Buttermilk, Egg and Heavy Cream Substitutes (Baking Substitution Chart)
Published · 6 min read
Missing one ingredient shouldn’t stop dinner. Here are the substitutions that work best, especially for baking, where swaps matter more.
Eggs (per 1 egg)
- Baking: 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water (rest 5 min)
- Sweet baking: 60 g mashed banana or applesauce
- Light cakes: 3 tbsp aquafaba (liquid from canned chickpeas)
- Pancakes: 3 tbsp yogurt
Dairy
| Instead of | Use |
|---|---|
| Butter, 100 g | 80 ml olive or neutral oil (cooking and most baking) |
| Milk | Any plant milk, or water + a little butter |
| Buttermilk, 240 ml | 240 ml milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar, rest 5 min |
| Sour cream | Greek yogurt |
| Heavy cream (in sauces) | Milk + 1 tsp flour per 100 ml, or cream cheese |
| Parmesan | Any hard cheese, or nutritional yeast |
Flour and baking
| Instead of | Use |
|---|---|
| Self-raising flour, 150 g | 150 g plain flour + 1½ tsp baking powder |
| Baking powder, 1 tsp | ¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp lemon juice or vinegar |
| Cornstarch (thickening) | 2× the amount of flour |
| Breadcrumbs | Crushed crackers, oats or cornflakes |
Sugar and sweeteners
- Brown sugar: white sugar + 1 tsp honey or molasses per 100 g
- Honey: maple syrup, 1:1
Flavor
- Fresh herbs: 1 tsp dried per 1 tbsp fresh
- Garlic clove: ⅛ tsp garlic powder
- Lemon juice: lime juice or white wine vinegar
- Soy sauce: tamari (gluten-free) or coconut aminos
- Stock: water + a stock cube, or water + soy sauce and a pinch of salt
Allergies? Let the app handle it
Tell RecipeMe your allergies once and it automatically avoids those ingredients in every recipe and meal plan. You can also paste any recipe from the web, and it will be saved to your cookbook.
Questions
What can I use instead of eggs in baking?
For each egg: 1 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tbsp water, ¼ cup (60 g) mashed banana or applesauce, or 3 tbsp aquafaba (chickpea water).
How do I make a buttermilk substitute?
Stir 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar into 1 cup (240 ml) of milk and let it stand for 5 minutes.
