Cooking Ingredient Substitutions

Sometimes cooking ingredient substitutions are needed. How often have you started to bake or cook and discover you are out of an ingredient that's needed?

I improvise, it's more convenient than making a frantic trip to the store. Check your shelves to see if you can substitute other ingredients already on hand.

1 cup confectioner sugar

blend 1 cup sugar in blender or processor until it forms a powder.

1 cup brown sugar

blend 1 cup sugar with 2 tablespoons of molasses

1 cup honey

1 1/4 cups sugar plus 1/4 cup liquid or 1 cup molasses equals 1 cup honey.

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate

3 tablespoons cocoa plus 1 tablespoon shortening or cooking oil.

thickening- 1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup buttermilk

1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup ( let stand 5 minutes before using), or 1 cup plain yogurt.

1 cup light cream

1 tablespoon melted butter plus enough whole milk to make 1 cup.

1 cup dairy sour cream

1 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup liquor (rum, bourbon or whiskey)

1/4 cup unsweetened fruit juice or broth

1/2 cup wine

1/2 cup apple or white grape juice for white wine 1/2 cup unsweetened grape juice for red wine.

1 cup corn syrup

1 cup sugar plus 1/4 cup additional liquid used in recipe.

1 small onion, chopped

1 teaspoon onion powder or 1 tablespoon dried minced onion.

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar plus 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch.

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon vinegar

1 clove garlic

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

2 cups tomato sauce

3/4 cup tomato paste plus 1 cup water