The Only Baking Substitutions You'll Ever Need
We all know what it's like to reach for the baking powder and only come up with baking soda. With this guide, you'll never be caught without an ingredient mid-recipe again.
Per the Food Network Baking Guide, more here
- Baking Powder (double-acting): 1 teaspoon = 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar + 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- Baking Soda: 1/4 teaspoon = 1 teaspoon baking powder (any acidic ingredients in the recipe will have a more assertive, tangier flavor)
- Buttermilk: 1 cup = 1 cup yogurt (not Greek) or 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice; let the mixture sit until curdled before using, about 10 minutes
- Cake Flour: 1 cup = 1 cup - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour + 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Self-Rising Flour: 1 cup = 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder + 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Cream of Tartar: large pinch to 1/4 teaspoon = 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- Dutch Process Cocoa Powder: 1/2 cup = 1/2 cup natural cocoa + replace the baking powder in the recipe with half the amount of baking soda
- Natural Cocoa Powder: 1/2 cup = 1/2 cup Dutch process cocoa + replace the baking soda in the recipe with twice the amount of baking powder
- Eggs: 1 egg = 3 tablespoons mayonnaise or 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water; let sit 5 minutes before using. Exception: Do not substitute for any recipe that uses whipped egg whites.
- Half-and-Half: 1 cup = 1/2 cup whole milk + 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Heavy Cream: 1 cup = 1 cup whole milk + 1 tablespoon melted butter
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: 1 teaspoon = 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger + 1/8 teaspoon ground clove + 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- Iodized Salt: 1/2 teaspoon = 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- Kosher Salt: 1/2 teaspoon = 1/4 teaspoon iodized salt
- Semisweet Chocolate: 1 ounce = 3 tablespoons cocoa powder + 3 tablespoons granulated sugar + 1 tablespoon oil or melted butter
- Dark Brown Sugar: 1 cup = 1 cup granulated sugar + 2 tablespoons molasses or 1 cup light brown sugar
- Light Brown Sugar: 1 cup = 1 cup granulated sugar + 1 tablespoon molasses or 1 cup dark brown sugar
- Lemon Juice: 1 teaspoon = 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Sour Cream: 1 cup = 1 cup plain yogurt
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon = 1 teaspoon bourbon or rum
- Whole Milk: 1 cup = 1 cup skim or low-fat milk + 2 tablespoons melted butter
- Yogurt: 1 cup = 1 cup sour cream