10 Helpful Baking Substitutions

Today is the day that you want to make that vanilla cake recipe that you have been drooling over for weeks. You start doing your happy dance because the thought of devouring your freshly made vanilla cake after dinner tonight makes you ecstatic. All is well... until you realize that you don't have buttermilk, a key ingredient. Dun Dun DUUUUUN!!!!

There is no way that you're running back out to the store - it's raining cats and dogs out there! And, you just got the kids home and settled with dinner cooking on the stove.

If this has ever happened to you, don't worry, we have some helpful substitutions that will come in handy in this, and many, baking situations. So keep that dinner on the stove, and preheat that oven... you'll be able to make that vanilla cake after all.

If the recipe calls for this	Substitute it with this
Buttermilk (1 cup)	1 tablespoon of vinegar in a measuring cup, then fill the 1 cup line with milk (whole milk preferable)
Cake flour (1cup)	Measure 1 cup of all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons
Brewed coffee (1/4th cup)	Dissolve 2 tablespoons of instant coffee in 3 tablespoons of hot water
Whole milk (1 cup)	Measure out 1 cup of skim milk and add 2 tablespoons of melted butter
Powdered sugar (1 cup)	Take 1 cup of granulated sugar, add 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and pulse in a coffee grinder or food processor till powder
Baking powder (1 tsp)	Take 1/4th teaspoon of baking soda and add 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar
Semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz)	1 oz square of unsweetened chocolate, with 4 teaspoons of granulated sugar
Sour cream (1 cup)	1 cup of plain yogurt
Lemon zest (1 tsp)	2 tbsp of lemon juice
All-spice (1 tsp)	1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp of ginger, 1/4 teaspoon of cloves

These are the most common baking substitutions that we have needed in our own kitchen at Sweet Society when working on our Dessert Experiences. Although having a substitution option is great, please note that the taste, texture, or density may change slightly with substitutions. But when in a pinch, and you're in need of your dessert fix, substitutions are a wonderful thing.

If you have any baking substitutions that you use and would like to share, let us know.