Common Substitutions

 

Note: Ingredients labeled below in teal are usually WIC foods.


Oils and dairy

½ cup butter = ½ cup unsweetened applesauce or ¾ cup vegetable oil or 6 tablespoons yogurt or ½ cup whipped avocado

Oil = yogurt

1 slice cheese = 2 tablespoons avocado

1 cup sour cream = 1 cup plain yogurt or 1 cup whipped avocado

1 cup cream cheese = 1 cup yogurt

1 cup mayonnaise = 1 cup yogurt or 1 cup avocado

1 cup whole milk = 1 cup reconstituted nonfat dry milk + 2 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup evaporated milk = 1 cup whole milk

1 cup buttermilk = Add 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon or vinegar to a 1 cup measuring cup. Add milk to fill the cup. Let stand for 5 minutes before using.

1 cup cream = ⅓ cup butter + ¾ cup whole milk


Grains

Rice = quinoa, bulgur, barley, cauliflower or broccoli “rice”

Pasta noodles = zucchini noodles

¼ cup fine, dried breadcrumbs = ¾ cup soft bread crumbs, ¼ cup unsalted cracker crumbs, ¼ cup cornflake crumbs, or ⅔ cup rolled oats, or ¼ cup unsalted crushed nuts


Dry ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour = 1 cup pureed black beans or 1 cup of cake flour + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup self-rising flour = 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1 teaspoon baking powder + ¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup cake flour, sifted = Fill a 1 cup measuring tool with all-purpose flour, then remove 2 tablespoons. Now add 2 tablespoons cornstarch, sift well.

1 tablespoon cornstarch = 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder = ¼ teaspoon baking soda + ½ teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda = 3 teaspoons baking powder (this works because there is baking soda in baking powder.)


Wet ingredients

½ cup soy sauce = 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce + 1 tablespoon water

1 cup tomato juice = ½ cup tomato sauce + ½ cup water

2 cups tomato sauce = ¾ cup tomato paste + 1 cup water

1 egg = ½ of a banana, or ¼ cup mashed prunes, or ¼ cup mashed potatoes, or ¼ cup canned pumpkin


Other

1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice = ½ teaspoon vinegar

½ teaspoon vinegar = 1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

½ teaspoon salt = ½ teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon fresh herb = ⅓ to ½ teaspoon dried herb (of the same kind)


Sweeteners

1 cup granulated sugar = 1 ¾ cup powdered sugar

1 cup corn syrup = 1 cup granulated sugar + ¼ cup water

1 cup brown sugar = 1 cup white sugar, or 1 cup coconut sugar, or 1 cup date sugar or substitute up to half of the sugar with agave nectar in baking

1 ¾ cup confectioners sugar = In a blender, grind 1 cup granulated sugar + 1 teaspoon cornstarch


Chocolates

1 ounce semisweet chocolate = 3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate pieces or 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate + 1 tablespoon sugar

4 ounces sweet baking chocolate = ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder + ⅓ cup sugar + 1 tablespoon cooking oil or shortening, melted

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate = 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder + 1 tablespoon cooking oil or shortening, melted


Check your State’s WIC Food List to make sure the WIC Approved Ingredients above are correct.


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