By Kelly Bogard

Thanksgiving’s coming. Let the baking begin!

Try as I might to get everything on my grocery list for each recipe, I always forget something.

That’s why I love a good substitute. Having an understanding of alternatives is a great way to ensure your recipes still come together—even when you find a key ingredient missing.

Here are a few that are perfect for baking.

Baking Powder (1 tsp.):
1/2 tsp. baking soda and 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar.

Brown Sugar (1 C.):
1 C. granulated sugar and 1/2 tsp. honey or molasses.

Buttermilk (1 C.):
1 Tbsp. vinegar or lemon juice mixed with 1 C. milk. Let stand for five minutes and then add to recipe.

Corn Syrup (1 C.):
1 C. granulated sugar mixed with 1/4 C. water. Boil to dissolve sugar and then cool.

Eggs:
1/4 C. unsweetened applesauce or 1/4 C. bananas, mashed, per egg needed. Don’t use this if you need more than two eggs, though.

Self-Rising Flour (1 C.):
1 C. all-purpose flour mixed with 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. salt.

Sour Cream:
Plain yogurt and sour cream are interchangeable in most baking recipes.

Unsweetened Chocolate (1 oz.):
3 Tbsp. cocoa powder mixed with 1 Tbsp. melted butter.

By having some of these staples on hand, you are likely to be able to avoid a baking emergency. And an extra trip to the grocery store. Happy baking and from all of us at Texas Table Top, enjoy!