There is nothing more annoying than realizing that you don't have an ingredient needed to finish a recipe that you have already started cooking! Here are some substitution ideas that may help you around your kitchen in that time of need.
Butter, Salted, 1/2 cup:
1/2 cup unsalted butter plus 1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
Butter, Unsalted, 1/2 cup:
1/2 cup salted butter and decrease salt in recipe by 1/4 tsp
Buttermilk, 1 cup:
1 tsp lemon juice plus enough milk to equal 1 cup. Let stand 10 minutes. OR
1 cup sour cream OR
1 cup milk plus 1 3/4 tsp cream of tartar OR
1 cup plain yogurt
Chocolate Bittersweet or Semisweet, 1 ounce:
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate plus 1 tbsp granulated white sugar
Coffee (Strong), 1/4 cup:
2 tbsp instant express powder plus tbsp hot water
Corn Starch (for thickening), 1 tbsp:
2 tbsp all purpose flour
2 tbsp instant tapioca
Cream, Half & Half, 1 cup:
7/8 cup whole milk plus 2 tbsp melted unsalted butter OR
1/2 cup light cream plus 1/2 cup whole milk OR
1/2 cup skim milk plus 1/2 cup heavy cream
Cream, Heavy (Not for whipping), 1 cup:
2/3 cup whole milk plus 1/3 cup melted unsalted butter
Cream of Tartar, 1/2 tsp:
1/2 tsp lemon juice OR
1/2 tsp white vinegar
Dark Corn Syrup, 1 cup:
3/4 cup light corn syrup plus 1/4 cup light molasses
Flour, All purpose, 1 cup:
1 cup self rising flour and omit baking powder and salt from recipe
Flour, Cake, 1 cup:
3/4 cup all purpose flour plus 2 tbsp corn starch
Flour, Self Rising, 1 cup:
1 cup all purpose flour plus 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt
Lemon Zest, 1 tsp:
1/2 tsp lemon extract OR
1 tsp orange or lime zest
Maple Syrup, 1 cup:
1 cup honey OR
3/4 cup corn syrup plus 1/4 cup butter plus 1 tsp maple extract
Marzipan, 2 1/2 cups:
2 cups almond paste plus 1 cup powdered sugar plus 2 tbsp light corn syrup
Mascarpone Cheese, 1 cup:
3/4 cup cream cheese beaten with 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
Salt, Kosher, 1 tsp:
1 tsp sea salt OR
1 tsp table salt
Shortening, 1/2 cup:
1/2 cup salted or unsalted butter OR
1/2 cup margarine
Sour Cream, 1 cup:
1 cup plain yogurt OR
3/4 cup sour milk or buttermilk or plain milk plus 1/3 cup melted butter OR
1 tbsp lemon juice plus enough milk to fill 1 cup
Sugar, brown or light brown, 1 cup:
1 cup white granulated sugar plus 1/4 cup light molasses OR
for light brown sugar substitute 1/2 cup dark brown sugar plus 1/2 cup granulated sugar OR
1 cup white granulated sugar
Sugar, Caster (superfine), 1 cup:
1 cup granulated sugar processed in food processor until super fine
Sugar, Raw, 1 cup:
1 cup light brown or dark brown sugar
Vanilla Bean, 1 bean:
2-3 tsp pure vanilla extract
Vinegar, Apple Cider, 1/4 cup:
1/4 cup white vinegar
Vinegar, White, 1/4 cup:
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar OR
1/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
Yogurt, Plain, 1 cup:
1 cup sour cream OR
1 cup buttermilk OR
1 cup heavy whipping cream plus 1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
