Substitutes for Alcohol in Cooking

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

Beverage	General Substitute	Measured Substitute	Alternate
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	For an alternative with alcohol and a different flavor variation try substituting equal amounts of hazelnut liqueur, chocolate liqueur OR coffee liqueur.
Aperol	Use Sanbitter OR Crodino (both alcohol free).	Use equal amounts of Sanbitter or Crodino to replace Aperol.	Compari
Applejack or apple brandy	Unsweetened apple juice concentrate; apple juice; apple cider; or apple butter.		Per tablespoon of Apple Brandy (applejack) you can substitute 1 tablespoon Cognac OR pear Brandy OR any Brandy.
Apricot brandy	Syrup from canned apricots in heavy syrup; or apricot preserves.		Per tablespoon of Apricot Brandy  you can substitute 1 tablespoon Cognac OR pear Brandy OR any flavored Brandy of choice.
Bailey's Irish Cream	If using as a beverage you can combine heavy cream with chocolate syrup and espresso powder to taste. If using in cooking you may substitute Irish Cream flavored creamer OR Irish Cream syrup by Torani,  again, depending on the recipe.
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	You can substitute equal amounts of brandy, rum or cognac.
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
Calvados	Apple juice concentrate OR apple butter
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	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 espresso 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	1/2 cup white grape juice with 1/2 cup of water and 1/8 to 1/4 cup powdered sugar.* adjust sugar to taste depending on your recipe.
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
Pear Brandy	Syrup from canned pears. OR use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pear extract per tablespoon brandy.		Any other flavored brandy such as Apple Brandy.
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
Sake	You can substitute equal parts of white grape juice with one to two teaspoons of a low acid vinegar such as rice vinegar fresh lemon juice
Sauternes	Sauternes are sweet dessert wines.	You can substitute equal parts of apple juice, depending on the recipe.
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 OR1 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		Substitute 2 tablespoons of aquavit, tequilla or white rum.
Wine, Red	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, verjus	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.