Emergency Cooking Substitutions
Submitted by: DTTB Grandma

Ever start to cook something and realize, ah, crap, you were out of this or that was past its expiration date? Over the years, I've had plenty of "ah, crap" moments, so I began compiling a list of quickie substitutions for the most common ingredients.

I have to credit Betty Crocker, Fannie Farmer, and a few other cookbooks for their help, but almost all of these I have tried for myself and can confirm that they have almost the exact result of the original ingredient, and sometimes even better.

If you don't have: Bacon, 1 slice, crisp-cooked, crumbled
Substitute: 1 tablespoon cooked bacon pieces, or jarred bacon bits.

If you don't have: Baking powder, 1 teaspoon
Substitute: 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar plus 1/4 teaspoon baking soda.

If you don't have: Balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon
Substitute: 1 tablespoon cider vinegar or red wine vinegar plus 1/2 teaspoon sugar.

If you don't have: Bread crumbs, fine dry, 1/4 cup
Substitute: 3/4 cup soft bread crumbs, or 1/4 cup cracker crumbs, or 1/4 cup cornflake crumbs.

If you don't have: Broth, beef or chicken, 1 cup
Substitute: 1 teaspoon or 1 cube instant beef or chicken bouillon plus 1 cup hot water, or the big chunk out of a packet of dry Lipton's chicken noodle soup mix mixed with 2 cups water.

If you don't have: Butter, 1 cup
Substitute: 1 cup shortening plus 1/4 teaspoon salt, if desired.

If you don't have: Buttermilk, 1 cup
Substitute: 1 tablespoon lemon juice of vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup (let stand 5 minutes before using) or 1 cup plain yogurt.

If you don't have: Chocolate, semisweet, 1 ounce
Substitute: 3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate pieces, or 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, or 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder plus 2 teaspoons shortening.

If you don't have: Chocolate, sweet baking, 4 ounces
Substitute: 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder plus 1/3 cup granulated sugar and 3 tablespoons shortening.

If you don't have: Chocolate, unsweetened, 1 ounce
Substitute: 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder plus 1 tablespoon cooking oil or shortening, melted

If you don't have: Cornstarch, 1 tablespoon (for thickening)
Substitute: 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

If you don't have: Corn syrup (light), 1 cup
Substitute: 1 cup granulated sugar plus 1/4 cup water

If you don't have: Eggs, 1 whole
Substitute: 2 egg whites, or 1 egg yolks, or 1/4 cup refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed (i.e., Egg Beaters brand).

If you don't have: Flour, cake, 1 cup
Substitute: 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour.

If you don't have: Flour, self-rising, 1 cup
Substitute: 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda.

If you don't have: Garlic, 1 clove
Substitute: 1/2 teaspoon bottled minced garlic, or 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder.

If you don't have: Ginger, grated fresh, 1 teaspoon
Substitute: 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger.

If you don't have: Half-and-half or light cream, 1 cup
Substitute: 1 tablespoon melted butter or margarine plus enough whole milk to make 1 cup.

If you don't have: Molasses, 1 cup
Substitute: 1 cup honey.

If you don't have: Mustard, dry, 1 teaspoon
Substitute: 1 tablespoon prepared mustard (in cooked mixtures).

If you don't have: Mustard, prepared, 1 tablespoon
Substitute: 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard plus 2 teaspoons vinegar.

If you don't have: Onion, chopped, 1/2 cup
Substitute: 2 tablespoons dried minced onion or 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.

If you don't have: Sour cream, dairy, 1 cup
Substitute: 1 cup plain yogurt

If you don't have: Sugar, granulated, 1 cup
Substitute: 1 cup packed brown sugar or 2 cups sifted powdered sugar.

If you don't have: Sugar, brown, 1 cup packed
Substitute: 1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 tablespoons molasses.

If you don't have: Tomato juice, 1 cup
Substitute: 1/2 cup tomato sauce plus 1/2 cup water

If you don't have: Tomato sauce, 2 cups
Substitute: 3/4 cup tomato paste plus 1 cup water

If you don't have: Vanilla bean, 1 whole
Substitute: 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.

If you don't have: 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
Substitute: 1 cup beef or chicken broth in savory recipes; cranberry juice in desserts

If you don't have: Wine, white, 1 cup
Substitute: 1 cup chicken broth in savory recipes; apple juice or white grape juice in desserts.

If you don't have: Yeast, active dry, 1 package
Substitute: about 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast


Seasonings...

If you don't have: Apple pie spice, 1 teaspoon
Substitute: 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon plus 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice, and dash ground cloves or ginger

If you don't have: Cajun seasoning, 1 tablespoon
Substitute: 1/2 teaspoon white pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.

If you don't have: Herbs, snipped fresh, 1 tablespoon
Substitute: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried herb, crushed, or 1/2 teaspoon ground herb.

If you don't have: Poultry seasoning
Substitute: 3/4 teaspoon dried sage, crushed, plus 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme or marjoram, crushed.

If you don't have: Pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon
Substitute: 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon plus 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, and 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg.