What Baking Ingredient to Use When You Don’t Have The One You Need?

All of us have been in a situation to run out of something necessary to prepare the recipe we have planned. This problem happens many times in our lives. Sometimes we lack baking soda, other times baking powder or chocolate. Even though we prepare so hard before we begin to make the recipe, oftentimes we simply forget to write down or buy all the things we need. And when we finally remember what we lack, the shops are already closed, so we can’t get what we need.

Did you know that there is another solution to this trouble? Other ingredients can easily replace the ones that you don’t have. You can choose among the different varieties of baking ingredients that help you a lot. There is a big list of ingredients that you can see below. Although the smell and the taste may not be the same, these substitutions can help you to avoid big differences in the recipe.

Chocolate

You can replace 30 grams of semi-sweet or bitter chocolate by mixing 15 grams of unsweetened chocolate with one tablespoon (that is 15 grams) of granulated sugar.  Also, one bit of unsweetened chocolate can be replaced with three tablespoons (that is 20 grams) of organic cocoa powder and one tablespoon (that is 14 grams) of unsalted butter cooked together with vegetable oil or butter.

Cocoa powder

If you need three tablespoons of cocoa powder (that is 20 grams), mix a piece of unsweetened chocolate (that is 30 grams) with 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda. Reduce one tablespoon of the fat in the recipe. To substitute unsweetened cocoa powder – use 30 grams of unsweetened chocolate and reduce the fat with one tablespoon.

Baking Powder

When you don’t have ammonium bicarbonate, you can use 1 teaspoon of baking soda, as it replaces ¾ teaspoons of ammonium bicarbonate. You can replace one teaspoon of baking powder with ¼ teaspoon of baking soda mixed with a half teaspoon of tartar cream and ¼ teaspoon of cornstarch.

When you need one teaspoon of baking powder, you can use ¼ teaspoon of baking soda mixed with a half teaspoon of tartar cream and ¼ teaspoon of cornstarch. Every time you add one cup of flour, also add one teaspoon of this mixture as well.  Instead of a half teaspoon of baking soda, you can use two teaspoons of double baking, and instead of using a sour liquid, add a non-acidic fluid. Use a half teaspoon of potassium bicarbonate instead of a half teaspoon of baking soda.

Flour

When you lack flour, it is good for you to know that one cup of self-growing flour (around 140 grams) can be substituted with one cup of universal flour mixed with a half teaspoon of baking powder and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Also, one cup of whole wheat flour (around 150 grams) can be replaced with 7/8 cup (around 120 grams) of universal flour mixed with two tablespoons (that is 6 grams) of wheat germ.

When you need one cup of cake flour (around 130 grams), you can try to mix ¾ cup of flour (around 100 grams) with two tablespoons of cornstarch (30 grams). To get 1/3 cup of cake flour, you can add 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour and then remove one-half teaspoon of the flour.

Milk

When you need one cup of buttermilk (that is around 240 ml), mix one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice with one cup of milk (240 ml). Let this mixture stand for 10 minutes before use. Around 400 grams of sweet condensed milk can be substituted with a mixture of one cup instant milk, 2/3 cup (that is 135 grams) of granulated sugar, three tablespoons (that is 35 grams) of unsalted melted butter, and a half cup of boiling water (around 120 ml).

One cup of whole milk (240 ml) can be replaced with one cup of skim milk mixed with two tablespoons of margarine or melted butter (around 25 grams).

Cream

One cup of cream (240 ml) can be replaced with 7/8 cup of whole milk (around 200 ml) mixed with two tablespoons of melted unsalted butter (that is 25 grams). Also, to substitute one cup of heavy cream, try to mix 2/3 cup of whole milk (around 160 ml) with 1/3 cup of melted unsalted butter (which is around 75 grams).

Use a half teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar instead of a half teaspoon of tartar cream.

One tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice mixed with one cup of whole milk can be used instead of one cup of sour cream.

One cup of plain yogurt can replace one cup of sour cream. And, when you need one cup of plain yogurt, try to use one cup of sour cream instead.

Other everyday ingredients

• When you want to drink a strong coffee, but you don’t have any, put two tablespoons (10 grams) of instant coffee in three tablespoons of hot water. It will replace 60 ml of coffee.
• Mix ¾ cup of light corn syrup (around 180 ml) with ¼ cup of light molasses (60 ml). This mixture will replace one cup of dark corn syrup.
• When you need one tablespoon of cornstarch for thickening, you can use two tablespoons of all-purpose flour.
• Use ¾ of dark or light corn syrup and a half cup of granulated sugar instead of a cup of honey (that is 240 ml).
• A half-cup of solid vegetables replaces a half cup of fat.
• One cup of dark corn syrup substitutes for one cup of molasses.
• Use 1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice instead of ¼ cup of vinegar.

Don’t forget to save this list. You don’t know when you will need it. You can print it or write it down and then put it on your fridge. This way you will always know what to do in situations when you lack some important ingredient. It is much better to use some substitute in the recipe than to not put anything and fail the recipe. The difference in the taste and smell is not very big, so we hope these tips will help you a lot.