Substitutions 101: What to do when you're in a pinch

I want to make some cornbread to go with supper today. I walk into my kitchen, get the recipe, and start collecting ingredients. Oh no! I'm out of buttermilk! What am I going to do????

Have you ever been there? I have. To save you hours of "googling," I've compiled a list of the best substitutions for ingredients so you're not left puzzling over what you'll do with a half-made dish! 

This is probably going to be one of my more "boring" posts, so I'll make it up to you with my next post. However if you keep reading, I don't think you'll be disappointed... 

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Ingredient:                                                               Substitution:

 1 Cup Sour Cream ------------------------------- 1 Cup Plain Yogurt + 1 tsp. Baking Soda (mixed together)

 1 Cup Buttermilk --------------------------------- 1 T. Lemon Juice or Vinegar + Regular Milk (fill to the 1 C. line)

 1 Cup Half & Half --------------------------------- 1 T. melted Butter + enough Whole Milk to make 1 cup

1 Cup Mayonnaise --------------------------------- 1 Cup Sour Cream, Yogurt, or Cottage Cheese (in a blender)

1 Cup Cinnamon Sugar -------------------------- 7/8 Cup Sugar + 2 T. Cinnamon

1 tsp. Baking Powder ----------------------------- 1/2 tsp. Cream of Tartar + 1/4 tsp. Baking Soda

1 Cup Self-Rising Flour -------------------------- 1 cup minus 2 tsp. All-purpose Flour + 1-1/2 tsp. tsp. Baking    Powder and 1/2 tsp. Salt

1 Cup Molasses ------------------------------------- 1 Cup Honey

1 T. Coconut Flour -------------------------------------- 3 T. Ground Flaxseed Meal

1 Cup White Sugar --------------------------------- 1 C. Brown Sugar, 2 C. sifted Powdered Sugar, or 7/8 C. Honey
1 Cup White Sugar -------------------------------- 18-24 packets, 1-1/2 to 2 T. powdered, or 1 tsp. liquid Stevia

1 T. Cornstarch ------------------------------------- 2 T. All-Purpose Flour

1 package Active Dry Yeast ---------------------- 2-1/4 tsp. bulk Active Dry Yeast

1/4 C. fine dry Bread Crumbs ------------------- 3/4 Cup soft Bread Crumbs, 1/4 Cup Cracker Crumbs, or 1/4 Cup Cornflake Crumbs

1 Cup Brown Sugar -------------------------------- 1 C. White Sugar + 4 T. Molasses

1 ounce Semi-Sweet Chocolate ----------------- 3 T. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips or 1 T. UNsweetened Cocoa Powder + 2 tsp. Sugar + 2 tsp. Shortening

4 oz. Sweet Baking Chocolate ------------------ 1/4 Cup UNsweetened Cocoa Powder + 1/3 cup White Sugar + 3 T. Shortening

1 oz. UNsweetened Chocolate ------------------ 3 T. UNsweetened Cocoa Powder + 1 T. melted Cooking Oil  or Shortening

1 Cup Powdered Sugar --------------------------- 1 Cup White Sugar + 1 T. Cornstarch (process until powdery)

1 tsp. Allspice -------------------------------------- 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon +1/4 tsp. Cloves + 1/4 tsp. Nutmeg (ground)

 1 tsp. Apple Pie Spice ---------------------------- 1/2 tsp. Cinn.+ 1/4 tsp. Ginger + 1/8 tsp. Allspice + 1/8 tsp. Nutmeg

 1/8 tsp. Cayenne Pepper ------------------------ 4 drops Tabasco Sauce

Cumin ------------------------------------------------ Chili Powder

1 tsp. dried Mustard ------------------------------ 1 T. prepared Mustard

1 tsp. freshly grated Ginger --------------------- 1/4 tsp. ground Ginger

Chives ------------------------------------------------ Green Onion or Regular Onion

Cilantro ---------------------------------------------- Parsley

1 T. of ANY fresh Herb --------------------------- 1 tsp. of matching DRIED Herb

1 clove Garlic --------------------------------------- 1/2 tsp. bottled Minced Garlic or 1/8 tsp. Garlic Powder

1/2 cup chopped Onion -------------------------- 2 T. dried Minced Onion or 1/2 tsp. Onion Powder

2 Cups Tomato Sauce ----------------------------- 3/4 C. Tomato Paste + 1 Cup Water

1 Cup Tomato Juice ------------------------------- 1/2 Cup Tomato Sauce + 1/2 Cup Water

Red Wine -------------------------------------------- Chicken or Beef Broth in Savory; Cranberry Juice in Dessert

White Wine ----------------------------------------- 1 Cup Chicken Broth in Savory; Apple Juice or White Grape Juice in Dessert

1 T. Balsamic Vinegar ----------------------------- 1 T. Cider Vinegar or Red Wine Vinegar + 1/2 tsp. Sugar

1 Cup ANY Broth ----------------------------------- 1 tsp. or 1 cube of specific bouillon + 1 cup Hot Water

1 Cup Corn Syrup ---------------------------------- 1 Cup White Sugar + 1/4 Cup Water

1/4 Cup Rum ---------------------------------------- 1 T. Rum Extract + 3 T. Water

If I were you, I would print this list off and stick it to my fridge or the inside of a cabinet door for easy access when you're in a pinch. I'm going to do that as soon as I'm finished here!

As time goes on and I find some more substitutions that should be added to this list I will update it, so keep checking back often! :)  

Happy eating,

~HB~