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Ingredient substitute finder

Out of buttermilk, eggs or baking powder? Pick the missing ingredient and get a substitute with the right amounts, scaled to your recipe.

Milk, lemon, yogurt, applesauce, flaxseed, butter, honey and eggs lined up beside measuring spoons

How to use this tool

  1. Type the ingredient you are missing, or choose Baking or Cooking.
  2. Enter how much of it the recipe needs.
  3. Read the substitute amounts, already scaled for you.
  4. Follow the short steps, and read the warning before you swap.

Find a substitute

35 common swaps. Amounts scale to your recipe and show the steps and the risks.

All substitutes

Substitute for baking powderBaking soda + cream of tartarSubstitute for baking sodaBaking powderSubstitute for buttermilkMilk + lemon juice or vinegarSubstitute for heavy creamMilk + melted butterSubstitute for half-and-halfMilk + melted butterSubstitute for milkEvaporated milk + waterSubstitute for sour creamPlain Greek yogurtSubstitute for mayonnaiseGreek yogurtSubstitute for eggUnsweetened applesauceSubstitute for eggCarbonated waterSubstitute for butterBlock margarineSubstitute for vegetable oilMelted butterSubstitute for brown sugarWhite sugar + molassesSubstitute for powdered sugarGranulated sugar + cornstarchSubstitute for honeySugar + waterSubstitute for molassesBrown sugar + waterSubstitute for corn syrupSugar + waterSubstitute for cornstarchAll-purpose flourSubstitute for vanilla extractMaple syrupSubstitute for cocoa powderUnsweetened baking chocolateSubstitute for self-rising flourAll-purpose flour + baking powder + saltSubstitute for cake flourAll-purpose flour + cornstarchSubstitute for cream of tartarLemon juice or white vinegarSubstitute for instant yeastActive dry yeastSubstitute for pumpkin pie spiceCinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clovesSubstitute for soy sauceCoconut aminosSubstitute for red wineBeef broth + red wine vinegarSubstitute for white wineChicken broth + lemon juiceSubstitute for chicken brothBouillon + hot waterSubstitute for tomato pasteTomato sauce, reducedSubstitute for garlicGarlic powderSubstitute for lemon juiceLime juiceSubstitute for fresh herbsDried herbsSubstitute for fresh gingerGround gingerSubstitute for breadcrumbsCrushed crackers

How the substitute finder works

Each substitute is stored as amounts per one unit of the original ingredient. When you enter how much your recipe needs, the tool multiplies every amount, then rounds to fractions you can measure, and switches between teaspoons, tablespoons and cups where that is easier. The ratios are widely used cooking and baking guidelines. Baking depends on chemistry, so expect small differences in texture and test a new swap on a small batch.

Related guides

How to Convert a Recipe from Cups to Grams, Step by StepA simple method, with a worked example.Why a Cup of Flour Weighs Different AmountsPacking, density and why a scale wins.

Frequently asked questions

Are substitutes exactly the same as the original?

No. They are close, and in cooking you can usually adjust by taste. In baking, chemistry matters more, so measure carefully and expect a small change in texture.

Can I scale the substitute?

Yes. Enter how much of the original ingredient your recipe needs, and the amounts update.

Why do some substitutes need a rest time?

Acids such as lemon juice need a few minutes to thicken milk or react, so the substitute behaves like the real ingredient.