Nonalcoholic
Substitutes for Wines, Spirits and Liqueurs
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 Substitutions and
Equivalents -
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.
Click the ingredient
name for more information including recipe suggestions. |
|
|
|
Alcohol Ingredient |
Substitute - General |
Substitute - Measured |
|
Amaretto |
Non-alcoholic almond extract; orgeat Italian soda syrup; or marzipan.
|
For:
2 tablespoons amaretto or other almond-flavored
liqueur, substitute: 1/4 to 1/2
teaspoon almond extract |
|
Applejack or apple brandy |
Unsweetened apple juice concentrate; apple juice; apple cider; or apple
butter. |
|
|
Apricot brandy |
Syrup from canned apricots in heavy syrup; or apricot preserves. |
|
|
Beer or
Ale |
Chicken broth, white grape juice, or
ginger ale |
|
|
Bourbon |
Non-alcoholic vanilla extract.
Champagne and other sparkling wines:
Sparkling apple cider; sparkling cranberry juice; or sparkling grape
juice. |
For 2 tablespoons bourbon, substitute the following:
1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla extract |
|
Brandy |
.Raspberry
extract, brandy extract |
• 2 tablespoons brandy, substitute the following:
1/2 to 1 teaspoon brandy extract OR 2 tablespoons
water, white grape juice or apple juice |
|
Champagne |
Ginger Ale or Soda water and Champagne extract |
|
Cherry liqueur or brandy
(Kirschwasser)
|
Syrup from canned cherries in heavy syrup; Italian soda cherry syrup; or
cherry preserves. (Not suitable for fondue) |
|
Cognac
|
Juice from peaches, apricots or pears.
|
|
Coffee liqueur or
brandy
|
Espresso; non-alcoholic coffee extract; or coffee syrup.
|
• 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
|
Orange juice, or frozen orange juice concentrate.
|
|
|
Creme de Cacao |
Powdered white chocolate mixed with water; non-alcoholic vanilla extract
and powdered sugar. |
|
Creme de Cassis
|
Black currant Italian soda syrup; or black currant jam. |
|
|
Creme de Menthe |
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 |
White grape juice mixed with lemon juice, water, and a pinch of powdered
sugar. |
|
|
Kahlua |
Chocolate extract, 1 teaspoon per 2 tablespoon of Kahlua. Or 1
teaspoon instant express powder per 2 tablespoon of Kahlua |
|
Kirsch (Cherry)
|
Syrup or juice from black cherries, raspberries, boysenberries,
currants, grapes or cherry cider. |
|
Licorice or anise flavored liqueur
|
Anise Italian soda syrup; or fennel.
|
|
Mirin
|
White grape juice mixed with lemon juice or zest.
|
|
Muscat
|
White grape juice mixed with water and powdered sugar
|
|
Orange liqueur (Grand Marnier) or brandy
|
Unsweetened orange juice concentrate; orange zest; orange juice; or
marmalade.
|
• 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
.
|
Syrup from canned peaches in heavy syrup; or peach preserves |
|
Peppermint Schnapps
|
Mint Italian soda syrup; non-alcoholic mint extract; or mint leaves |
|
Port
|
Concord grape juice mixed with lime zest; or cranberry juice mixed with
lemon juice
|
|
Riesling
|
White grape juice mixed with water and a pinch of powdered sugar.
|
|
Rum
|
Non-alcoholic vanilla or rum extract. OR Pineapple juice or syrup flavored with almond extract.
|
• 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
|
Apple cider; non-alcoholic vanilla extract; coffee; or coffee syrup.
|
• 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 OR
1 tablespoon vinegar, plus chicken stock or water to make 1/2 cup. |
Vermouth
|
Apple cider; or apple juice mixed with lemon juice and water. |
|
Vodka
|
Water; apple cider or white grape juice mixed with lime juice. |
|
Wine Substitutions
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 |
|
Wine, Red
Credits
First Coast News
Vegie Life Magazine
Diet and Eat |
Note: add water, white grape juice, apple juice, or
broth, if necessary, to get the specified amount of
liquid called for in the recipe.
or
Grape juice; vegetable stock; cranberry juice; tomato juice; or concord
grape jelly.
|
• 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
|
White grape juice; apple cider; apple juice; vegetable stock; or water,
ver jus |
• 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
|
Water, chicken broth,
bullion or consommé, ginger
ale, white grape juice, diluted cider vinegar or white wine vinegar,
liquid
from canned mushrooms. |
|
Wine,
Heavy
|
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. |
|
|
General Marinade
Substitutes
Substitute for 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
|
