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Nonalcoholic Substitutes for Wines, Spirits and Liqueurs

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We have compiled a list of nonalcoholic substitutes for recipes that call for various wines, spirits and liqueurs. Do remember substitutes won't necessarily mimic the flavor of the original ingredient. The intention is to add some acidity and contrast as well as intensify flavors.

A General Note About Ingredient Substitutions

Substituting ingredients takes a lot of trial and error practice. If this is for your day-to-day cooking have fun experimenting. If you are cooking for guests and special occasions then you may be better served by making an extra trip to the store to get the proper ingredient. If using alcohol in cooking is simply not an option then experiment with these nonalcoholic suggestions.

For more ingredient substitutions, browse our Cooking Dictionary of Ingredients and Substitutions. Our cooking dictionary includes over 1800 cooking ingredients and culinary terms. Terms include a description, a picture, ingredient substitutions and equivalents as well as *nutritional facts. When possible we include links to recipes and "where to buy" and more information. *Nutritional data not available for every item.

Alcohol Substitutions Chart

Amaretto

Substitute - General
Non-alcoholic almond extract; orgeat Italian soda syrup; or marzipan.
Substitute - Measured
For: 2 tablespoons amaretto or other almond-flavored liqueur, substitute: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Applejack or apple brandy

Substitute - General
Unsweetened apple juice concentrate; apple juice; apple cider; or apple butter.

Apricot brandy

Substitute - General
Syrup from canned apricots in heavy syrup; or apricot preserves.

Beer or Ale

Substitute - General
Chicken broth, white grape juice, or ginger ale

Bourbon

Substitute - General
Non-alcoholic vanilla extract. Champagne and other sparkling wines: Sparkling apple cider; sparkling cranberry juice; or sparkling grape juice.
Substitute - Measured
For 2 tablespoons bourbon, substitute the following: 1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Brandy

Substitute - General .
Raspberry extract, brandy extract
Substitute - Measured
2 tablespoons brandy, substitute the following: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon brandy extract OR 2 tablespoons water, white grape juice or apple juice

Champagne

Substitute - General
Ginger Ale or Soda water and Champagne extract

Cherry liqueur or brandy (Kirschwasser)

Substitute - General
Syrup from canned cherries in heavy syrup; Italian soda cherry syrup; or cherry preserves. (Not suitable for fondue)

Cognac

Substitute - General
Juice from peaches, apricots or pears.

Coffee liqueur or Brandy

Substitute - General
Espresso; non-alcoholic coffee extract; or coffee syrup.
Substitute - Measured
2 tablespoons Kahlua or other coffee or chocolate- flavored liqueur, substitute the following: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon chocolate extract plus 1/2 to 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules dissolved in 2 tablespoons hot water.

Cointreau

Substitute - General
Orange juice, or frozen orange juice concentrate.

Creme de Cacao

Substitute - General
Powdered white chocolate mixed with water; non-alcoholic vanilla extract and powdered sugar.

Creme de Cassis

Substitute - General
Black currant Italian soda syrup; or black currant jam.

Creme de Menthe

Substitute - General
Mint Italian soda syrup; or non-alcoholic mint extract. or Spearmint extract or oil of spearmint diluted with a little water or grapefruit juice.

Gewurztraminer

Substitute - General
White grape juice mixed with lemon juice, water, and a pinch of powdered sugar.

Kahlua

Substitute - General
Chocolate extract, 1 teaspoon per 2 tablespoon of Kahlua. Or 1 teaspoon instant express powder per 2 tablespoon of Kahlua

Kirsch (Cherry)

Substitute - General
Syrup or juice from black cherries, raspberries, boysenberries, currants, grapes or cherry cider.

Licorice or anise flavored liqueur

Substitute - General
Anise Italian soda syrup; or fennel.

Mirin

Substitute - General
White grape juice mixed with lemon juice or zest.

Muscat

Substitute - General
White grape juice mixed with water and powdered sugar

Orange liqueur (Grand Marnier) or brandy

Substitute - General
Unsweetened orange juice concentrate; orange zest; orange juice; or marmalade.
Substitute - Measured
for 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier or other orange- flavored liqueur, substitute the following: 2 tablespoons orange juice and 1/2 teaspoon orange extract or 2 tablespoons unsweetened orange juice concentrate.

Peach brandy

Substitute - General
Syrup from canned peaches in heavy syrup; or peach preserves

Peppermint Schnapps

Substitute - General
Mint Italian soda syrup; non-alcoholic mint extract; or mint leaves

Port

Substitute - General
Concord grape juice mixed with lime zest; or cranberry juice mixed with lemon juice

Riesling

Substitute - General
White grape juice mixed with water and a pinch of powdered sugar.

Rum

Substitute - General
Non-alcoholic vanilla or rum extract. OR Pineapple juice or syrup flavored with almond extract.
Substitute - Measured
for 2 tbsp rum , substitute the following: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon rum extract OR 2 tablespoons water, white grape juice or apple juice.

Sherry

Substitute - General
Apple cider; non-alcoholic vanilla extract; coffee; or coffee syrup.
Substitute - Measured
2 tablespoons sherry, substitute the following: 1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 2 tablespoons orange or pineapple juice.
To substitute sherry in a marinade: for 1/2 cup sherry use 1/4 cup vinegar + 1 tablespoon sugar + 1/4 water OR1 tablespoon vinegar, plus chicken stock or water to make 1/2 cup.

Vermouth

Substitute - General
Apple cider; or apple juice mixed with lemon juice and water.

Vodka

Substitute - General
Water; apple cider or white grape juice mixed with lime juice.

Wine, Red

Substitute - General
Note: add water, white grape juice, apple juice, or broth, if necessary, to get the specified amount of liquid called for in the recipe.
orGrape juice; vegetable stock; cranberry juice; tomato juice; or concord grape jelly.
Substitute - Measured
1/4 cup or more red wine, substitute the following: equal measure of red grape juice, cranberry juice, apple cider, chicken broth, clam juice, flavored vinegar, or nonalcoholic wine. If you use nonalcoholic wine, add a tablespoon of vinegar to cut the sweetness

Wine, White

Substitute - General
White grape juice; apple cider; apple juice; vegetable stock; or water, ver jus
Substitute - Measured
1/4 cup or more white wine, substitute the following: equal measure of white grape juice, chicken broth, vegetable broth, clam juice or nonalcoholic wine. If you use a nonalcoholic wine, add a tablespoon of vinegar to cut the sweetness.

Wine, White, Dry

Substitute - General
Water, chicken broth, bullion or consommé, ginger ale, white grape juice, diluted cider vinegar or white wine vinegar, liquid from canned mushrooms.

Wine, Heavy

Substitute - General
For 1/4 cup or more port, sweet sherry, rum, brandy, liqueur, substitute the following: equal measure of unsweetened orange juice or apple juice plus 1 teaspoon of corresponding flavored extract or vanilla extract.

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LadyKathleen

2/9/2010

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LadyKathleen

2/9/2010

I have searched for years for an alcohol substitution article like this one. This is fantastic. This information has opened up endless new recipes because now I can cook without alcohol. THANK YOU Gourmet Sleuth. Lady Kathleen

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Wine, General Tips
(From Cook's Illustrated, 2005)
If alcohol is not an issue then Vermouth makes a good substitute for white wine in a recipe as long as the recipe does not call for more than a 1/2 cup or so.

Nonalcoholic Substitutions
For soups and pan sauces use extra broth and add red or white wine vinegar or lemon juice right before serving using the following ratios:
To replace 1/2 cup wine use:
1/2 cup broth + 1 teaspoon wine vinegar
1/2 cup broth + 1 teaspoon lemon juice

General Marinade Substitutes

Substitute 1 cup of alcohol with:

1 cup of citrus juice, lemonade, pineapple or orange juice.
1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice or orange juice.
1 cup of tomato juice diluted by 1/4 with water or vinegar.
1/2 cup of light soy sauce and 1/2 cup of citrus juice.
1/2 cup of light soy sauce and 2 tablespoons of peanut oil.
1 cup of teriyaki sauce
1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar