Are you out of an ingredient you need to fulfill a recipe yet have no time or desire to run to the store? Try these easy substitutions for any of the following ingredients. You’re sure to have some of these basic items in your kitchen or pantry to fulfill that one missing ingredient.

Half & Half: For a one cup substitution of half & half, mix one and a half tablespoons of butter or margarine plus enough milk to equal one cup.

Healthy Dressing: For rich, creamy dressings made healthy, substitute half the mayo with Greek-style yogurt. You’ll cut calories and still enjoy a tasty salad.

Brown Sugar: If you don’t have light brown sugar, substitute one cup granulated sugar plus 1 tablespoon molasses.

Sugar: Use one cup of honey to substitute one cup of sugar, but also be sure to reduce the other liquid in your recipe by 1/4 cup. Reduce the baking temperature by 25 degrees as well.

Buttermilk: To replace one cup buttermilk, place one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice in a cup. Then stir in enough milk to equal one cup. Let it stand for at least 5 minutes to thicken.

Baking Powder: Try this simple substitute: 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar.

Milk: It’s so easy to run out of milk, especially if you drink it regularly each day. Instead of dashing to the store, substitute 1/2 cup evaporated milk and 1/2 cup water per one cup of milk.

Caramel: Make caramel from sweetened condensed milk.  Place an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk in a crock-pot. Submerge the unopened can completely in water. Then cook on the crock-pot’s ‘low’ setting for 8 hours. Keep the pot’s lid on during this time. Cool down the unopened can in the fridge for at least 2 hours. This step is key. Voila, you’ve got caramel!

Cake Flour: Don’t miss out on that delicious cake just because you are out of cake flour. You can substitute a cup of cake flour with one cup minus two tablespoons of all-purpose flour.

All-Purpose Flour: It’s the exact other way around for missing all-purpose flour vs. cake flour! Use one cup plus two tablespoons of cake flour for a one cup substitution of all-purpose flour.

Cooking Spray: Out of cooking spray? Try coating your pan with melted butter. Cooking spray is something that’s easy to run out of because most people just expect it to be there. But when you’re out, don’t fret! You can grease up a pan easily with some melted butter. Some swear melted butter even creates superior results.

Cornstarch: For one tablespoon of cornstarch, try using two tablespoons flour or 1/2 teaspoon quick cooking tapioca.

Chocolate: For one square of missing chocolate, use three tablespoons of cocoa and one tablespoon of fat.

Heavy Cream: To substitute one cup of heavy cream, use 2/3 cup milk and 1/3 cup butter. For one  cup of heavy cream that’s been whipped, use 2/3 cup well-chilled evaporated milk that’s been whipped. Try whisking these ingredients together with the Rada Cutlery Handi-Stir.

Melted Shortening: Shortening is another ingredient that’s easy to run out of. Try using one cup of salad oil if you are out. But know that this may not be substituted for solid shortening.

Get Cooking with Rada Cutlery

If you don’t know about Rada Cutlery, you should check it out! We are an All-American made manufacturing company located in Waverly, Iowa. Update your kitchen with beautiful, superior kitchen knives and utensils as well as view the cookbooks, dry mixes, stoneware, and more! Visit RadaCutlery.com today to learn more.