Getting Serious with Baking Substitutes

Ordinary Girl's Top 10 list of ingredient substitutions that are handy in a pinch. Simple, practical, and economical substitutions when you're short on time and can't dash out to the supermarket.

Baking Powder: Sift together 1/4 cup cream of tartar & 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Sift three times. Store in air tight container at room temperature for up to 4 wks.

Buttermilk: For 1 cup, mix 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or 1 tablespoon lemon.

Brown Sugar: For 1 cup packed, mix 1 cup white sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses.

Chocolate (semi-sweet): For 1 oz, 1 (1 oz) square of unsweetened chocolate plus 4 teaspoons of sugar.

Corn Syrup (light): For 1 cup, 1 1/4 cup of white granulated sugar and 1 cup of honey

Corn Syrup (dark): For 1 cup, 3/4 cup light corn syrup plus 1/4 cup molasses

Bread crumbs: For 1 cup, 1 cup of crushed cracker crumbs OR 1 cup of ground oats.

Marscapone Cheese: For 1 cup, 3/4 cup cream cheese beaten with 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream.

Tapioca (instant): For 1 teaspoon needed, 1 1/2 teaspoon of flour.

Vanilla Bean: For 1 bean, use 3 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract.

Note: Ingredient substitutions can cause a slight change in taste or texture. The degree of change depends on whether the substitution is a major or minor ingredient in the recipe.