We have all been there! It’s 10 pm, and you’re busy baking for your little one’s class party when you realise you’ve run out of, well, cake flour. Don’t fret! Here are the most crucial baking substitutes to save the day when you find yourself in a pinch. 

Dry ingredients

Cake flour

Who knew you don’t need cake flour for cake? Bread flour combined with cornstarch works just as well. Remove two tablespoons of bread flour per 1 cup and replace it with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.  

Baking powder 

Baking powder is crucial in the baking process as it is a leavening agent. It helps baked goods rise by adding gas bubbles. If you run out of baking powder, mix ½ teaspoon of cream of tartar with ¼ teaspoon of baking soda for every teaspoon of baking powder you may need. Don’t have cream of tartar? Replace it with another acid – a teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice will work perfectly. 

Also read: 4 baking tips you may not have known about

Brown sugar 

If you’re a frequent baker, you are bound to run low on sugar at some point. A simple replacement for brown sugar is a mixture of granulated sugar with a dark syrup like maple syrup or agave nectar. To get 1 cup of brown sugar, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar with 2 tablespoons of syrup and blend in a food processor. 

Wet ingredients 

Buttermilk 

If you don’t have buttermilk in the fridge, use this buttermilk cheat and make your own in a matter of minutes. For every cup of buttermilk, use 1 cup of milk with a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon. You can even thin plain yoghurt with water until it’s pourable. 

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Eggs 

No eggs? No problem! Mayonnaise is your best bet if you’ve run out. It’s made with eggs and will help your bakes rise and give moisture and structure. Three tablespoons will replace one egg in your batter. Alternatively, (if you don’t mind the taste of banana) mash ¼ of a cup to replace 1 egg. 

Also read: Cooking and baking jargon to add to your vocab

Photography: Shutterstock

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Feeling a little cash poor? These four affordable ingredient swaps will help you save money, and are just as tasty!

1. Make buttermilk with lemon juice
We rarely use the whole carton in one go anyway! By mixing 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice with every 1 cup milk, you can make the exact amount of buttermilk you need, on the cheap.

2. Replace mincemeat with lentils
Bobotie, meatballs or good ol’ spaghetti Bolognese – all of these meaty favourites can be made with more affordable plant-based protein. Lentils mimic the texture of mince and will take on whatever flavours you cook them with.

3. Quinoa over barley
Barley is a cheaper option that provides you with more fibre, nearly as much iron, and plenty of manganese, selenium and other phytonutrients. The only downside is that it contains gluten.

4. Use Chia seeds instead of flaxseeds
Ground-up (that way your body can absorb the nutrients), flaxseeds provide plenty of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. And they can be used to replace eggs in vegan cooking and baking, in the same way as chia seeds.

The post Affordable Ingredient Swaps To Save You Money appeared first on MyKitchen.

Recreate your favourite comfort dish, but so much healthier! This fake fried chicken still gives you all the juicy flavour, with way less oil.

SERVES 4 // COOKING TIME 1 hour 20 min

INGREDIENTS
8 chicken pieces
1 cup buttermilk
Juice of ½ lemon
1½ cups cornflake crumbs
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp paprika
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
2 tbsp oil

METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Place the chicken in a shallow container so that it can all fit in a single layer. Pour over the buttermilk and lemon juice and toss to coat. Cover and allow to marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes.
3. Mix the cornflake crumbs with the herbs, garlic powder, paprika and cayenne pepper.
4. Roll the marinated chicken in the seasoned crumbs, until fully coated.
5. Arrange on a baking tray and drizzle with the olive oil. Bake for 30–35 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the coating is crispy.

Recipe & styling: Kate Turner
Photography: Sean Dollery // HMimages.co.za

While you’re at it with the healthy alternatives, check out these 7 white flour alternatives too!

The post This fake fried chicken is a healthy alternative appeared first on MyKitchen.

Healthy alternatives for flour have been popping up all over Instagram and Pinterest, so we thought we’d check them out, and let you know what the best options are.

By Ulisha Moodley

1. ALMOND FLOUR

Containing a solid amount of protein and calcium, almond flour is made from ground almonds and will add a light, fluffy texture to your baked goods. Use almond flour the next time you make a batch of brownies or as a healthy alternative to breadcrumbs.

2. COCONUT FLOUR

High in fibre and containing carbs that are easier to digest compared to white flour, coconut flour is quite heavy and has a powdery texture. It’s best to use it as a coating for seafood or in some yoghurt with vanilla extract and cinnamon as a fulfilling snack.

3. QUINOA FLOUR

Adding quinoa flour to pancakes, muffins or bread will instantly up its whole-grain nutritional value. Quinoa is also the only plant-based food that has complete protein in it.

4. BROWN RICE FLOUR

Brown rice flour is similar to white flour in that they both have the same texture but brown rice flour just has more fibre. It can be used to make a variety of dishes, plus it’s simple to work with. Brown rice flour is high in vitamin B6 and magnesium.

Image: Unsplash

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