Substitutions | Common Baking Swaps
And remember: baking may be a science, but every recipe has its variables. While this list will help guide you, take it with a grain of salt (or sugar, what have you).
Common baking substitutions
Acids
Vinegar
1 tbsp = 1 tbsp lemon juice
Broth
1 cup prepared broth or canned broth = 1 cup prepared bouillon cube
Dairy
Buttermilk
1 cup = 1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup = 1 tbsp of white vinegar or 1 tbsp of lemon juice + enough milk to equal 1 cup; mix and let sit for 5 minutes
Half-and-Half
1 cup = ½ cup whole milk and ½ cup heavy cream
Crème Fraiche
1 cup = 1 cup heavy cream and 1 tbsp plain yogurt
Milk
1 cup = ½ cup evaporated milk and ½ cup water
Sour Cream
1 cup = 1 cup Greek yogurt
Mayonnaise
1 tbsp = 1 tbsp sour cream or Greek yogurt
Eggs
1 egg = ¼ cup applesauce
Fats
Butter
1 cup = 1 cup Becel® Original, Buttery Taste, Olive Oil, Vegan, Avocado Oil, Salt-Free, or Light margarine (Tip: when baking, opt for any blend but Light, as the fat content differs.)
Vegetable Oil
1 cup = 1 cup applesauce
Vegetable Shortening
1 cup = 1 cup Becel® Original, Buttery Taste, Olive Oil, Vegan, Avocado Oil, Salt-Free, or Light margarine (Tip: when baking, opt for any blend but Light, as the fat content differs.)
Flours
Cake Flour
1 cup = ¾ cup all-purpose flour and 2 tbsp cornstarch
Pastry Flour
1 cup = 1 tbsp cornstarch and 1 cup all-purpose flour
White Flour
1 cup = ¾ cup of white flour and ¼ cup whole wheat flour
Grains
Breadcrumbs
If used as a filler: ½ cup = ½ cup ground oats
If used as a topping or coating: ½ cup = ½ cup of crushed oven toasted rice cereal
Spaghetti Noodles
1 cup cooked = 1 cup julienned or spiralized zucchini, summer squash, celeriac, jicama and/or sweet potato
Leaveners
Baking Soda
½ tsp = 2 tsp baking powder
Spices
Fresh Herbs
1 tbsp = 1 tsp dried herb
Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 tsp = ½ tsp ground cinnamon and ¼ tsp ground ginger and 1/8 tsp all spice and 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
Vanilla Bean
1 vanilla bean = 2 ½ tsp vanilla extract
Sugars
Brown Sugar
1 cup = 1 cup white sugar and 1 tbsp molasses
*Note: substituting white sugar and molasses for brown sugar may result in textural changes to your baked goods.
Unsweetened Chocolate
1 oz = 3 tbsp cocoa powder and 1 tbsp butter
Cocoa Powder
3 tbsp = 1 oz chocolate
Molasses
1 cup = ¾ cup brown sugar
*Note: substituting brown sugar for molasses may result in textural changes to your baked goods.
Gluten-free baking substitutions
Flours
All Purpose Flour
1 cup flour = 1/2 cup rice flour, 1/4 cup tapioca starch/flour and 1/4 cup cornstarch or potato starch; optional to add 1 tsp xanthan gum
Grains
Bagels
1 bagel = 1 rice cake
Breadcrumbs
1 cup = 1 cup ground oven toasted rice cereal
Couscous
1 cup = 1 cup polenta or quinoa
Crackers
1 cracker = 1 gluten-free cracker
Croutons
1 tbsp = roughly 2 tsps chopped nuts
Flour Tortillas
1 tortilla = 1 corn tortilla
Granola
½ cup = ½ cup chopped nuts
Cooked Pasta
1 cup = 1 cup julienned or spiralized zucchini, summer squash, celeriac, jicama and/or sweet potato
Pizza Crust
1 pizza crust = 1 cauliflower shredded crust
Sauces
Soy Sauce
1 tbsp = 1 tbsp tamari
Sugars
Frosting
1 tbsp = 1 tbsp meringue
Lactose-free baking substitutions
Buttermilk
1 cup = 1 cup plain soy yogurt
Dairy Milk
1 cup = 1 cup soy or nut milk
Evaporated Milk
1 cup = 1 cup plain soy yogurt
Heavy Cream
1 cup = 1 cup coconut cream
Sour Cream
1 cup = 1 cup vegan sour cream
Yogurt
1 cup = 1 cup soy yogurt
Nut-free baking substitutions
Nuts
1 tbsp = 1 tbsp seeds
Nut Butter
1 tbsp = 1 tbsp sunflower seed butter
Vegan baking substitutions
Dairy
Grated Cheese
1 oz = 1 oz nutritional yeast
Milk
1 cup = 1 cup soy milk
Sour Cream
1 cup = 1 cup vegan sour cream
Yogurt
1 cup = 1 cup soy yogurt
Eggs
1 egg = 1 tbsp ground flaxseed plus 3 tbsp water
1 egg = ¼ egg substitute/replacer
1 whole egg = 3 tablespoons aquafaba
1 egg white = 2 tablespoons aquafaba
Fats
Butter
1 cup = 1 cup Becel® Vegan margarine
Mayonnaise
1 tbsp = 1 tbsp Hellmann’s® Vegan mayonnaise
Meat
Beef/Chicken Stock
1 cup = 1 cup vegetable broth
Meat
3 oz = 3 oz tofu or tempeh
Sugars
Honey
1 tbsp = 1 tbsp agave syrup
