It happens to even the most prepared cooks: in the midst of making a recipe you find you’re missing a key ingredient. No worries! Our list of easy ingredient substitutions can help in a pinch. No buttermilk? No problem! Can’t find fresh leeks? We have you covered.
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| Ingredient | Amount | Substitution |
| Allspice | 1 teaspoon ground | 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves |
| Apple Pie Spice | 1 teaspoon | 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg + 1/8 teaspoon allspice + 1/8 teaspoon cardamom |
| Baking Powder | 1 teaspoon | 1/4 teaspoon baking soda + 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar |
| Buttermilk | 1 cup | 1 cup regular milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice Let stand for 5 minutes |
| Chives | 1 tablespoon chopped | 1 tablespoon chopped green onion |
| Chocolate (unsweetened) | 1 ounce | 3 tablespoons cocoa powder + 1 tablespoon butter |
| Chocolate (semisweet) | 1 ounce | 3 tablespoons cocoa powder + 1 tablespoon butter + 1 tablespoon sugar, or 1/2 ounce unsweetened chocolate + 1 tablespoon sugar |
| Cornstarch (for thickening) | 1 tablespoon | 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour |
| Corn Syrup | 2 cups | 1 cup granulated sugar |
| Cream, Heavy | 1 cup | 1 cup evaporated milk or 3/4 cup whole milk + 3 tablespoons butter |
| Cream, Light | 1 cup | 1/2 cup heavy cream + 1/2 cup whole milk, or 7/8 cup whole milk + 3 tablespoons butter |
| Cream of Tartar | 1 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or |
| 1 teaspoon vinegar | ||
| Crème Fraiche | 1 cup | 1/2 cup heavy cream + 1/2 cup sour cream Whisk and let stand several hours at room temperature |
| Fats (for baking) | 1 cup | 1 cup applesauce or 1 cup fruit puree |
| Flour, Cake | 1 cup | 7/8 cup sifted all-purpose flour + 2 tablespoons cornstarch |
| Flour, Self-Rising | 1 cup | 1 cup minus 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour + 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder + 1/2 teaspoon salt |
| Garlic | 1 clove | 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder |
| Hazelnuts | 1 cup | 1 cup macadamia nuts |
| Herbs, Fresh | 1 tablespoon chopped | 1 teaspoon chopped dried herbs |
| Honey | 1 cup | 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar + 1/4 cup liquid |
| Jicama | 6 ounces | 6 ounces water chestnuts |
| Leek | 1 cup | 1 cup sliced green onion, or |
| sliced | 1 cup sliced shallot | |
| Mayonnaise | 1 cup | 1 cup sour cream, or |
| 1 cup plain yogurt | ||
| Milk, Whole | 1 cup | 1/2 cup evaporated milk + 1/2 cup water |
| Mushrooms, Fresh | 16 ounces | 12 ounces canned mushrooms, drained |
| Mustard, Prepared | 1 tablespoon | 1 tablespoon dried mustard + 1 teaspoon vinegar + 1 teaspoon cold water + 1 teaspoon sugar Let stand for 15 minutes after mixing |
| Onion, Yellow | 1/4 cup chopped | 1 tablespoon minced dried onion, or 1 tablespoon onion powder |
| Pumpkin Pie Spice | 1 teaspoon | 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger + 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg + 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves, or 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger + 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg + 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice |
| Shallots | 1/4 cup chopped | 1/4 cup chopped green onion or 1/4 cup chopped leek |
| Sugar, Powdered | 1 cup | 1 cup granulated sugar + 1 tablespoon cornstarch Process in food processor with metal blade until powdery |
| Tomato Juice | 1 cup | 1/2 cup tomato sauce + 1/2 cup water, or 1/4 cup tomato paste + 3/4 cup water + dash salt + dash sugar |
| Tomato Paste | 1/2 cup | 1 cup tomato sauce Simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup |
| Tomato Sauce | 1 cup | 1/2 cup tomato paste + 1/2 cup water |
This is awesome!! How many times have we all started a recipe and realized we didn’t have something! Thanks for sharing it as #FoodieFriDIY…now it’s my turn to share! 🙂 I’m posting it on Facebook right now! I’ll send some other foodie love your way too!