The Ultimate Guide to Baking Substitutions

Find substitutes for baking soda, brown sugar, honey, and more in this comprehensive list of suitable baking swaps.

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Updated on July 28, 2023

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We've all been there: You're in the middle of baking a birthday cake or a batch of homemade cookies, and you realize you're out of a crucial ingredient. Whatever the case may be, the last thing you want to do is make a trip to the grocery store, and you may not be able to leave the house.

Instead of getting discouraged (or deciding to omit the ingredient altogether, which could result in an unfortunate baked good), we've put together a comprehensive list of simple baking substitutions for a number of common ingredients, from buttermilk to brown sugar (which, have no fear, you can DIY with white sugar and molasses).

Though we wouldn't recommend making a habit out of using the substitutions for too many ingredients, some of these swaps may pleasantly surprise you. Always make your signature breakfast granola with honey? You might find you like it even better with maple syrup. Bringing a dessert to the book club this week? Vegans in the group will be thrilled if you use the vegan substitute for eggs.

A chart with various baking substitutions — Real Simple

If you're a frequent baker, we recommend printing out this baking substitution chart and hanging it on your fridge—you'll be happy to have it next time you find yourself in a mid-recipe panic. With any luck, you'll have the substitution on-hand, so your baking adventures can continue without further delay.

If no measurement is specified, the ingredient replacement is a 1:1 substitute.

Baking Substitutions Chart

Ingredient	Amount	Substitution
Baking powder	1 teaspoon	Combine ¼ teaspoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon cream of tartar. Bake immediately.
Baking soda	¼ teaspoon	1 teaspoon baking powder
Bread crumbs		Ground rolled oats or crushed cereal
Bread flour		All-purpose flour
Brown sugar	1 cup	1 scant cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon molasses
Butter		Coconut oil, margarine, or lard can replace butter
Buttermilk	1 cup	1 cup plain yogurt (not Greek), or 1 cup milk mixed with 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
Cake flour	1 cup	Add 2 tablespoons cornstarch to a 1-cup measuring cup; fill rest of the way with all-purpose flour
Cornstarch	1 tablespoon	1½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
Cream of tartar	¼ teaspoon	½ teaspoon lemon juice
Egg	1	For yeast breads, cookies, pancakes, or waffles, mix 2 tablespoons ground flax meal and 3 tablespoons cold water. Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes before adding.
Evaporated milk		Half-and-half
Half-and-half	½ cup	¼ cup milk and ¼ cup cream, or ½ cup non-dairy coffee creamer
Heavy cream	1 cup	Melt ¼ cup unsalted butter and slowly whisk in ¾ cup whole milk or half-and-half
Honey		Corn syrup, molasses, maple syrup, or agave nectar
Lemon juice		Cider vinegar
Mascarpone	16 ounces	Mix 12 ounces of room temperature cream cheese with ¼ cup heavy whipping cream and ¼ cup sour cream
Powdered sugar	½ cup	Grind ½ cup granulated sugar in a blender until fine. Multiply as needed to reach the amount called for in the recipe.
Semi-sweet chocolate	1 ounce	1 ounce unsweetened chocolate and ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
Sour cream		Plain yogurt