🔁 Ingredient substitutes

Out of something? Here's what to use instead

Tried-and-true swaps for the ingredients you run out of mid-recipe, each with exact amounts that scale to how much you need, and honest notes on when they work.

19 ingredients Scaled to your recipe Pantry-first swaps

🧂 Baking powder Best: Baking soda + cream of tartar 2 substitutes 🧂 Baking soda Best: Baking powder 1 substitute 🟤 Brown sugar Best: White sugar + molasses 3 substitutes 🧈 Butter (in baking) Best: Neutral oil (for melted butter) 3 substitutes 🥛 Buttermilk Best: Milk + lemon juice or vinegar 4 substitutes 🎂 Cake flour Best: All-purpose flour + cornstarch 1 substitute 🥄 Cornstarch (thickener) Best: All-purpose flour 3 substitutes 🧀 Cream cheese Best: Mascarpone 3 substitutes 🥚 Eggs (in baking) Best: Unsweetened applesauce 4 substitutes 🥛 Heavy cream Best: Whole milk + melted butter 3 substitutes 🍯 Honey Best: Maple syrup 3 substitutes 🥛 Milk Best: Water + butter 3 substitutes 🍯 Molasses Best: Dark corn syrup or maple syrup 3 substitutes 🍚 Powdered sugar Best: Blended granulated sugar + cornstarch 1 substitute 🌾 Self-rising flour Best: All-purpose flour + baking powder + salt 1 substitute 🥣 Sour cream Best: Plain Greek yogurt 3 substitutes 🌿 Vanilla extract Best: Vanilla bean paste 3 substitutes 🫗 Vegetable oil Best: Melted butter 3 substitutes 🥣 Yogurt Best: Sour cream 3 substitutes

How to substitute an ingredient without ruining the recipe

Most baking substitutes work because they play the same role: a liquid, a fat, an acid, or a sweetener. When you swap one in, match that role first and the amount second. Our pages give you both, and the amounts scale automatically to the quantity your recipe needs.

Some swaps are perfect one-to-one matches, others change the texture or flavour a little, and a few only work in certain recipes. We call that out on every page, so you know what to expect before you commit. Need to change quantities instead? Try the recipe scaler or browse all ingredient converters.