 2 Tbsp. shortening, + 1/2 c. sugar
• Unsweetened cocoa, 1/4 c.: 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate (decrease fat in recipe by 1/2 Tbsp.)
• Corn syrup, light, 1 c.: 1 c. sugar heated to a syrupy consistency with 1/4 c. water (GENIUS!!)
• Cornstarch, 1 Tbsp.: 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• Marshmallow cream, 7-oz. jar: 16 oz. package marshmallows, melted, plus 3 1/2 Tbsp. light corn syrup
• Marshmallows, miniature, 1 c.: 10 large marshmallows
• Pecans, chopped, 1 c.: 1 c. regular oats, toasted (in baked products); this is another smart one, especially for people with nut allergies!
• Powdered sugar, 1 c.: 1 c. sugar + 1 Tbsp. cornstarch, processed in food processor
• White sugar, 1 c.: 1 c. corn syrup; decrease liquid in recipe by 1/3 c.

Dairy Products

• Buttermilk, 1 c.: 1 Tbsp. vinegar or lemon juice, plus milk to make 1 c. (let stand 10 minutes); 1 c. milk + 1 3/4 tsp. cream of tartar
• Sweetened condensed milk, 14 ounces: Heat 1/3 c. +2 Tbsp. evaporated milk, 1 c. sugar, 3 Tbsp. butter or margarine until sugar and butter dissolve
• Sour cream: Plain yogurt

Miscellaneous

• Tomato sauce, 2 c.: 3/4 c. tomato paste + 1 c. water
• Chili sauce, 1 c: 1 c. tomato sauce, 1/4 c. brown sugar, 2 Tbsp. vinegar, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, dash of grown cloves, dash of allspice
• Ketchup (for cooking): 1 c. tomato sauce, 1/2 c. sugar, 2 Tbsp. vinegar

Spices

• Allspice, ground, 1 tsp.: 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon + 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• Apple pie spice, 1 tsp.: 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg, 1/8 tsp. ground cardamom
• Bay leaf, 1 whole: 1/4 tsp. crushed bay leaf
• Chives, chopped, 1 Tbsp.: 1 Tbsp. chopped green onion tops
• Garlic, 1 small clove: 1/8 tsp. garlic powder or dried garlic
• Garlic salt, 1 tsp: 1/8 tsp. garlic powder plus 7/8 tsp. salt
• Herbs, fresh, 1 Tbsp.: 1 tsp. dried herbs or 1/4 tsp. ground herbs
• Mustard, dry, 1 tsp.: 1 Tbsp. prepared mustard
• Onion powder, 1 Tbsp.: 1 medium onion, chopped or 1 Tbsp. dried minced onion
• Parsley, dry, 1 tsp.: 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley
• Pumpkin pie spice: 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ground ginger, 1/8 tsp. ground allspice, 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
• Vanilla bean, 1: 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp.: 1 tsp. bottled steak sauce

Alcohol (use water, white grape, or apple juice to make up the rest of the amount of liquid called for in the recipe)

• Amaretto, 2 Tbsp.: 1/4-1/2 tsp. almond extract
• Bourbon or Sherry, 2 Tbsp.: 1-2 tsp. vanilla extract
• Brandy, fruit-flavored liqueur, port wine, rum, or sweet cherry, 1/4 c. or more: Equal amount of unsweetened orange or apple juice plus 1 tsp. vanilla extract or corresponding flavor
• Brandy or rum, 2 Tbsp.: 1/2-1 tsp. brandy or rum extract
• Grand Marnier, 2 Tbsp.: 2 Tbsp. unsweetened orange juice concentrate
• Kahlua, 2 Tbsp.: 1/2-1 tsp. chocolate extract plus 1/2-1 tsp. instant coffee dissolved in 2 Tbsp. water
• Red wine: Equal amount of red grape or cranberry juice
• White wine: Equal amount of white grape or apple juice