Baking Substitutions
Substitutions
Tell it what you have run out of and what you are making. The same swap behaves differently in a cake, a cookie, and a custard, so every option is graded for what you are actually baking. Ingredients are listed under both their US and UK names, and amounts show in cups or metric.
Working in different measurements? The baking calculator converts all of this between cups, grams, and ounces.
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Every substitution, graded
All 96 ingredients and 207 substitutions in the tool above, 148 of them vegan, in both US cups and metric, with a grade for each kind of baking. Best means you would struggle to tell. Good means it works. Adjust means it works but something noticeably changes. No means do not, and the tool will tell you why. Every ingredient name links back up to the tool.
Jump to: Dairy · Eggs · Fats · Flours · Sugars and syrups · Leaveners · Chocolate and flavor · Thickeners and acids
Dairy
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| Instead of | Use | US cups | Metric | Vegan | Cakes | Cookies | Breads | Scones | Pancakes | Pastry | Custards | Cheesecake | Frosting | Candy | Meringue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buttermilk | Plant milk with lemon juice or vinegar | 1 cup unsweetened soy or oat milk, less 1 tbsp of that milk, plus 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar | 240 ml unsweetened soy or oat milk, less 15 ml of that milk, plus 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Best | Best | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Adjust | No |
| Buttermilk | Milk with lemon juice or vinegar | 1 cup whole milk, less 1 tbsp of that milk, plus 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar | 240 ml whole milk, less 15 ml of that milk, plus 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar | No | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Adjust | No |
| Buttermilk | Plain yogurt thinned with milk | ¾ cup plain yogurt, plus ¼ cup milk | 184 g plain yogurt, plus 60 ml milk | No | Best | Good | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Buttermilk | Sour cream thinned with milk | ¾ cup sour cream, plus ¼ cup milk | 172 g sour cream, plus 60 ml milk | No | Best | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Buttermilk | Milk with cream of tartar | 1 cup milk, plus 1¾ tsp cream of tartar | 240 ml milk, plus 1¾ tsp cream of tartar | No | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | No |
| Heavy cream (double cream) | Whole milk with melted butter | ¾ cup whole milk, plus ¼ cup melted butter, cooled | 180 ml whole milk, plus 60 ml melted butter, cooled | No | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | No | Adjust | No |
| Heavy cream (double cream) | Evaporated milk | 1 cup evaporated milk | 240 ml evaporated milk | No | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No | Good | No |
| Heavy cream (double cream) | Full fat coconut cream | 1 cup coconut cream, chilled | 240 ml coconut cream, chilled | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Sour cream | Coconut cream with lemon juice | 1 cup thick coconut cream, chilled, plus 2 tsp lemon juice | 240 ml thick coconut cream, chilled, plus 2 tsp lemon juice | Yes | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No | No |
| Sour cream | Shop-bought vegan sour cream | 1 cup vegan sour cream | 230 g vegan sour cream | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Adjust | Good | Best | No | No |
| Sour cream | Greek yogurt | 1 cup full fat Greek yogurt | 245 g full fat Greek yogurt | No | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Sour cream | Crème fraîche | 1 cup crème fraîche | 240 g crème fraîche | No | Best | Best | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | No |
| Sour cream | Buttermilk, in batters only | ¾ cup buttermilk | 180 ml buttermilk | No | Good | Adjust | Good | No | Good | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Cream cheese | Vegan cream cheese | 1 cup vegan cream cheese | 240 g vegan cream cheese | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Adjust | Good | Best | No | No |
| Cream cheese | Soaked cashews, blended | 1 cup raw cashews, soaked 4 hours, plus 2 tbsp lemon juice, plus 2 tbsp water | 137 g raw cashews, soaked 4 hours, plus 2 tbsp lemon juice, plus 30 ml water | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | No | No |
| Cream cheese | Mascarpone | 1 cup mascarpone | 246 g mascarpone | No | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Best | Best | Good | Best | No | No |
| Cream cheese | Neufchâtel | 1 cup Neufchâtel | 240 g Neufchâtel | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Best | Best | No | No |
| Cream cheese | Ricotta, blended smooth | 1 cup whole milk ricotta, plus 1 tsp lemon juice | 246 g whole milk ricotta, plus 1 tsp lemon juice | No | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No | No | No |
| Whole milk | Skim or semi-skimmed milk with butter | 1 cup skim or 2% milk, plus 1 tbsp melted butter | 240 ml skim or 2% milk, plus 14 g melted butter | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good |
| Whole milk | Evaporated milk and water | ½ cup evaporated milk, plus ½ cup water | 120 ml evaporated milk, plus 120 ml water | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good |
| Whole milk | Oat, soy or almond milk | 1 cup unsweetened plant milk | 240 ml unsweetened plant milk | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Adjust | Adjust |
| Evaporated milk | Full fat coconut milk, reduced | 1½ cups full fat coconut milk, simmered to 1 cup | 360 ml full fat coconut milk, simmered to 1 cup | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Evaporated milk | Milk simmered down | 2¼ cups whole milk, simmered to 1 cup | 540 ml whole milk, simmered to 1 cup | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Adjust |
| Evaporated milk | Half and half | 1 cup half and half | 240 ml half and half | No | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust |
| Sweetened condensed milk | Coconut condensed milk | 1 cup sweetened condensed coconut milk | 240 ml sweetened condensed coconut milk | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | No |
| Sweetened condensed milk | Milk and sugar, simmered | 1 cup whole milk, plus ⅓ cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tbsp butter | 240 ml whole milk, plus 67 g granulated sugar, plus 14 g butter | No | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Greek yogurt | Thick coconut yogurt | 1 cup thick coconut yogurt | 245 g thick coconut yogurt | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Adjust | Good | Good | No | No |
| Greek yogurt | Sour cream | 1 cup sour cream | 230 g sour cream | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best | Good | No |
| Greek yogurt | Plain yogurt, strained | 1½ cups plain yogurt, strained 2 hours | 368 g plain yogurt, strained 2 hours | No | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Crème fraîche | Coconut cream with lemon juice | 1 cup thick coconut cream, plus 1 tsp lemon juice | 240 ml thick coconut cream, plus 1 tsp lemon juice | Yes | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No |
| Crème fraîche | Sour cream | 1 cup sour cream | 230 g sour cream | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Adjust | Adjust | Best | Adjust | No |
| Crème fraîche | Heavy cream cultured with buttermilk | 1 cup heavy cream, plus 2 tbsp buttermilk | 240 ml heavy cream, plus 30 ml buttermilk | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | No |
| Mascarpone | Soaked cashews with coconut cream | ¾ cup raw cashews, soaked 4 hours, plus ¼ cup coconut cream, plus 1 tsp lemon juice | 103 g raw cashews, soaked 4 hours, plus 60 ml coconut cream, plus 1 tsp lemon juice | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | Best | Best | No | No |
| Mascarpone | Cream cheese loosened with cream | 1 cup cream cheese, softened, less 2 tbsp of that cream cheese, plus 3 tbsp heavy cream | 240 g cream cheese, softened, less 30 g of that cream cheese, plus 45 ml heavy cream | No | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Best | Good | No |
| Half and half (single cream) | Oat milk with coconut cream | ¾ cup oat milk, plus ¼ cup coconut cream | 180 ml oat milk, plus 60 ml coconut cream | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No |
| Half and half (single cream) | Whole milk and heavy cream | ¾ cup whole milk, plus ¼ cup heavy cream | 180 ml whole milk, plus 60 ml heavy cream | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Adjust |
| Half and half (single cream) | Evaporated milk | 1 cup evaporated milk | 240 ml evaporated milk | No | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Adjust |
| Ricotta | Firm tofu, crumbled and blended | 1 cup firm tofu, drained, plus 1 tbsp lemon juice, plus 1 tbsp olive oil | 250 g firm tofu, drained, plus 1 tbsp lemon juice, plus 15 ml olive oil | Yes | Good | Adjust | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Good | No | No | No |
| Ricotta | Cottage cheese, blended smooth | 1 cup full fat cottage cheese, blended | 226 g full fat cottage cheese, blended | No | Best | Good | Good | Good | Best | Best | Good | Best | Adjust | No | No |
| Ricotta | Mascarpone loosened with milk | ¾ cup mascarpone, plus ¼ cup milk | 184 g mascarpone, plus 60 ml milk | No | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | No | No |
| Milk powder | Coconut milk powder | 1 tbsp coconut milk powder | 6 g coconut milk powder | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Milk powder | Use milk in place of the water | leave the powder out, plus replace the water in the recipe with the same amount of whole milk | leave the powder out, plus replace the water in the recipe with the same amount of whole milk | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Milk powder | Malted milk powder | 1 tbsp malted milk powder | 8 g malted milk powder | No | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | No |
| Coconut milk (canned) | Coconut cream let down with water | ⅗ cup canned coconut cream, plus ⅖ cup water | ⅗ cup canned coconut cream, plus 96 ml water | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | No |
| Coconut milk (canned) | Coconut milk powder and water | ¼ cup coconut milk powder, plus 1 cup warm water | 25 g coconut milk powder, plus 1 cup warm water | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Coconut milk (canned) | Evaporated milk | 1 cup evaporated milk | 240 ml evaporated milk | No | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Coconut cream (canned) | The solid top of a chilled can of coconut milk | 2 cups full fat coconut milk, chilled overnight and not shaken, plus scoop off the solid part and leave the thin water behind | 2 cups full fat coconut milk, chilled overnight and not shaken, plus scoop off the solid part and leave the thin water behind | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good |
| Coconut cream (canned) | Coconut milk powder with a little water | ½ cup coconut milk powder, plus ½ cup warm water | 50 g coconut milk powder, plus ½ cup warm water | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Coconut cream (canned) | Heavy cream | 1 cup heavy cream | 240 ml heavy cream | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Clotted cream | Whipped coconut cream with a little sugar | 1 cup coconut cream, chilled overnight, plus 1 tbsp powdered sugar | 1 cup coconut cream, chilled overnight, plus 8 g powdered sugar | Yes | Good | Good | Adjust | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Good | Good | No | Adjust |
| Clotted cream | Mascarpone loosened with heavy cream | ¾ cup mascarpone, plus ¼ cup heavy cream | 184 g mascarpone, plus 60 ml heavy cream | No | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | No | No |
| Clotted cream | Whipped heavy cream | 1¼ cups heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks | 1¼ cups heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks | No | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Good | No | Adjust |
| Cottage cheese | Ricotta | 1 cup whole milk ricotta | 246 g whole milk ricotta | No | Best | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Adjust | No | No |
| Cottage cheese | Blended silken tofu | 1 cup silken tofu, blended, plus 1 tsp lemon juice | 1 cup silken tofu, blended, plus 1 tsp lemon juice | Yes | Good | Adjust | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No | No | No |
| Whipping cream | Heavy cream | 1 cup heavy cream | 240 ml heavy cream | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Whipping cream | Chilled coconut cream | 1 cup coconut cream, chilled overnight | 1 cup coconut cream, chilled overnight | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust |
| Ghee | Refined coconut oil | 1 cup refined coconut oil | 218 g refined coconut oil | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Ghee | Butter | 1.15 cups butter | 261 g butter | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | No |
| Ghee | Clarified butter | 1 cup clarified butter | 1 cup clarified butter | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | No |
| Margarine | Butter | 1 cup butter | 227 g butter | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | No |
| Margarine | Vegan block butter | 1 cup vegan block butter | 1 cup vegan block butter | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Best | Adjust | No |
Eggs
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| Instead of | Use | US cups | Metric | Vegan | Cakes | Cookies | Breads | Scones | Pancakes | Pastry | Custards | Cheesecake | Frosting | Candy | Meringue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole egg | Flax egg | 1 tbsp ground flaxseed, plus 3 tbsp water, rested 10 minutes | 7 g ground flaxseed, plus 45 ml water, rested 10 minutes | Yes | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No | No | No | No | No |
| Whole egg | Unsweetened apple sauce | ¼ cup unsweetened apple sauce | 62 g unsweetened apple sauce | Yes | Good | Adjust | Good | Adjust | Good | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Whole egg | Aquafaba, the liquid from a can of chickpeas | 3 tbsp aquafaba | 45 ml aquafaba | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Best | Adjust | Best |
| Whole egg | Mashed banana | ¼ cup mashed ripe banana | 56 g mashed ripe banana | Yes | Good | Adjust | Good | Adjust | Good | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Whole egg | Plain yogurt | ¼ cup plain yogurt | 61 g plain yogurt | No | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No | Adjust | No | No | No |
| Egg white | Aquafaba | 2 tbsp aquafaba | 30 ml aquafaba | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Best | Good | Best |
| Egg yolk | Silken tofu, blended | 1 tbsp silken tofu, blended smooth, plus ¼ tsp cornstarch | 16 g silken tofu, blended smooth, plus ¼ tsp cornstarch | Yes | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Adjust | Good | Good | Adjust | No | No |
| Egg yolk | Whole egg | ½ whole egg | ½ whole egg | No | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Good | No |
Fats
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| Instead of | Use | US cups | Metric | Vegan | Cakes | Cookies | Breads | Scones | Pancakes | Pastry | Custards | Cheesecake | Frosting | Candy | Meringue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butter | Neutral oil | ¾ cup vegetable or light olive oil | 180 ml vegetable or light olive oil | Yes | Best | Adjust | Best | No | Best | No | Adjust | Adjust | No | Adjust | No |
| Butter | Shortening | 1 cup vegetable shortening, plus ¼ tsp salt | 191 g vegetable shortening, plus ¼ tsp salt | Yes | Good | Best | Good | Best | Good | Best | No | Adjust | Good | No | No |
| Butter | Coconut oil, solid | 1 cup refined coconut oil | 218 g refined coconut oil | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Adjust | No |
| Butter | Baking margarine | 1 cup block margarine | 227 g block margarine | No | Best | Good | Best | Good | Best | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Good | No | No |
| Vegetable oil (sunflower oil) | Melted butter | 1⅛ cups melted butter, cooled | 270 ml melted butter, cooled | No | Best | Best | Best | Adjust | Best | Adjust | Good | Good | Adjust | Good | No |
| Vegetable oil (sunflower oil) | Apple sauce, for half the oil | ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce, plus ½ cup oil | 123 g unsweetened apple sauce, plus 120 ml oil | Yes | Good | Adjust | Good | No | Good | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Shortening (vegetable fat) | Coconut oil, solid | 1 cup refined coconut oil, chilled | 218 g refined coconut oil, chilled | Yes | Good | Best | Good | Best | Good | Best | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Adjust | No |
| Shortening (vegetable fat) | Butter | 1⅛ cups cold butter | 255 g cold butter | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best | Adjust | No |
| Shortening (vegetable fat) | Lard | 1 cup lard | 205 g lard | No | Adjust | Good | Good | Best | Adjust | Best | No | No | No | No | No |
| Coconut oil | Butter | 1⅛ cups butter | 255 g butter | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | No |
| Coconut oil | Shortening | 1 cup vegetable shortening | 191 g vegetable shortening | Yes | Good | Best | Good | Best | Good | Best | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Adjust | No |
Flours
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| Instead of | Use | US cups | Metric | Vegan | Cakes | Cookies | Breads | Scones | Pancakes | Pastry | Custards | Cheesecake | Frosting | Candy | Meringue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cake flour (soft flour) | All-purpose flour with cornstarch | 1 cup all-purpose flour, less 2 tbsp of that flour, plus 2 tbsp cornstarch | 120 g all-purpose flour, less 15 g of that flour, plus 16 g cornstarch | Yes | Best | Best | Adjust | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | No | Best |
| Self-rising flour (self-raising) | All-purpose flour with baking powder and salt | 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus 1½ tsp baking powder, plus ¼ tsp salt | 120 g all-purpose flour, plus 1½ tsp baking powder, plus ¼ tsp salt | Yes | Best | Best | Adjust | Best | Best | Good | Good | Adjust | Good | No | No |
| Bread flour (strong flour) | All-purpose flour with vital wheat gluten | 1 cup all-purpose flour, less 1 tbsp of that flour, plus 1 tbsp vital wheat gluten | 120 g all-purpose flour, less 8 g of that flour, plus 9 g vital wheat gluten | Yes | Adjust | Adjust | Best | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bread flour (strong flour) | All-purpose flour on its own | 1 cup all-purpose flour | 120 g all-purpose flour | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | No | Best |
| All-purpose flour (plain flour) | Half bread flour, half cake flour | ½ cup bread flour, plus ½ cup cake flour | 65 g bread flour, plus 57 g cake flour | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| All-purpose flour (plain flour) | Whole wheat flour, for half | ½ cup whole wheat flour, plus ½ cup all-purpose flour, plus 1 tbsp extra liquid | 60 g whole wheat flour, plus 60 g all-purpose flour, plus 1 tbsp extra liquid | Yes | Good | Good | Best | Adjust | Good | Adjust | No | No | No | No | No |
| Almond flour | Ground blanched almonds | 1 cup blanched almonds, ground fine | 96 g blanched almonds, ground fine | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Almond flour | Sunflower seed flour | 1 cup ground sunflower seeds | 100 g ground sunflower seeds | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust |
| Oat flour | Rolled oats, blitzed | 1¼ cups rolled oats, blitzed fine | 115 g rolled oats, blitzed fine | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No | No |
| Coconut flour | Almond flour, with adjustments | 4 cups almond flour, plus and cut the liquid in the recipe by about a third | 384 g almond flour, plus and cut the liquid in the recipe by about a third | Yes | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | No | Adjust | No | No | No |
| Rye flour | Whole wheat flour with molasses | 1 cup whole wheat flour, plus 1 tsp molasses | 120 g whole wheat flour, plus 1 tsp molasses | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No | No | No | No | No |
| Gluten-free flour blend | Rice flour, starch and xanthan gum | ⅝ cup white rice flour, plus ¼ cup potato starch, plus ⅛ cup tapioca starch, plus ¼ tsp xanthan gum | 100 g white rice flour, plus 40 g potato starch, plus 15 g tapioca starch, plus ¼ tsp xanthan gum | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No | Adjust |
| Cornmeal | Polenta | 1 cup polenta | 1 cup polenta | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Adjust | Adjust | No | No | No |
| Cornmeal | Semolina | 1 cup fine semolina | 1 cup fine semolina | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | No | No | No |
| Semolina | Fine cornmeal or polenta | 1 cup fine cornmeal | 1 cup fine cornmeal | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | No | No | No |
| Semolina | Durum flour | 1 cup durum flour | 1 cup durum flour | Yes | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | No | No | No |
| Rice flour | Cornstarch | ¾ cup cornstarch | 96 g cornstarch | Yes | Good | Best | Adjust | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No | Adjust |
| Rice flour | Fine cornmeal | 1 cup fine cornmeal | 1 cup fine cornmeal | Yes | Good | Good | Adjust | Good | Good | Good | No | Adjust | No | No | No |
| Buckwheat flour | Whole wheat flour | 1 cup whole wheat flour | 120 g whole wheat flour | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No | No | No | No | No |
| Buckwheat flour | Teff or sorghum flour | 1 cup teff or sorghum flour | 1 cup teff or sorghum flour | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Adjust | No | No | No | No | No |
| Spelt flour | Whole wheat flour | 1 cup whole wheat flour | 120 g whole wheat flour | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | No | No | No | No | No |
| Spelt flour | All-purpose flour | 1 cup all-purpose flour | 120 g all-purpose flour | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Adjust | Adjust | No | No | No |
| Potato starch | Cornstarch | 1 cup cornstarch | 128 g cornstarch | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Good |
| Potato starch | Tapioca starch | 1 cup tapioca starch | 120 g tapioca starch | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust |
| Vital wheat gluten | Leave it out and knead longer | omit the gluten, plus and knead the dough five minutes longer, or give it a longer rest | omit the gluten, plus and knead the dough five minutes longer, or give it a longer rest | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No | No | No | No | No |
| Vital wheat gluten | Bread flour in place of the plain flour | leave the gluten out, plus and use bread flour instead of all-purpose in the recipe | leave the gluten out, plus and use bread flour instead of all-purpose in the recipe | No | Adjust | Adjust | Best | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | No | No | No | No | No |
| Xanthan gum | Ground psyllium husk | 2 tsp ground psyllium husk | 2 tsp ground psyllium husk | Yes | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | No | No | No |
| Xanthan gum | Ground chia or flaxseed | 3 tsp finely ground chia or flaxseed | 3 tsp finely ground chia or flaxseed | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No | Adjust | No | No | No |
Sugars and syrups
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| Instead of | Use | US cups | Metric | Vegan | Cakes | Cookies | Breads | Scones | Pancakes | Pastry | Custards | Cheesecake | Frosting | Candy | Meringue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light brown sugar (light muscovado) | Granulated sugar with molasses | 1 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tbsp molasses | 200 g granulated sugar, plus 1 tbsp molasses | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Adjust |
| Light brown sugar (light muscovado) | Granulated sugar on its own | 1 cup granulated sugar | 200 g granulated sugar | Yes | Good | Adjust | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Best |
| Dark brown sugar (dark muscovado) | Granulated sugar with molasses | 1 cup granulated sugar, plus 2 tbsp molasses | 200 g granulated sugar, plus 2 tbsp molasses | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Adjust |
| Dark brown sugar (dark muscovado) | Light brown sugar | 1 cup light brown sugar | 213 g light brown sugar | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good |
| Caster sugar (superfine) | Granulated sugar, pulsed | 1 cup granulated sugar | 200 g granulated sugar | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Powdered sugar (icing sugar) | Blitzed granulated sugar | 1 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tsp cornstarch | 200 g granulated sugar, plus 1 tsp cornstarch | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Honey | Maple syrup | 1 cup maple syrup | 322 g maple syrup | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Honey | Golden syrup | 1 cup golden syrup | 325 g golden syrup | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | No |
| Honey | Granulated sugar and water | 1¼ cups granulated sugar, plus ¼ cup water | 250 g granulated sugar, plus 60 ml water | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust |
| Maple syrup | Honey | 1 cup honey | 340 g honey | No | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Maple syrup | Golden syrup or light corn syrup | 1 cup golden or corn syrup | 325 g golden or corn syrup | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Best | Good | Best | Adjust |
| Corn syrup | Golden syrup | 1 cup golden syrup | 325 g golden syrup | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best | Best | Good | Best | Best | Best |
| Corn syrup | Honey | 1 cup honey | 340 g honey | No | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | No |
| Corn syrup | Simple syrup | 1¼ cups granulated sugar, plus ⅓ cup water | 250 g granulated sugar, plus 80 ml water | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | No | No | No |
| Molasses (black treacle) | Black treacle | 1 cup black treacle | 336 g black treacle | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Molasses (black treacle) | Dark brown sugar and water | 1⅓ cups dark brown sugar, plus ¼ cup water | 293 g dark brown sugar, plus 60 ml water | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Granulated sugar | Caster sugar | 1 cup caster sugar | 200 g caster sugar | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Granulated sugar | Coconut sugar | 1 cup coconut sugar | 192 g coconut sugar | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | No | No |
| Granulated sugar | Light brown sugar | 1 cup light brown sugar | 213 g light brown sugar | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No |
| Golden syrup | Light corn syrup with molasses | 1 cup light corn syrup, plus 1 tsp molasses | 328 g light corn syrup, plus 1 tsp molasses | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Best | Good |
| Golden syrup | Honey | 1 cup honey | 340 g honey | No | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | No |
| Demerara sugar (turbinado) | Turbinado or raw sugar | 1 cup turbinado sugar | 210 g turbinado sugar | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust |
| Demerara sugar (turbinado) | Light brown sugar | 1 cup light brown sugar | 213 g light brown sugar | Yes | Best | Good | Best | Adjust | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No |
| Dulce de leche | Coconut condensed milk, cooked | 1¼ cups sweetened condensed coconut milk, simmered until amber | 1¼ cups sweetened condensed coconut milk, simmered until amber | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best | Best | Good | Best | Best | Best | No |
| Dulce de leche | Condensed milk, cooked | 1¼ cups sweetened condensed milk, simmered until amber | 1¼ cups sweetened condensed milk, simmered until amber | No | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | No |
| Dulce de leche | Thick caramel sauce | 1 cup thick caramel sauce | 1 cup thick caramel sauce | No | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Marshmallows | Marshmallow fluff or creme | ¾ cup marshmallow fluff | ¾ cup marshmallow fluff | No | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Adjust | Good | Best | Best | Adjust |
| Marshmallows | Vegan marshmallows | 1 cup vegan marshmallows | 1 cup vegan marshmallows | Yes | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Adjust | Good | Good | Good | Adjust |
Leaveners
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| Instead of | Use | US cups | Metric | Vegan | Cakes | Cookies | Breads | Scones | Pancakes | Pastry | Custards | Cheesecake | Frosting | Candy | Meringue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baking powder | Baking soda and cream of tartar | ¼ tsp baking soda, plus ½ tsp cream of tartar | ¼ tsp baking soda, plus ½ tsp cream of tartar | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Adjust | Good | No | Adjust |
| Baking powder | Baking soda with an acid already in the recipe | ¼ tsp baking soda | ¼ tsp baking soda | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | No | No | No | No |
| Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) | Baking powder, tripled | 3 tsp baking powder | 3 tsp baking powder | Yes | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | No | No | No | No |
| Cream of tartar | Lemon juice or white vinegar | 2 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar | 2 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Best | Best |
| Cream of tartar | Nothing, in meringue | omit and whip a little longer | omit and whip a little longer | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Adjust | Adjust | Good |
| Instant yeast | Active dry yeast | 1¼ tsp active dry yeast | 1¼ tsp active dry yeast | Yes | Good | Good | Best | Best | Good | Best | No | No | No | No | No |
| Instant yeast | Fresh yeast | 3 tsp fresh yeast, crumbled | 3 tsp fresh yeast, crumbled | Yes | Good | Good | Best | Best | Good | Best | No | No | No | No | No |
| Active dry yeast | Instant yeast | ¾ tsp instant yeast | ¾ tsp instant yeast | Yes | Good | Good | Best | Best | Good | Best | No | No | No | No | No |
| Fresh yeast | Instant yeast | ⅓ tsp instant yeast | ⅓ tsp instant yeast | Yes | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Best | No | No | No | No | No |
| Fresh yeast | Active dry yeast | ⅖ tsp active dry yeast | ⅖ tsp active dry yeast | Yes | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Best | No | No | No | No | No |
Chocolate and flavor
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| Instead of | Use | US cups | Metric | Vegan | Cakes | Cookies | Breads | Scones | Pancakes | Pastry | Custards | Cheesecake | Frosting | Candy | Meringue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla extract | Vanilla bean paste | 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste | 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Vanilla extract | Whole vanilla bean | 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped | 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped | Yes | Best | Good | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Vanilla extract | Vanilla sugar | 1 tbsp vanilla sugar, plus and reduce the recipe sugar by the same | 1 tbsp vanilla sugar, plus and reduce the recipe sugar by the same | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Vanilla bean | Vanilla extract | 1 tbsp vanilla extract | 1 tbsp vanilla extract | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best | Good | Best |
| Vanilla bean | Vanilla bean paste | 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste | 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Vanilla bean paste | Vanilla extract | 1 tbsp vanilla extract | 1 tbsp vanilla extract | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Natural cocoa powder | Dutch process cocoa with an acid adjustment | 1 cup Dutch process cocoa, plus ⅛ tsp cream of tartar per ¼ cup cocoa | 100 g Dutch process cocoa, plus ⅛ tsp cream of tartar per ¼ cup cocoa | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good |
| Dutch process cocoa | Natural cocoa with a leavening adjustment | 1 cup natural cocoa, plus ⅛ tsp baking soda per ¼ cup cocoa | 100 g natural cocoa, plus ⅛ tsp baking soda per ¼ cup cocoa | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good |
| Unsweetened chocolate | Cocoa powder and fat | 3 tbsp natural cocoa powder, plus 1 tbsp butter, or oil to keep it vegan | 3 tbsp natural cocoa powder, plus 1 tbsp butter, or oil to keep it vegan | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | Adjust |
| Semisweet chocolate | Unsweetened chocolate and sugar | ⅔ oz unsweetened chocolate, plus 1 tbsp granulated sugar | 19 g unsweetened chocolate, plus 12 g granulated sugar | Yes | Best | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | Adjust |
| Semisweet chocolate | Bittersweet chocolate | 1 oz bittersweet chocolate | 28 g bittersweet chocolate | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Espresso powder | Instant coffee granules | 2 tsp instant coffee, crushed fine | 2 tsp instant coffee, crushed fine | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good |
| White chocolate | Vegan white chocolate | 1 oz vegan white chocolate | 28 g vegan white chocolate | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust |
| White chocolate | White chocolate chips | 1 oz white chocolate chips | 28 g white chocolate chips | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Adjust | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust |
| White chocolate | Cocoa butter, milk powder and sugar | ½ oz cocoa butter, melted, plus ¼ oz milk powder, plus ¼ oz powdered sugar | 14 g cocoa butter, melted, plus 7 g milk powder, plus 7 g powdered sugar | No | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No |
| Milk chocolate | Oat milk chocolate | 1 oz vegan oat milk chocolate | 28 g vegan oat milk chocolate | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust |
| Milk chocolate | Semisweet chocolate | 1 oz semisweet chocolate | 28 g semisweet chocolate | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good |
| Milk chocolate | Semisweet chocolate with milk powder | ¾ oz semisweet chocolate, plus ¼ oz milk powder | 21 g semisweet chocolate, plus 7 g milk powder | No | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No |
| Chocolate chips | Chopped bar chocolate | 1 cup chopped chocolate | 170 g chopped chocolate | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Adjust |
| Almond extract | Amaretto | 2 tsp amaretto | 2 tsp amaretto | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Adjust |
| Almond extract | Vanilla extract | 1 tsp vanilla extract | 1 tsp vanilla extract | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Pumpkin pie spice | Mix your own | ½ tsp ground cinnamon, plus ¼ tsp ground ginger, plus ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg, plus ⅛ tsp ground allspice or cloves | ½ tsp ground cinnamon, plus ¼ tsp ground ginger, plus ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg, plus ⅛ tsp ground allspice or cloves | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Adjust |
| Apple pie spice | Mix your own | ½ tsp ground cinnamon, plus ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, plus ¼ tsp ground allspice | ½ tsp ground cinnamon, plus ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, plus ¼ tsp ground allspice | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Adjust |
| Apple pie spice | Pumpkin pie spice | 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice | 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Adjust |
| Lemon zest | Lemon extract | ½ tsp lemon extract | ½ tsp lemon extract | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good |
| Lemon zest | Dried lemon peel | ½ tsp dried lemon peel | ½ tsp dried lemon peel | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust |
| Table salt | Diamond Crystal kosher salt | 2 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt | 2 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Table salt | Morton kosher salt | 1½ tsp Morton kosher salt | 1½ tsp Morton kosher salt | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Kosher salt | Table salt | ½ tsp table salt | ½ tsp table salt | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Graham crackers | Vegan digestive or oat biscuits | 1 cup crushed vegan digestive or oat biscuits | 1 cup crushed vegan digestive or oat biscuits | Yes | Good | Best | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Best | Adjust | Best | Adjust | Good | No |
| Graham crackers | Digestive biscuits | 1 cup crushed digestive biscuits | 1 cup crushed digestive biscuits | No | Good | Best | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Best | Adjust | Best | Adjust | Good | No |
| Graham crackers | Gingersnaps or biscoff | 1 cup crushed gingersnaps or Biscoff | 1 cup crushed gingersnaps or Biscoff | No | Good | Best | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Best | Adjust | Best | Adjust | Good | No |
| Peanut butter | Almond, cashew or sunflower seed butter | 1 cup almond, cashew or sunflower seed butter | 1 cup almond, cashew or sunflower seed butter | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Best | Best | Good | No |
| Shredded coconut | Desiccated coconut | ¾ cup desiccated coconut | ¾ cup desiccated coconut | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust |
| Shredded coconut | Coconut flakes, chopped | 1¼ cups coconut flakes, roughly chopped | 1¼ cups coconut flakes, roughly chopped | Yes | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Good | Adjust | Good | Adjust |
| Ground cinnamon | Pumpkin or apple pie spice | 1 tsp pumpkin or apple pie spice | 1 tsp pumpkin or apple pie spice | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust |
| Ground cinnamon | Ground allspice, at half | ½ tsp ground allspice | ½ tsp ground allspice | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | No |
| Ground ginger | Fresh ginger, grated | 2 tsp finely grated fresh ginger | 2 tsp finely grated fresh ginger | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good | Good | No |
| Ground ginger | Pumpkin pie spice | 1½ tsp pumpkin pie spice | 1½ tsp pumpkin pie spice | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No |
| Ground nutmeg | Ground mace | 1 tsp ground mace | 1 tsp ground mace | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Adjust |
| Ground nutmeg | Pumpkin or apple pie spice | 1½ tsp pumpkin or apple pie spice | 1½ tsp pumpkin or apple pie spice | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | No |
| Ground cardamom | Whole pods, crushed | 12 green cardamom pods, seeds crushed | 12 green cardamom pods, seeds crushed | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Adjust |
| Ground cardamom | Cinnamon with a pinch of cloves | ¾ tsp ground cinnamon, plus ⅛ tsp ground cloves | ¾ tsp ground cinnamon, plus ⅛ tsp ground cloves | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | No |
| Ground allspice | Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves | ½ tsp ground cinnamon, plus ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, plus ¼ tsp ground cloves | ½ tsp ground cinnamon, plus ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, plus ¼ tsp ground cloves | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Adjust |
| Orange zest | Lemon zest | 1 tsp lemon zest | 1 tsp lemon zest | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good |
| Orange zest | Orange extract | ½ tsp orange extract | ½ tsp orange extract | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good |
| White vinegar | Lemon juice | 1 tbsp lemon juice | 1 tbsp lemon juice | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| White vinegar | Apple cider vinegar | 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar | 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Best |
Thickeners and acids
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| Instead of | Use | US cups | Metric | Vegan | Cakes | Cookies | Breads | Scones | Pancakes | Pastry | Custards | Cheesecake | Frosting | Candy | Meringue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornstarch (cornflour) | All-purpose flour | 2 tbsp all-purpose flour | 15 g all-purpose flour | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | No |
| Cornstarch (cornflour) | Arrowroot | 1 tbsp arrowroot | 1 tbsp arrowroot | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | Adjust | Good | Adjust | Adjust |
| Cornstarch (cornflour) | Tapioca starch | 2 tsp tapioca starch | 2 tsp tapioca starch | Yes | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | No |
| Arrowroot | Cornstarch | 1 tbsp cornstarch | 8 g cornstarch | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Adjust |
| Powdered gelatin | Agar agar powder | ½ tsp agar agar powder | ½ tsp agar agar powder | Yes | Adjust | No | No | No | No | Good | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Adjust | No |
| Powdered gelatin | Gelatin sheets | 3 platinum gelatin sheets | 3 platinum gelatin sheets | No | Best | Good | No | No | No | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good |
| Lemon juice | White vinegar | 1 tbsp white vinegar | 1 tbsp white vinegar | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Adjust | Best |
| Lemon juice | Lime juice | 1 tbsp lime juice | 1 tbsp lime juice | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Pumpkin purée | Roasted butternut squash, puréed | 1 cup roasted squash purée | 245 g roasted squash purée | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | No | No |
| Pumpkin purée | Sweet potato purée | 1 cup roasted sweet potato, puréed | 245 g roasted sweet potato, puréed | Yes | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Good | No | No |
| Almond paste | Ground almonds bound with aquafaba | 1½ cups almond flour, plus 1 cup powdered sugar, plus 2 tbsp aquafaba, plus ½ tsp almond extract | 144 g almond flour, plus 120 g powdered sugar, plus 30 ml aquafaba, plus ½ tsp almond extract | Yes | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Best | Good | No |
| Almond paste | Make it from ground almonds | 1½ cups almond flour, plus 1 cup powdered sugar, plus 1 egg white, plus ½ tsp almond extract | 144 g almond flour, plus 120 g powdered sugar, plus 1 egg white, plus ½ tsp almond extract | No | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good | Good | Best | Good | No |
| Almond paste | Marzipan | 1 cup marzipan | 280 g marzipan | No | Good | Good | Good | Good | Adjust | Good | Adjust | Adjust | Good | Good | No |
Standard can sizes
What a can holds, so a recipe calling for one can converts cleanly. Sizes vary a little by brand, and UK tins are often a shade smaller than their US equivalents.
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| Ingredient | Can size | In cups |
|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin purée | 15 oz / 425 g can | 1¾ cups |
| Sweetened condensed milk | 14 oz / 397 g can | 1¼ cups |
| Evaporated milk | 12 fl oz / 354 ml can | 1½ cups |
| Coconut milk (canned) | 13.5 fl oz / 400 ml can | 1⅔ cups |
| Coconut cream (canned) | 13.5 fl oz / 400 ml can | 1⅔ cups |
US and UK baking terms
The same ingredient under two names, which is the other half of why a recipe from across the Atlantic goes wrong. The tool above lists both, so searching either will find it.
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| United States | United Kingdom | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | Plain flour | UK plain flour is slightly lower in protein, around 9 to 10 per cent |
| Bread flour | Strong flour | Same thing, 12 to 14 per cent protein |
| Cake flour | Soft or sponge flour | UK soft flour is a little higher in protein than US cake flour |
| Self-rising flour | Self-raising flour | The UK version usually contains no salt |
| Whole wheat flour | Wholemeal flour | Interchangeable |
| Baking soda | Bicarbonate of soda | Identical |
| Cornstarch | Cornflour | Identical. UK cornflour is not the same as US corn flour, which is ground maize |
| Powdered sugar | Icing sugar | US versions contain cornstarch, UK ones often do not |
| Superfine sugar | Caster sugar | Identical |
| Light brown sugar | Light muscovado | Muscovado is less refined and moister |
| Dark brown sugar | Dark muscovado | Muscovado is considerably stronger in flavor |
| Turbinado or raw sugar | Demerara | Interchangeable |
| Molasses | Black treacle | Treacle is slightly more bitter |
| Light corn syrup | Golden syrup | Golden syrup has more flavor and color, and is usually an improvement |
| Heavy cream | Double cream | Double cream is richer, about 48 per cent fat against 36 |
| Half and half | Single cream | Single cream is a little richer |
| Shortening | Vegetable fat or Trex | Same purpose, slightly different formulations |
| Vegetable oil | Sunflower or rapeseed oil | Any neutral oil works |
| Semisweet chocolate | Dark or plain chocolate | UK plain chocolate is usually a little darker |
| Graham crackers | Digestive biscuits | Digestives are less sweet and slightly saltier |
| Cheesecloth | Muslin | Identical |
| Parchment paper | Baking parchment | Identical. Not the same as greaseproof paper |
Cups, spoons and the metric equivalents
The tool converts for you, but these are the figures behind it.
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| Measure | United States | United Kingdom | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 240 ml | 250 ml | 250 ml |
| 1 tablespoon | 15 ml | 15 ml | 20 ml |
| 1 teaspoon | 5 ml | 5 ml | 5 ml |
| 1 fluid ounce | 29.6 ml | 28.4 ml | 30 ml |
| 1 stick butter | 113 g | not used | not used |
How to substitute without ruining the bake
- Work out what the ingredient is doing. Buttermilk in a cake is there for acid, not flavor. Butter in pastry is there for structure. Replace the job, not the item.
- Change one thing at a time. Two substitutions in one bake means you learn nothing when it goes wrong.
- Respect the acid and alkali pairing. Baking soda needs an acid to react with. Remove the acid and the bake goes flat and tastes soapy.
- Do not substitute in the things that depend on chemistry. Meringue, caramel, custard, and laminated pastry are unforgiving. A muffin will forgive almost anything.
- Write down what you did. The substitution that worked is worth remembering, and so is the one that did not.
Questions bakers ask
What can I use instead of buttermilk?
A cup of milk with a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar, left ten minutes until it curdles. Buttermilk is in the recipe for its acid, which reacts with baking soda and tenderizes the crumb. Thinned yogurt or sour cream is even closer if you have either.
Can I use baking powder instead of baking soda?
Only as a last resort, at roughly three times the amount, and expect a compromised result. Baking powder contains its own acid, so it will not neutralize the acid your recipe expected the soda to handle.
How do I make cake flour?
Measure a cup of all-purpose flour, take out two tablespoons, and put back two tablespoons of cornstarch. Sift it twice. Cornstarch has no gluten, so this drops the protein to roughly the 8 per cent of real cake flour.
What is the best egg substitute for baking?
It depends what the egg is doing. For binding in cookies and muffins, a flax egg. For anything whipped, aquafaba, the liquid from a can of chickpeas, which is the only substitute that foams properly. For richness in custards there is no good answer.
Can I swap oil for butter?
In a cake or quick bread, yes, at three quarters of a cup of oil per cup of butter. The result is moister and keeps longer, though you lose the butter flavor and the browning. In pastry or creamed cookies, no.
Is Dutch process cocoa interchangeable with natural cocoa?
Not without an adjustment. Natural cocoa is acidic and is often the acid your baking soda is reacting with. Add an eighth of a teaspoon of cream of tartar per quarter cup of Dutch cocoa to put the acid back.
How much table salt equals kosher salt?
About half. A teaspoon of Diamond Crystal kosher salt holds roughly half the salt of a teaspoon of table salt, because the flakes are large and light. Morton kosher is denser, so it lands somewhere in between. This is the most common salt mistake in baking.
Will a substitute work in a meringue?
Almost nothing will, except aquafaba. Meringue depends on egg white protein unfolding and trapping air, and the only common substitute that does the same is chickpea liquid.
Is a US cup the same as a UK cup?
No. A US cup is 240 ml and the metric cup used in the UK and Australia is 250 ml, about four per cent more. For a substitution it rarely matters, because these are ratios and both parts scale together. It matters a great deal when you are following a whole recipe, which is what the metric setting here is for.
What is bicarbonate of soda in American recipes?
Baking soda. They are the same thing under two names, and both are sodium bicarbonate. Baking powder is a different product: soda already combined with a dry acid.
How much vanilla extract equals one vanilla bean?
One tablespoon of extract for one plump bean, or a tablespoon of vanilla bean paste if you want the visible seeds. In a custard the bean is still better, because the pod can steep in the warm liquid.
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