by Texas Homesteader ~ 

You’re in the middle of a recipe and find you’re missing an ingredient. Can you use a substitute or maybe whip up that ingredient yourself quickly to keep you from running to the grocery store?

Here’s a list of my most frequently-used quick fixes for recipes.

We’ve all been there while cooking, but especially during the holidays. You’re in the middle of your recipe and find you’re missing an ingredient. And all the stores are closed! What will you do?

Below is a list of substitutions for ingredients as well as the quickest & simplest recipes for a few of my most-used ingredients. Click the provided title links for more information.

NOTE: You can see all my condiment posts by clicking this button:

Dairy

Buttermilk (or sour milk) – Substitute with an equal amount of Unflavored Yogurt or make soured milk by stirring a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of milk and letting stand 5-10 minutes.

Heavy Cream – Substitute with 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup melted butter. (Substitutes for heavy cream in a recipe but may not be suitable for whipping)

Whipped Cream – If you have actual heavy cream in your fridge you can whip up your own Honey-Sweetened Whipped Cream in minutes. I’ve also used sweetened Whipped Aquafaba (chickpea juice) as a substitute for whipped cream topping for desserts but it’s best done right before serving.

Sweetened Condensed Milk – Make it yourself in minutes using powdered milk, sugar, butter, boiling water & vanilla extract.

Cottage Cheese – Substitute with an equal amount of ricotta cheese. Or make your own cottage cheese fast using just soured milk, vinegar and a sprinkle of salt.

Staples

Brown Sugar -You can make a cup of brown sugar by mixing a cup of granulated sugar with a tablespoon of molasses for light brown sugar, 2 tablespoons molasses for dark brown sugar.

Powdered Sugar – 1 cup granulated sugar + 1 Tablespoon cornstarch powdered in a food processor can be substituted for 1 cup powdered sugar.

Table Salt – Kosher Salt – If your recipe calls for kosher salt but you only have table salt, remember it’s not a 1/1 ratio substitution. Use only 1/2 the amount of table salt called for in a recipe using coarser-ground kosher salt.

Cornstarch (for thickening) – Substitute 2 Tablespoons flour for each tablespoon of cornstarch when used for thickening.

Self-Rising Flour – Your recipe calls for self-rising flour but you only have all-purpose flour? No worries, make your own self-rising flour from all purpose flour by mixing 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons baking powder & ¼ teaspoon of salt.

Oil – I often use Applesauce or fruit puree to replace part of (or ALL of) the oil in my baking recipes. Lower fat and higher nutrition – gotta love it!

Toppings

Mix-n-Pour BBQ Sauce – Whip up some BBQ sauce instead of running to the store for it. If you’ve got a couple of minutes cook time, this Smoky Honey-Sweetened BBQ Sauce is even better!

Pancake Syrup – Make your own homemade pancake syrup using granulated and brown sugar, honey & water simmered for 7 minutes, then add vanilla & maple extract.

Creamy Salad Dressing – Ugh, there’s no salad dressing in the fridge for your dinner party salad? Don’t worry, with a little unflavored yogurt, some lemon juice and a few seasonings you can whip up this delicious creamy & healthy salad dressing in less than 1 minute!

Pie Filling – You’d like to top your dessert with a dollop of thick fruit pie filling, but don’t have any in the pantry? It’s easy to make pie filling from a can of peaches. I’ve also made Homemade Pie Filling From Canned Or Frozen Cherries. Just add the juice, cornstarch, sugar and lemon juice!

Other

Vegetable Broth – I get FREE vegetable broth by saving the strained juice from cans of vegetables. Don’t pour it down the sink – use it in your recipe!

Taco seasoning – Blended using chili powder, cumin, paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt & flour (for thickening).

Cream Of Chicken Soup – So many recipes include cream-of soups. But you’re just thickening broth and adding milk & seasonings. Make it yourself in minutes

Mayonnaise – Substitute a cup of mayonnaise with 1 cup sour cream or 1 cup plain yogurt. Or make your own mayo – I make mine in less than 3 minutes! Just oil, egg and some seasonings then BOOM! Homemade mayonnaise. 

Quick Cooking Tips

How To Tell If Baking Powder Is Still Good? Don’t risk ruining a good recipe if you’re not quite sure if your baking powder is still viable. Use this quick test using only water.

Expand Muffin Tin Capacity. Do you have more cupcake or muffin batter than you have space in your muffin pan? No worries – I use canning jar rings to expand capacity and bake ’em all at one time!

Cleaner Deviled Eggs. Put cooked egg yolks and other filling ingredients in a repurposed bag & blend. Snip a corner and ‘pipe’ filling into hollowed whites for clean mess-free and fast deviled eggs!

Easier Filling For Resealable Bags. I LOVE this tip! I use plain jar lifters turned upside down to fill resealable bags for the freezer.

So there’s a quick list of substitutions and also some super-fast recipes to replace a missing ingredient in your recipe.

There’s a more complete list below – check it out!

~TxH~

Other Favorite Condiments

Sauces/Dressings

• Homemade Mayonnaise
• Baconnaise – Bacon-Flavored Mayonnaise
• Fast Food: Basic Mix-n-Pour BBQ Sauce
• Honey-Sweetened, Smoky BBQ Sauce
• BBQ Rub & Beer-Based Mop Sauce Recipe
• Thousand Island Salad Dressing
• 1-Minute Creamy Salad Dressing Filled With Probiotics
• Creamy Hatch Chile Sauce
• Quick Garlic/Herb Sauce Using Fresh Herbs

Relishes/Dairy

• Sweet/Savory Pear Relish
• Fresh Pico de Gallo
• Quick Salsa Substitute Using Canned Tomatoes
• Homemade Cottage Cheese
• MYO Healthier Sour Cream Substitute

Flavorings/Seasonings

• Fresh Herb & Olive Oil HERB BOMBS
• MYO Pinto Bean Seasoning Mix
• Taco Seasoning Mix
• Breakfast Sausage Seasoning Blend
• Beef Stew Dry Seasoning Mix

Kitchen Shortcuts & Misc

• Instant Pot Boiled Eggs WITHOUT The Shells
• Oats Can Substitute Easily For Bread Crumbs
• How to Make Self-Rising Flour Using All-Purpose
• Make Gluten-Free Oat Flour Using Whole Oats
• Free Vegetable Broth In Minutes
• List Of Quick Ingredient Substitutions

…and MUCH more

See ALL Our Delicious Recipes!

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