Emergency Substitutions

In a Pinch?  Try a Dash of this!

Ingredient

Substitution

Allspice (1 Teaspoon)

1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon, 1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg, 1/4 Teaspoon Cloves

Arrowroot (1 1/2 Teaspoon)

1 Tablespoon

Baking Powder (1 Teaspoon)

1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda and 5/8 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar; OR 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda and 1/2 Cup Buttermilk or Sour Milk (replaces 1/2 Cup Liquid in recipe)

Bread Crumbs (1/4 Cup Dry)

1/4 Cup Cracker Crumbs; OR 1 Slice Bread (cubed); OR 2/3 Cup Rolled Oats

Butter (1 Cup)

1 Cup Margarine; OR 7/8 Cup Shortening

Buttermilk (1 Cup)

1 Cup Plain Yogurt; OR 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice or White Vinegar mixed with Milk equal to 1 Cup (let stand 5 minutes)

Sour Milk (1 Cup)

1 Cup Buttermilk, OR 1 Cup Plain Yogurt; OR 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice or White Vinegar mixed with Milk equal to 1 Cup (let stand 5 minutes)

Catsup (1 Cup)

2/3 Cup Tomato Sauce, 1/3 Cup Sugar, and 2 Tablespoons Vinegar (for use in cooked mixtures)

Chili Sauce

Catsup with Prepared Horseradish and Lemon Juice to taste

Chives

Green Onions, including tops

Chocolate, Unsweetened (1 Ounce)

3 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder and 1 Tablespoon Butter or Shortening

Chocolate, Semi-Sweet (2 Ounces)

1 Ounce Unsweetened Chocolate and 2 Tablespoon Sugar; OR 1/3 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Chorizo Sausage

Hot Italian Sausage seasoned with Garlic and Ground Red Pepper

Cornstarch (1 Tablespoon, For thickening)

2 Tablespoons Flour; OR 4 Teaspoons Quick Cooking Tapioca

Corn Syrup (1/2 Cup)

1/2 Cup Sugar and 2 Tablespoons Liquid

Cream, Heavy (1 Cup; For baking, not whipping)

3/4 Cup Whole Milk and 1/4 Cup Butter

Cream, Light (1 Cup; For baking only)

7/8 Cup Milk and 3 Tablespoons Butter

Cream, Sweetened Whipped (1 Cup)

4 1/2 Ounce Package Frozen Whipped Topping; OR 1 Envelope Whipped Topping Mix (prepared)

Crème Fraiche (1 Cup)

1 Cup Whipping Cream with 2 Tablespoons Buttermilk, mixed in a glass container and allowed to stand at room temperature until thick (8-24 hours).  Stir and refrigerate up to 10 days. 

Currants, Dried

Dark Raisins

Egg (1 Whole)

2 Egg Yolks (in baking add 1 Tablespoons Water)

Half and Half

7/8 Cup Whole Milk and 1 1/2 Tablespoons Butter

Sour Cream

Plain Yogurt

Cheese, Farmer

Dry Curd Cottage Cheese or Queso Fresco

Fish Stock

Equal parts Clam Juice and Water

Flour, Sifted Cake (1 Cup)

3/4 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons Sifted All-Purpose Flour and 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch

Four, Self Rising (1 Cup)

1 Cup All Purpose Flour, 1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder, and 1/8 Teaspoon Salt

Fines Herbes

Equal parts Chervil, Chives, Tarragon and Parsley

Fish Sauce (1 Tablespoon)

2 Teaspoons Soy Sauce and 2 Mashed Anchovies

Five Spice Powder

Equal parts Cinnamon, Cloves, Fennel Seed, Star Anise, and Sichuan Peppercorns

Garlic (1 Clove)

1/8 Teaspoon Instant Minced Garlic or Garlic Powder; OR 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Salt

Ginger, Fresh (1 Tablespoon)

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

Herbs, Fresh Minced (1 Tablespoon)

1 Teaspoon Dried Herbs

Honey (1 Cup)

1 1/4 Cup Sugar and 1/4 Cup Liquid

Horseradish, Fresh (1 Tablespoon)

2 Tablespoons Prepared Horseradish, well drained

Hot Sauce

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes or Ground Red Pepper

Italian Herb Seasoning

Mixture of Oregano, Marjoram, Thyme, Bais, Rosemary and Sage

Lemon Grass (1 Tablespoon)

1 Teaspoon Lemon Rind

Lemon Juice (1 Teaspoon)

1/2 Teaspoon White Wine Vinegar or Cider Vinegar

Milk, Fresh Sweet (1 Cup)

1/2 Cup Evaporated Milk and 1/2 Cup Water; OR Powdered Milk and Water; OR 1 Cup Sour or Buttermilk and 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda (decrease Baking Powder by 2 Teaspoons)

Milk, Whole (1 Cup)

1/2 Cup Evaporated Milk and 1/2 Cup Water; OR 1 Cup Skim or Reconstituted Non-Fat Dry Milk and 2 Teaspoons Butter

Mustard, Prepared (1 Tablespoon)

1 Teaspoon Dry Mustard mixed with 2 Teaspoons Wine Vinegar, White Wine or Water

Mustard, Dry (1 Teaspoon)

1 Tablespoon Prepared Mustard

Onion, Small (1/4 Cup Chopped)

1 Tablespoon Dried Minced Onion or Onion Flakes; OR 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder

Pancetta

Cooked, Lean Bacon

Bell Pepper (2 Tablespoons)

1 Tablespoon Sweet Pepper Flakes

Pine Nuts

Walnuts or Almonds

Prosciutto

Ham

Pumpkin Pie Spice (1 Teaspoon)

1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon and 1/8 Teaspoon each Ground Ginger, Nutmeg, Mace, and Cloves

Wine, Sake or Red

Dry Sherry or Vermouth

Shallots

Minced Onion with Half a Small Clove Minced Garlic

Sugar, Light Brown (1 Cup)

1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar and 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar; OR 1 Cup Granulated Sugar and 1 Tablespoon Molasses

Sugar, Superfine

Granulated Sugar mixed in the food processor until it is powdery

Tamarind Paste (1 Tablespoon)

1 Teaspoon each Dates, Prunes, Dried Apricots and Lemon Juice

Tomatoes, Canned (1 Cup)

About 1 1/3 Cut-Up Fresh Tomatoes simmered for 10 minutes

Tomatoes, Cooked and Seasoned (1 Pound)

1 8-Ounce Can Tomato Sauce

Tomatoes, Juice (1 Cup)

1/2 Cup Tomato Sauce and 1/2 Cup Water

Tomatoes, Sauce (1 Cup)

3/8 Cup Tomato Paste and 1/2 Cup Water

Vinegar, Chinese Black

Balsamic Vinegar

Vinegar; Seasoned Rice (1 Tablespoon)

1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar or White Wine Vinegar; OR 1/2 Teaspoon Sugar and 1/8 Teaspoon Salt

Vanilla Bean

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Wine, White Wine (for Cooking)

Dry Vermouth

Yeast, (5/8 Ounce Cake)

1 Packet (2 Teaspoons) Active Dry Yeast; OR 1 Tablespoon Dry Yeast

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