If you are like most of us, you are stuck at home trying to stay safe and keep your family safe. You might venture out to the grocery store once in a while or maybe not at all. For me those grocery trips are really fast, I try to think of everything I could possibly need to cook and bake for the next couple of weeks but it’s tough and a lot of items are sold out in the stores.
I’ve done a lot more baking in the last 2 weeks, it’s been fun making a couple of different types of bread but it always seems like I’m missing something and I’m not going to the store unless I absolutely have to so I’ve had to become inventive and make do with what I have. I researched 30 Common Ingredient Substitutions and I wanted to share.
30 Common Ingredient Substitutions
1 TEASPOON ALLSPICE: 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon & 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves & 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 APPLE: One cup of firm chopped pears and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER: 1/4 baking soda & 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
BARBECUE SAUCE (1 cup): 1 cup ketchup plus 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
BLACK PEPPER: Allspice works as long as you are also adding salt to the dish
BREAD CRUMBS (1/4 cup, dry): 1/4 cup cracker crumbs or 1/2 slice of toasted, crumbled bread, 1/4 cup cornflakes.
BUTTERMILK: 1 Tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar, plus enough milk to make a cup
CAYENNE PEPPER: Ground hot red pepper or chili powder
CHOCOLATE, BAKING, UNSWEETENED: 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa plus 1 tablespoon of butter
CINNAMON: Small amount of allspice or cardamom
CLOVES: Allspice or nutmeg
CORN SYRUP (1 cup light): 1 1/4 cup sugar plus 1/3 cup of water, heat on the stove until sugar is melted and syrup is clear
CREAM (heavy, 1 cup): 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup butter, melt butter in a pan and allow it to cool, whisk the milk in
CREAM CHEESE (1 cup): 1 cup pureed cottage cheese or 1 cup plain yogurt strained overnight in a cheesecloth
EGG (1 whole): 2 tablespoons oil plus 1 tablespoon of water or 1 teaspoon cornstarch plus 3 tablespoons water if part of a recipe. Use a banana as a substitute in a cake or pancakes
HONEY (1 cup in baked goods): 1 1/4 cup sugar plus 1/4 cup water, heat in a pan until sugar is melted and syrup is clear
LEMON JUICE: 1/2 teaspoon vinegar for each teaspoon of lemon juice needed
MASCARPONE: Cream cheese whipped with a small amount of butter
MAYONNAISE (1 cup): 1 cup sour cream or 1 cup plain yogurt
MOLASSES (1 cup): 1 cup honey
NUTMEG: Allspice or cloves
OIL (for baking): 1 cup applesauce or 1 cup fruit puree
POWDERED SUGAR (confectioners): grind granulated sugar in a coffee grinder until you get the consistency and quantity you need, grind really well to avoid granules in whatever you are making
SELF- RISING FLOUR (1 cup): 1 cup all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
SOUR CREAM (1 cup): Mix 1 cup cottage cheese, 5 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, mix until creamy
TOMATO PASTE (one tablespoon): 1 tablespoon ketchup or 1/2 cup tomato sauce, reduce on the stove until you get the right consistency
TOMATO PUREE: 6 ounce can of tomato paste plus 6 ounces of water
VANILLA EXTRACT (in baked goods only): Use almond extract or any other extracts that will alter the flavor
VINEGAR: Lemon juice in cooking, salads, or marinades
YOGURT: Sour cream, creme fraiche or buttermilk, heavy cream or mayonnaise works in small amounts
I’ve written a couple of other posts How to make your own brown sugar and Make your own (Bisquick) baking mix.
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