Baking Substitutions: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet
Out of an ingredient mid-recipe? Most baking staples have a reliable swap you already have in your kitchen. This is the only baking substitutions cheat sheet you need — exact ratios for eggs, butter, buttermilk, baking powder, brown sugar, cake flour and more, with notes on when each swap works and when it doesn’t.
The Quick Version
- Buttermilk: 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar, rested 5 minutes.
- 1 egg: ¼ cup applesauce, ¼ cup mashed banana, or a flax egg.
- 1 tsp baking powder: ¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar.
- Brown sugar: 1 cup white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses.
The baking substitutions cheat sheet
| Ingredient | Amount | Substitute |
|---|---|---|
| Buttermilk | 1 cup | 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice/vinegar (rest 5 min) |
| Egg | 1 egg | ¼ cup applesauce, ¼ cup mashed banana, or 1 tbsp flax + 3 tbsp water |
| Baking powder | 1 tsp | ¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar |
| Baking soda | 1 tsp | 3 tsp baking powder (reduce other acids) |
| Brown sugar | 1 cup | 1 cup white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses |
| Cake flour | 1 cup | 1 cup minus 2 tbsp all-purpose + 2 tbsp cornstarch |
| Self-rising flour | 1 cup | 1 cup AP flour + 1½ tsp baking powder + ¼ tsp salt |
| Butter (in cakes) | 1 cup | ¾ cup oil |
| Heavy cream | 1 cup | ¾ cup milk + ¼ cup melted butter |
| Sour cream | 1 cup | 1 cup plain Greek yogurt |
Swaps worth their own guide
- Buttermilk substitute — 5 easy ways, in 5 minutes.
- Brown sugar substitute — and how to make your own.
- No baking powder? — what to use instead.
- Cake flour substitute — the 2-ingredient fix.
- Cookies without eggs — the best egg-free method.
Frequently asked questions
What can I use instead of one egg?
¼ cup applesauce, ¼ cup mashed banana, 3 tbsp water + 1 tbsp oil, or a flax egg. Applesauce and banana shine in muffins and quick breads.
What’s a substitute for buttermilk?
1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar, rested 5–10 minutes. Thinned yogurt or sour cream also work 1-to-1.
What can I substitute for baking powder?
¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp. Baking soda alone needs an acid in the recipe to work.
Can I use oil instead of butter?
Yes — about ¾ the amount. It makes cakes moister but won’t work where creaming butter builds structure (many cookies).
Keep baking
New to baking? Start with easy recipes for beginners, or learn how to measure without a scale.
