A Baking Newbie's Guide to Substituting Ingredients

Here are some ingredient substitutions that might come in handy the next time you find yourself in a baking fix:

1 cup cake flour  =  1 cup minus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup all-purpose flour =  1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cake flour

1 cup self-rising flour = 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour plus 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder and 1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon cornstarch = 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup fresh milk  = ½ cup evaporated milk plus ½ cup water

1 cup sour milk = 1 cup buttermilk or 1 cup yogurt

1 cup buttermilk = 15 tablespoons milk plus 1 tablespoon acid (vinegar or lemon juice)

1 cup yogurt = 1 cup fresh milk plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 cup sour cream = 1 cup plain yogurt

1 cup confectioners' sugar = ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 cup granulated sugar =  1¾ cups confectioners' sugar or 1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup butter = 7/8 cup shortening or oil

See Also

Substitute It! Our Guide to Pantry Alternatives

Mar 6, 2015

Tips were originally published in the Yummy So Easy Sweets book (2009)