Substitutions ~ Dairy | Lets Talk Food (2024)

FoodAmountSubstitute
Butter1 cup1 cup margarine
Butter1 cup1 1/3 cup whipped butter (for sauteing)
Butter1 cup1 cup hydrogenated fat plus 1/2 tsp salt
Butter1 cup7/8 cup oil plus 1/2 tsp salt
Butter1 cup7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 tsp salt
Butter1 cup7/8 cup vegetable shortening
Butter1 cup7/8 cup oil
Butter1 cup3/4 cup olive oil
Butter1 cup8 tsp (1 envelope) butter buds, 1/2 cup liquid, 1/2 cup butter
Buttermilk or Sour Milk1 cupMix 1 tbsp white vinegar or lemon juice with 1 cup milk, let stand 5 minutes1
Buttermilk or Sour Milk1 cup1 cup whole milk, 1 3/4 tsp cream of tartar1
Buttermilk or Sour Milk1 cup1 cup water, 1/4 cup buttermilk powder1
Buttermilk or Sour Milk1 cup3/4 cup of plain yogurt and 1/4 cup of milk1
Buttermilk or Sour Milk1 cup1 cup plain yogurt (for baking)1
Buttermilk or Sour Milk1 cup1 cup sour cream (for baking)1
Buttermilk or Sour Milk1 cup1 cup kefir
Cheese, farmerequal amountCottage cheese, dry or drained
Cheese, goatequal amountFeta cheese
Cheese, mascarponeequal amountCream cheese
Cheese, parmigiano reggianoequal amountDomestic Parmesan, Grana Padano, aged Asiago, Pecorino Romano
Cheese, ricottaequal amountCottage cheese
Cheese, romanoequal amountParmesan cheese
Cheese, sharp cheddar1 cup1 cup cheddar (mild), 1/8 tsp dry mustard, 1/4 tsp worcestershire sauce
Cottage cheeseequal amountRicotta or farmer cheese
Cream Cheeseequal amountPart skim milk ricotta cheese or lowfat cottage cheese beaten until smooth
Cream, half and half1 cup7/8 cup whole milk plus 1/2 tbsp butter
Cream, half and half1 cup3 tbsp oil plus milk to equal 1 cup
Cream, half and half1 cup1 cup evaporated milk
Cream, half and half1 cup3/4 cup whole milk plus 1/4 cup heavy cream
Cream, half and half1 cup2/3 cup skim or low-fat milk plus 1/3 cup heavy cream
Cream, heavy1 cup (not for whipping)3/4 cup sweet milk plus 1/3 cup butter
Cream, heavy1 cup (not for whipping)2 cups whipped dessert topping
Cream, heavy1 cup (not for whipping)1 cup evaporated milk
Cream, heavy1 cup whipped2/3 cup buttermilk plus 1/3 cup oil
Cream, light1 cup1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup whole milk
Cream, light1 cup7/8 cup sweet milk plus 3 tbsp butter
Cream, light1 cup1 tbsp melted butter plus enough milk to make 1 cup
Cream, light1 cup (for cooking)7/8 cup whole milk, 3 tbsp butter
Cream, light1 cup (for cooking)1 cup undiluted evaporated milk
Cream, soured1 cup7/8 cup sour milk plus 3 tbsp butter
Cream, soured1 cup7/8 cup buttermilk plus 3 tbsp butter
Cream, whipped, sweetened1 cup4 oz whipped topping
Cream, whipped, sweetened1 cup1 1/4 oz dessert topping mix, prepared
Cream, whipped, sweetened1 cup13 oz. can evaporated milk chilled for 12 hours plus 1 tsp lemon juice. Whip until stiff.
Cream, whipped, sweetened1 cup1/2 cup ice-cold water and 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk. Beat until stiff. Add 1/2 cup sugar while beating. Add 2 tbsp lemon juice and beat until mixed.
Cream, whipping1 cup2/3 cup evaporated milk, 4 tsp lemon juice or vinegar
Cream, whipping1 cup1/2 cup nonfat dry milk, 1/3 cup water, 1 tbsp lemon juice
Crème fraîche1 cup1/2 cup sour cream plus 1/2 cup heavy cream
Half and Half1 cup7/8 cup whole milk, 1 1/2 tsp butter
Half and Half1 cup1/2 cup whole milk, 1/2 cup light cream
Half and Half1 cup3/4 cup whole milk, 1/4 cup heavy cream
Half and Half1 cup2/3 cup low-fat or skim milk, 1/3 cup heavy cream
Milk, condensed, sweetened1 cup1 cup nonfat dry milk, 1/2 cup boiling water, 2/3 cup sugar, 3 tbsp melted butter (process in blender until smooth)
Milk, condensed, sweetened1 cup1 cup evaporated milk plus 1 1/4 cup of sugar cooked over low heat until sugar is dissolved.
Milk, evaporated1 can (12 oz)12 oz cream
Milk, evaporated1 can (12 oz)Whip until smooth: 1 cup nonfat dry milk, 1 3/4 cups warm water. Keep refrigerated.
Milk, regular or low-fat1 cup1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water
Milk, regular or low-fat1 cupnonfat dry milk prepared as directed on package
Milk, skim1 cup3/4 cup water, 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk
Milk, sour1 cup1 cup sweet milk plus 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice
Milk, sweet1 cup1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water
Milk, sweet1 cup1 cup reconstituted nonfat dry milk plus 2 tsp butter
Milk, whole1 cup1/2 cup evaporated milk, 1/2 cup water
Milk, whole1 cup1 cup nonfat milk, 2 1/2 tsp butter
Milk, whole1 cup1 cup skim milk, 1 tbsp melted butter
Milk, whole1 cup7/8 cup skim milk, 1/8 cup heavy cream
Milk, whole1 cup5/8 cup skim milk, 3/8 cup half and half
Milk, whole1 cup2/3 cup 1% milk, 1/3 cup half and half
Milk, whole1 cup3/4 cup 2% milk, 1/4 cup half and half
Milk, whole1 cup1 cup water, 4 tbsp dry whole milk
Milk, whole1 cup1 cup water plus 1 1/2 tsp butter (in baking)
Milk, whole1 cup1 cup reconstituted nonfat dry milk plus 2 1/2 tsp butter
Sour Cream1 cup1 cup plain whole yogurt, 3 tbsp melted butter
Sour Cream1 cup3/4 cup buttermilk plus 1/4 cup oil
Sour Cream1 cup3/4 cup milk, 3/4 tsp lemon juice and 1/3 cup butter or margarine
Sour Cream1 cup1/2 cup cottage cheese and 1/2 cup. of plain yogurt.
Sour Cream (for baking)1 cup3/4 cup sour milk or buttermilk, 1/3 cup butter
Sour Cream (for baking)1 cup1 cup plain yogurt, 1 tsp baking soda
Sour Cream (for baking)1 cup1 tbsp lemon juice, 7/8 cup plus 1 tbsp evaporated milk
Sour Cream (for dips)1 1/4 cups1 cup cottage cheese, 1/4 cup plain yogurt or buttermilk (blend in processor)
Sour Cream (for dips)1 1/4 cups1 cup cottage cheese, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 cup milk or water, 1/8 tsp salt (blend in processor)
Sour Cream (for dips)1 1/4 cups8 oz cream cheese, 1/4 cup milk (blend in processor)
Whipping Cream (whipped)equal amountFrozen (thawed) whipped topping
Whipping Cream (whipped)equal amountPrepared whipped topping mix
Yogurt, plainequal amountSour cream
Yogurt, plainequal amountButtermilk
Yogurt, plainequal amountCottage cheese blended until smooth

1 Why you shouldn’t substitute for buttermilk.

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Substitutions ~ Dairy | Lets Talk Food (2024)
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