Complete Vegan Substitution Guide

Transform any recipe to vegan with our comprehensive substitution guide! Discover 100+ plant-based alternatives for dairy, eggs, meat, and more. Perfect for vegan cooking, baking, and lifestyle.

100+ SubstitutesPlant-BasedDairy-FreeEgg-Free
🥛

Dairy-Free

Milk, cream, cheese, yogurt alternatives

🥚

Egg-Free

Binding, leavening, and moisture substitutes

🥩

Meat-Free

Plant-based protein alternatives

🍯

Natural Sweeteners

Maple syrup, agave, coconut sugar

Quick Vegan Substitutions

Eggs

1 egg = 1 tbsp flaxseed + 3 tbsp water (let sit 5 min)

Butter

1 cup butter = 1 cup coconut oil or vegan butter

Milk

1 cup milk = 1 cup almond, oat, or soy milk

Cheese

1/4 cup cheese = 1/4 cup nutritional yeast

Cream

1 cup cream = 1 cup coconut cream

Honey

1 cup honey = 1 cup maple syrup or agave

🥛 Dairy Alternatives

Milk

Ratio: 1:1
Almond milk
Oat milk
Coconut milk
Soy milk
Rice milk

Heavy Cream

Ratio: 1:1
Coconut cream
Cashew cream
Oat cream
Silken tofu + water

Butter

Ratio: 1:1
Vegan butter
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Avocado
Applesauce

Cheese

Ratio: 1:1
Nutritional yeast
Cashew cheese
Vegan cheese
Tofu ricotta

Yogurt

Ratio: 1:1
Coconut yogurt
Almond yogurt
Soy yogurt
Cashew yogurt

Sour Cream

Ratio: 1:1
Cashew sour cream
Coconut yogurt
Silken tofu + lemon

Cream Cheese

Ratio: 1:1
Vegan cream cheese
Cashew cream cheese
Tofu cream cheese

🥚 Egg Substitutes

1 Egg (Binding)

Ratio: 1:1
1 tbsp flaxseed + 3 tbsp water
1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp water
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup mashed banana

1 Egg (Leavening)

Ratio: 1:1
1 tsp baking powder + 1 tbsp vinegar
1/4 cup aquafaba
1/4 cup carbonated water

1 Egg (Moisture)

Ratio: 1:1
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup mashed banana
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup silken tofu

Egg Whites

Ratio: 3 tbsp aquafaba = 1 egg white
Aquafaba (chickpea liquid)
Flax egg
Chia egg
Silken tofu

Egg Yolks

Ratio: 1:1
Cashew cream
Coconut cream
Silken tofu
Avocado

🥩 Meat Alternatives

Ground Beef

Ratio: 1:1
Lentils
Mushrooms
Tempeh
Textured vegetable protein (TVP)
Walnuts + mushrooms

Chicken

Ratio: 1:1
Tofu
Tempeh
Seitan
Jackfruit
Mushrooms

Bacon

Ratio: 1:1
Coconut bacon
Tempeh bacon
Mushroom bacon
Rice paper bacon

Sausage

Ratio: 1:1
Vegan sausage
Tempeh sausage
Mushroom sausage
Seitan sausage

Fish

Ratio: 1:1
Tofu
Tempeh
Jackfruit
Hearts of palm
Banana blossom

Pulled Pork

Ratio: 1:1
Jackfruit
Mushrooms
Tempeh
Hearts of palm

🍯 Sweeteners

Honey

Ratio: 1:1
Maple syrup
Agave nectar
Date syrup
Rice syrup
Coconut nectar

White Sugar

Ratio: 1:1 (adjust liquid)
Coconut sugar
Maple syrup
Agave nectar
Date sugar
Stevia

Brown Sugar

Ratio: 1:1
Coconut sugar
Date sugar
Maple sugar
White sugar + molasses

Powdered Sugar

Ratio: 1:1
Coconut sugar powder
Date sugar powder
Maple sugar powder

🍮 Gelatin & Thickeners

Gelatin

Ratio: 1:1
Agar agar
Carrageenan
Pectin
Arrowroot powder
Cornstarch

Cornstarch

Ratio: 1:1
Arrowroot powder
Tapioca starch
Potato starch
Rice flour

Flour (Thickening)

Ratio: 1:1
Arrowroot powder
Tapioca starch
Potato starch
Rice flour

🥫 Condiments & Sauces

Worcestershire Sauce

Ratio: 1:1
Soy sauce + vinegar + sugar
Coconut aminos + vinegar
Tamari + molasses

Fish Sauce

Ratio: 1:1
Soy sauce + lime juice
Coconut aminos + lime
Miso paste + water

Oyster Sauce

Ratio: 1:1
Mushroom sauce
Soy sauce + sugar
Hoisin sauce

Mayonnaise

Ratio: 1:1
Vegan mayonnaise
Cashew mayo
Tofu mayo
Avocado

Parmesan Cheese

Ratio: 1:1
Nutritional yeast
Cashew parmesan
Hemp seed parmesan

📌 Pro Vegan Tips

Cooking Tips

  • Always taste as you go when substituting ingredients
  • Some substitutes work better in certain recipes than others
  • Consider the flavor profile when choosing substitutes
  • Texture differences are normal with plant-based alternatives

Baking Tips

  • Store homemade substitutes in the refrigerator
  • Experiment with different brands to find your favorites
  • Combine multiple substitutes for better results
  • Don't be afraid to adjust seasonings and spices

🌱 Popular Vegan Recipe Categories

🥞

Vegan Pancakes

Flax eggs + plant milk + coconut oil

🍰

Vegan Cakes

Applesauce + plant milk + coconut oil

🍝

Vegan Pasta

Nutritional yeast + cashew cream

🍕

Vegan Pizza

Cashew cheese + nutritional yeast

🍦

Vegan Ice Cream

Coconut cream + frozen bananas

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Vegan Salads

Tahini dressing + nutritional yeast

Ready to Go Vegan?

Explore our complete collection of ingredient substitutes and vegan guides!