Recipes and Menus

Food Substitutions

  1. Recipes and Menus

Food Substitutions

​For best results, it is recommended to follow each recipe as it is written. Substituting one ingredient for another in a recipe may alter the flavour, texture, volume, appearance or leavening of the product.  For this reason, we do not recommend substituting more than one ingredient in a recipe at a time.

Unless otherwise specified, assume that all ingredients and substitutions are full fat. In using this chart, use substitutions from left to right only, as substitutions may not work both ways. Consider the flavour and texture of the substitute you are using and try to match it to your recipe.

  • Arrowroot Powder
    Amount Substitute

    1 tbsp (15 mL)
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) cornstarch
    • 2 tbsp (25 mL) flour

    2 tsp (10 mL)
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) quick-cooking tapioca
  • Baking Powder
    Amount Substitute

    1 tsp (5 mL)
    • ¼ tsp (1 mL) baking soda + ½ tsp (2 mL) cream of tartar
    • ¼ tsp (1 mL) baking soda + ½ cup (125 mL) buttermilk, reduce liquid in recipe by ½ cup (125 mL) 
  • Baking Soda

    No appropriate substitute.

  • Butter
    Amount Substitute
    Melted
    1 cup (250 mL)
    • ¾ cup (175 mL) oil 

    ¾ cup (175 mL)
    • ⅔ cup (150 mL) oil

    ½ cup (125 mL)
    • ⅓ cup (75 mL) oil 

    ¼ cup (50 mL)
    • 3 tbsp (40 mL) oil
    Solid
    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) hard margarine
    • ¾ cup (175 mL) + 2 tbsp (25 mL) shortening
    • ¾ cup (175 mL) + 2 tbsp (25 mL) lard
  • Buttermilk

    See Milk.

  • Chocolate

    It is not recommended to substitute chocolate chips for chocolate baking squares because chocolate chips have been made to retain their shape. 

    Amount Substitute
    Bittersweet

    1 oz
    • 1 oz semisweet
    Semisweet

    1 oz
    • 1 oz bittersweet
    Unsweetened

    1 oz
    • 3 tbsp (40 mL) unsweetened cocoa powder plus 1 tbsp (15 mL) fat in recipe
  • Chocolate Chips
    Amount Substitute

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) chopped chocolate baking squares
  • Chocolate Chips, melted
    Amount Substitute

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 9 tbsp (140 mL) unsweetened cocoa powder + 7 tbsp (105 mL) granulated sugar plus 3 tbsp (40 mL) fat in recipe
  • Cocoa Powder, unsweetened
    Amount Substitute

    3 tbsp (40 mL)
    • 1 square unsweetened chocolate minus 1 tbsp (15 mL) fat in recipe
  • Cornstarch
    Amount Substitute

    1 tbsp (15 mL)
    • 2 tbsp (25 mL) flour
  • Corn Syrup

    No appropriate substitute.

  • Cream
    Amount Substitute
    Coffee (18%)

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 3 tbsp (40 mL) melted butter + homogenized milk (3.25%) to equal 1 cup (250 mL)
    Light (10%)

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • ¾ cup (175 mL) milk + ¼ cup (50 mL) whipping cream (35%)
    • ¾ cup (175 mL) milk plus 2 to 3 tbsp (25 to 40 mL) fat in recipe
    Whipping (35%)

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • ¾ cup (175 mL) milk plus ⅓ cup (75 mL) fat in recipe, for baking and cooking only, not appropriate for whipping
  • Cream of Tartar
    Amount Substitute

    1 tsp (5 mL)
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) white vinegar
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice 
  • Egg

    It is not recommended to replace more than 1 egg in any recipe.

    Amount Substitute
    White

    1 egg white
    • 2 tbsp (25 mL) pasteurized liquid egg white
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) powdered egg white + 2 tbsp (25 mL) water
    Whole

    1 large
    • 2 ½ tbsp (32 mL) powdered whole egg + 2 ½ tbsp (32 mL) water
    • 3 tbsp (40 mL) mayonnaise
    • ¼ cup (50 mL) pasteurized liquid egg product
  • Evaporated Milk

    See Milk.

  • Flour
    Amount Substitute
    All-purpose

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) + 2 tbsp (25 mL) cake flour
    • ½ cup (125 mL) whole wheat flour + ½ cup (125 mL) all-purpose flour
    Cake and Pastry

    1 cup (250 mL) sifted
    • 1 cup (250 mL) minus 2 tbsp (25 mL) sifted all-purpose flour
    Self-rising

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose flour + 1 ½ tsp (7 mL) baking powder + ½ tsp (2 mL) salt
    (For thickening only)

    1 tbsp (15 mL)
    • 1 ½ tsp (7 mL) cornstarch
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) quick-cooking tapioca
    • 1 ½ tsp (7 mL) arrowroot powder
  • Garlic
    Amount Substitute

    1 clove
    • ⅛ tsp (0.5 mL) garlic powder
    • ½ tsp (2 mL) garlic salt minus ½ tsp (2 mL) salt in recipe
  • Ginger, fresh
    Amount Substitute

    1 tbsp (15 mL)
    • ⅛ tsp (0.5 mL) ground ginger
  • Herbs, chopped fresh
    Amount Substitute

    1 tbsp (15 mL)
    • 1 tsp (5 mL) dried herbs
    • ¼ tsp to ½ tsp (1 to 2 mL) ground or powdered herbs
  • Honey
    Amount Substitute

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 ¼ cups (300 mL) granulated sugar plus ¼ cup (50 mL) liquid in recipe
    • ½ cup (125 mL) granulated sugar + ¾ cup (175 mL) maple syrup, corn syrup or molasses 
  • Lard
    Amount Substitute

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) shortening
  • Margarine, hard
    Amount Substitute

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) butter
    • ¾ cup (175 mL) + 2 tbsp (25 mL) shortening
    • ¾ cup (250 mL) + 2 tbsp (25 mL) lard
  • Mascarpone
    Amount Substitute

    1 ½ cups (375 mL)
    • 8 oz (250 g) softened cream cheese + ¼ cup (50 mL) whipping cream + ¼ cup (50 mL) sour cream, beaten together
  • Mayonnaise
    Amount Substitute

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) sour cream
    • 1 cup (250 mL) yogurt
  • Milk

    In some cases, homogenized, 2%, 1% and skim milk can be substituted for each other.

    Amount Substitute
    Buttermilk

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice or vinegar + enough milk to equal 1 cup (250 mL), let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before using in baking
    • 3 tbsp (40 mL) buttermilk powder + enough water to equal 1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) yogurt
    Evaporated Milk

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 2 ¼ cups (550 mL) milk, gently simmered in a sauce pan until reduced to 1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) whipping cream
    Homogenized (3.25%)

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • ¾ cup (175 mL) 2% milk + ¼ cup (50 mL) light cream (10%)
    Skim (0.1%)

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • ⅓ cup (75 mL) skim milk powder + enough water to equal 1 cup (250 mL)
    • ½ cup (125 mL) evaporated skim milk + ½ cup (125 mL) water
    Sweetened Condensed Milk

    14 oz (398 mL) can
    • 1 cup (250 mL) evaporated milk + 1 ¼ cups (300 mL) granulated sugar, heated until sugar dissolves 
  • Molasses

    No appropriate substitute.

  • Mustard
    Amount Substitute

    1 tsp (5 mL) dry
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) prepared mustard
  • Quick-cooking Tapioca
    Amount Substitute
    (For thickening only)

    1 tbsp (15 mL)
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) flour
  • Salt

    No appropriate substitute.

  • Shortening
    Amount Substitute

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) lard
  • Sour Cream (14%)
    Amount Substitute

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) yogurt
    • 1 cup (250 mL) mayonnaise
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) vinegar or lemon juice + enough evaporated milk or homogenized milk (3.25%) to equal 1 cup (250 mL), let stand 5 minutes before using
  • Sour Milk

    See Buttermilk. Milk that has gone sour in your refrigerator is no longer safe to use.

  • Sugar
    Amount Substitute
    Brown

    1 cup (250 mL) packed
    • 1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar + 2 tbsp (25 mL) molasses
    Granulated

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) packed brown sugar
    • 1 cup (250 mL) superfine (berry, castor) sugar
    • ¾ cup (175 mL) honey, decrease oven temperature by 25°F (14°C) 
    Icing (confectioners', powdered)

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar + 1 tsp (5 mL) cornstarch, processed until mixture becomes a fine powder
    Superfine (berry, castor)

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar, processed until fine crystals
  • Vanilla
    Amount Substitute
    Bean

    1 8 inch (20 cm) vanilla bean
    • 2 to 3 tsp (10 to 15 mL) vanilla extract
    Extract

    1 tsp (5 mL)
    • 3 inch (7.5 cm) vanilla bean, split and scrape out seeds
  • Vanilla Sugar
    Amount Substitute

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 whole vanilla bean + 1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar. Let sit 1 – 2 weeks in airtight container. 
  • Vinegar, white
    Amount Substitute
    (Not to be used for preserving)

    1 tbsp (15 mL)
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice
  • Yogurt
    Amount Substitute

    1 cup (250 mL)
    • 1 cup (250 mL) sour cream
    • 1 cup (250 mL) buttermilk
    • 1 cup (250 mL) mayonnaise