Dairy Substitutions
| Ingredient | Amount | Substitute |
|---|
| Buttermilk | 1 cup | 1 cup milk + 1 Tbsp lemon juice/vinegar (let sit 5 min) |
| Heavy Cream | 1 cup | 3/4 cup milk + 1/4 cup melted butter |
| Sour Cream | 1 cup | 1 cup plain yogurt or 1 cup cottage cheese (blended) |
| Cream Cheese | 1 cup | 1 cup ricotta or pureed cottage cheese |
Egg Substitutions (per egg)
| Purpose | Substitute |
|---|
| Binding (meatloaf, burgers) | 1/4 cup mashed banana, applesauce, or 1 Tbsp flax + 3 Tbsp water |
| Leavening (cakes, muffins) | 1 tsp baking soda + 1 Tbsp vinegar (reacts immediately — bake right away) |
| Moisture | 1/4 cup yogurt, silken tofu, or pumpkin puree |
Baking Emergency Swaps
| Missing | Amount | Substitute |
|---|
| Baking Powder | 1 tsp | 1/4 tsp baking soda + 1/2 tsp cream of tartar |
| Brown Sugar | 1 cup | 1 cup white sugar + 1-2 Tbsp molasses |
| Powdered Sugar | 1 cup | 1 cup granulated sugar + 1 Tbsp cornstarch (blend until powdery) |
| Cornstarch | 1 Tbsp | 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour (for thickening) |
Flavor Swaps
| Missing | Substitute |
|---|
| Fresh garlic (1 clove) | 1/8 tsp garlic powder or 1/2 tsp jarred minced garlic |
| Fresh ginger (1 tsp) | 1/4 tsp ground ginger |
| Lemon juice (1 tsp) | 1/2 tsp vinegar (white or apple cider) |
| Soy sauce | Coconut aminos or tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) |
Pro Tip: The most versatile emergency substitute in your kitchen: Greek yogurt. It can replace sour cream, mayo, heavy cream (thinned), and even eggs in baking. Keep a tub in the fridge at all times.