Sometimes we just run out of ingredients. It happens – but let’s not rush back to the shop – have a look here first and see what you can use instead!
You might just create something better than the original — and save dollars by avoiding the shops in the process. Below are the more common ingredients we often run out of — we’ll add to them as we hear of new ones!
Baking Powder
Baking Powder is a rising agent for cakes and biscuits. To make your own baking powder – mix together one part bicarbonate of soda, with two parts cream of tartar.
Balsamic Vinegar
A good substitute for Balsamic Vinegar is apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar or brown vinegar – all available from your local supermarket.
Breadcrumbs
Have no breadcrumbs? It’s easy to make your own – just use fresh or day old bread in a food processor and blend until you reach the required consistency. If you have no bread at all, try the following:
- cornflakes, rice bubbles, rolled oats or oat bran
- savoury biscuits such as Jatz, Country Cheese or Sao’s
- potato chips
- coconut
- nuts (just process in a food processor first)
Brown Sugar
Substitute one cup of brown sugar for one cup of white sugar plus two tablespoons of golden syrup.
Butter and Oils
Well, the most obvious substitute is margarine. Oils can also be used but sparingly. Olive oil in particular can affect the taste of what you are trying to make — so judge accordingly. Other substitutes for butter can include apple sauce, Nuttlex (dairy free). Actually, in the health food section of your supermarket are some wonderful nut replacements — they can be expensive though! If it’s just for toast in the morning consider leaving it out altogether — and just enjoy the flavoring of the topping!
Apple sauce is another great substitute for oils when cooking cakes and muffins.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is available in the dairy section of your supermarket but as it expires quickly, it’s not something most people have on hand day to day (although it does freeze well so don’t let it go to waste if you do have it!). To make your own at home, take a normal cup of milk and add two teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar and let it stand in a warm place for five minutes. If you’re out of milk too, try using sour cream or natural yoghurt.
Cocoa Powder
For natural unsweetened cocoa powder, use an ounce of unsweetened chocolate — but make sure to reduce fats in your recipe by 1 tablespoon. You may also use Dutch-processed cocoa plus 1/8 teaspoon of either lemon juice, white vinegar or cream of tartar.
Condensed Milk
Condensed milk can be made at home. Combine one cup of powdered milk with 3/4 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup warm water. Mix until well combined and store in the fridge. Makes the equivalent of one standard can of milk!
Cream
Cream can be replaced with evaporated milk (and use some cornflour to thicken if required). Evaporated milk is great to keep on hand! Another replacement is 3/4 cup of full cream milk and 1/4 cup of butter. If you are making something savoury, sour cream, Greek yoghurt or creamed cheese makes a great substitute.
For a sweet dairy free cream, try our Whipped Coconut Cream recipe.
Cream of Tartar
Cream of Tartar can be substituted in really small amounts (1/2 teaspoons) with lemon juice or white vinegar.
Eggs
Eggs are tricky and it depends on what you are making. For sweet recipes – one tablespoon of custard powder per egg works a treat. For a dairy-free version, try 1 small mashed banana or 1/2 cup apple sauce (apple sauce is also a great sugar replacement!).
For savoury dishes, try 2 tablespoons of cornflour per egg.
Honey
Depending on what you are making, golden syrup, treacle or molasses make a good honey substitute.
Lemon Juice
If you need a substitute for taste, orange or lime juice make a great substitute. For other uses, use white vinegar.
Maple Syrup
To replace one cup of maple syrup, you can use a half cup of maple sugar and simply increase the liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup. A combination of 3/4 cup corn syrup, 1/4 cup of butter and an optional 1/2 teaspoon of maple extract is also another way to go.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise can be substituted with sour cream or plain yogurt.
Self Raising Flour
Self raising flour can be replaced with plain flour with the addition of a two teaspoons of baking powder per cup of plain flour. If you have no baking powder – refer to the post above for a replacement!
Stock
Liquid stock can be substituted with the same amount of wine (white or red) – or one stock cube and a cup of boiling water.
Sugar, Brown
To replace brown sugar use one cup of normal sugar with a tablespoon of golden syrup. We have the recipe on how to make it yourself at home.
Sugar, White
Many people are getting away from using white sugar now with good reason. If you have no standard white sugar on hand, caster sugar or brown sugar can be used. But there are lots of alternative substitutions which include:
- Natvia or Stevia
- Equal
- Honey or Syrup
- Apple Sauce
Wine
Wine can be substituted with chicken or vegetable stock (for white wine) and beef stock for red wine.
Yeast
Yeast can be substituted with 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice.
Yoghurt
If you do not have any yoghurt on hand, you can opt to use sour cream instead. Buttermilk is also a great substitute but if you can’t find one, check out how to make a substitute above!
