This Definitive List of Baking Substitutes For Common Ingredients Is a Huge Lifesaver

As satisfying as the first bite (or two, or three) of a freshly baked cookie can be, almost all of the joy I get from sinking my teeth into a delicious baked good actually comes from collecting all of the necessary ingredients. Besides filling my home with the mouthwatering smell of homemade treats, the act of baking tried-and-true recipes, as well as challenging myself to try new ones, increases my level of confidence as a baker. However, there have been times when I may have forgotten an ingredient or two, leading me to frantically try to improvise something so I can get the job done.

To help you avoid the panic that comes with baking a dessert only to realize you're out of milk or eggs, I've compiled a list of a variety of baking substitutes. From cake-flour and yogurt substitutes to baking powder and buttermilk alternatives, you'll definitely want to bookmark this list for any future baking ordeals (I know I will). To make this list all the more sweeter, I even included exact measurements and ratios to make sure your treat comes out perfectly.

Cake-Flour Substitute

Cornstarch: For 1 cup cake flour, scoop 1 level cup all-purpose flour, remove 2 tablespoons, and replace with 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot starch. Make sure the flour and cornstarch are well-combined before using.

Bread-Flour Substitute

All-purpose flour: For 1 cup bread flour, use 1 cup AP flour.

Baking-Soda Substitute

Baking powder: For 1 teaspoon baking soda, use 3 teaspoons baking powder. Potassium bicarbonate: For 1 teaspoon baking soda, use 1 teaspoon potassium bicarbonate plus 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Baking-Powder Substitute

Cream of tartar: For 1 teaspoon baking powder, use 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar plus 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Vinegar: For 1 teaspoon baking powder, use 1/2 teaspoon vinegar plus 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Lemon juice: For 1 teaspoon baking powder, use 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice plus 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Buttermilk: For 1 teaspoon baking powder, use 1/2 cup buttermilk plus 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. When using buttermilk in place of baking powder, make sure to reduce the amount of other liquid used in the recipe by the same amount (for example, for every 1/2 cup buttermilk used, reduce the total amount of other liquids added by 1/2 cup). Plain yogurt: For 1 teaspoon baking powder, use 1/2 cup plain yogurt plus 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. When using yogurt in place of baking powder, it is important to reduce the amount of other liquid in the recipe by the same amount, just like the buttermilk substitute. Molasses: For 1 teaspoon baking powder, use 1/4 cup molasses plus 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. In addition to reducing the amount of other liquid added to the recipe by the same amount, it is also important to reduce the amount of sugar or sweet ingredients as well, given molasses's high sugar content.

Brown-Sugar Substitute

White sugar: For 1 cup brown sugar, use 1 cup granulated white sugar. Coconut sugar: For 1 cup brown sugar, use 1 cup coconut sugar. DIY brown sugar: For 1 cup brown sugar, combine 1 cup granulated white sugar with 1 tablespoon molasses.

Powdered-Sugar Substitute

DIY powdered sugar: For 1 cup powdered sugar, blend together 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot powder.

Honey Substitute

Maple syrup: For 1 tablespoon honey, use 1 tablespoon maple syrup. Sugar: For 1 tablespoon honey, use 1 tablespoon any sugar.

Butter Substitute

Ghee: For 1 tablespoon butter, use 1 tablespoon ghee Coconut oil: For 1 tablespoon butter, use 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Applesauce: For 1 tablespoon butter, use 1 tablespoon applesauce. Greek yogurt: For 1 tablespoon butter, use 1 tablespoon full-fat plain Greek yogurt. Pumpkin purée: For 1 tablespoon butter, use 3/4 tablespoon pumpkin purée. Mashed bananas: For 1 tablespoon butter, use 1 tablespoon mashed bananas. Avocado: For 1 tablespoon butter, use 1 tablespoon mashed avocado.

Vegetable-Oil Substitute

Any cooking oil: For 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, use 1 tablespoon any neutral oil (canola, sunflower) or 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Butter: For 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, use 1 tablespoon melted butter. Applesauce: For 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, use 1/2 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce.

Milk Substitute

Half-and-half: For 1 cup milk, use 1 cup half-and-half. Sour cream: For 1 cup milk, use 1 cup sour cream Plain yogurt: For 1 cup milk, use 1 cup plain yogurt. Nondairy milk: For 1 cup dairy milk, use 1 cup nondairy milk. Nondairy yogurt: For 1 cup dairy milk, use 1 cup nondairy yogurt.

Heavy-Cream Substitute

Milk and butter: For 1 cup heavy cream, combine 3/4 cup milk with 1/4 cup melted butter. Soy milk and olive oil: For 1 cup heavy cream, combine 2/3 cup soy milk with 1/3 cup olive oil. Half-and-half and butter: For 1 cup heavy cream, combine 7/8 cup half-and-half with 1/8 cup melted butter. Evaporated milk: For 1 cup heavy cream, use 1 cup evaporated milk. Coconut cream: For 1 cup heavy cream, use 1 cup coconut cream.

Buttermilk Substitute

Milk and vinegar: For 1 cup buttermilk, combine 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar with just under 1 cup dairy or nondairy milk. Milk and lemon juice: For 1 cup buttermilk, combine 1 tablespoon lemon juice with just under 1 cup dairy or nondairy milk. Milk and cream of tartar: For 1 cup buttermilk, use 1 cup milk plus 1 3/4 teaspoons cream of tartar. Sour cream: For 1 cup buttermilk, combine 3/4 cup sour cream with 1/4 cup water or your choice of milk. Plain yogurt: For 1 cup buttermilk, combine 3/4 cup plain yogurt with 1/4 cup water or your choice of milk.

Sour-Cream Substitute

Greek yogurt: For 1 cup sour cream, use 1 cup Greek yogurt. Cream cheese: For 1 cup sour cream, combine 3/4 cup cream cheese with 2 tablespoons water or milk. Buttermilk: For 1 cup sour cream, use 3/4 cup mayonnaise. Coconut milk: For 1 cup sour cream, use 1 cup full-fat coconut milk plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

Unsweetened-Chocolate Substitute

Cocoa powder: For 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, combine 3 tablespoons cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, butter, or shortening.

Yogurt Substitute

Sour cream: For 1 cup yogurt, use 1 cup sour cream. Buttermilk: For 1 cup yogurt, use 1/6 cup buttermilk. Avocado: For 1 cup yogurt, use 1 cup mashed avocados. Mayonnaise: For 1 cup yogurt, use 1 cup mayonnaise. Silken tofu: For 1 cup yogurt, use just under 1 cup blended silken tofu plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

Condensed-Milk Substitute

Heavy cream and sugar: For 1 cup condensed milk, use 1/4 cup sugar. Whole milk and sugar: For 1 cup condensed milk, boil 2 cups milk, then add 2/3 cups sugar and simmer until thickened. Coconut milk and sugar: For 1 cup condensed milk, boil 2 cups coconut milk, then add 2/3 cups sugar and simmer until thickened. Coconut cream: For 1 cup condensed milk, use 1 cup full-fat coconut cream.

Egg Substitute

Flaxseed and water: For 1 egg, combine 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons water. Applesauce: For 1 egg, use 1/4 cup applesauce. Mashed banana: For 1 egg, use 1/2 medium-size banana. Silken tofu: For 1 egg, use 1/4 cup silken tofu. Yogurt: For 1 egg, use 1/4 cup yogurt. Buttermilk: For 1 egg, use 1/4 cup buttermilk.

Yeast Substitute

Baking soda and lemon juice: For one teaspoon of yeast, use half a teaspoon of baking soda and half a teaspoon of lemon juice. Double-acting baking powder: For one teaspoon of yeast, use one teaspoon of double-acting baking powder. Sourdough Starter: For one envelope (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast, use 1 cup of active sourdough starter. When using this method, it's important to reduce the amount of additional liquid and flour called for in the recipe by around half a cup to ¾ cup each. If the starter is runny, reduce the amount of liquid, and if it is thick, reduce the amount of flour.

Cinnamon Substitute

Pumpkin or apple pie spice: For one teaspoon of cinnamon, use one teaspoon of pumpkin or apple pie spice. Cardamom: For one teaspoon of cinnamon, use one teaspoon of ground cardamom. Nutmeg: For one teaspoon of cinnamon, use ½ teaspoon of nutmeg. Allspice: for one teaspoon of cinnamon, use ½ teaspoon of allspice.

Vanilla Extract Substitute

Pure maple syrup: For one teaspoon of vanilla extract, use one teaspoon of pure maple syrup. Almond extract: For one teaspoon of vanilla extract, use ¼ to ½ teaspoon of almond extract. Dark liquor: For one teaspoon of vanilla extract, use one teaspoon of bourbon, dark rum, whiskey, brandy, or any other barrel-aged dark liquor. Vanilla bean paste: For one teaspoon of vanilla extract, use one teaspoon of vanilla bean paste.

Ginger Substitute

Nutmeg: For one teaspoon of ground ginger, use ½ teaspoon of nutmeg and adjust to taste. Cinnamon: For one teaspoon of ground ginger, use ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and adjust to taste. Cardamom: For one teaspoon of ground ginger, use ½ teaspoon of ground cardamom and adjust to taste. Allspice: For one teaspoon of ground ginger, use ½ teaspoon of ground allspice and adjust to taste.

Cloves Substitute

Allspice: For one teaspoon of ground cloves, use one teaspoon of ground allspice. Cinnamon and nutmeg: For one teaspoon of ground cloves, combine ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon with ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Pumpkin pie spice: For ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves, use one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.

Allspice Substitute

Cinnamon: For one teaspoon of allspice, use ½ teaspoon of cinnamon Nutmeg: For one teaspoon of allspice, use ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg Cloves: For one teaspoon of allspice, use ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves.

Cocoa Powder Substitute

Unsweetened chocolate: For 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder, use an ounce of melted unsweetened dark chocolate. Dutch-process cocoa: For one tablespoon of cocoa powder, use one tablespoon of Dutch-process cocoa plus ⅛ teaspoon of any cooking acid (white vinegar, fresh lemon juice, or cream of tartar). Carob powder: For one tablespoon of cocoa powder, use one tablespoon of carob powder and reduce the amount of sugar added to the recipe to account for the sugar in carob powder.

Espresso Powder Substitute

Instant coffee: For one tablespoon of espresso powder, use two tablespoons of instant coffee. Brewed coffee or espresso: In lieu of espresso powder, replace the liquid called for in the recipe with brewed coffee or espresso. Cocoa powder: For one tablespoon of espresso powder, use one tablespoon of natural or dutch-processed cocoa powder.

Mint Substitute

Peppermint oil: For one teaspoon of mint extract, use ¼ teaspoon of peppermint oil. Peppermint schnapps: For one teaspoon of mint extract, use one tablespoon of peppermint schnapps or another mint liquor like creme de mènthe. Dry mint tea: For one teaspoon of mint extract, start with ½ teaspoon of dry mint tea and add more according to taste.

Custard Powder Substitute

Instant pudding mix: For one tablespoon of custard powder, use one tablespoon of vanilla instant pudding mix. Cornstarch: For one tablespoon of custard powder, use one tablespoon of cornstarch and one teaspoon of vanilla extract. Baking soda: For one tablespoon of custard powder, use one tablespoon of baking soda and one teaspoon of vanilla extract. Tapioca powder: For one tablespoon of custard powder, use one tablespoon of tapioca powder and one teaspoon of vanilla extract. Cornflour and cornstarch: for one tablespoon of custard powder, combine half a tablespoon of cornflour with half a tablespoon of cornstarch plus one teaspoon of vanilla extract

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