Alcohol Substitution

Amaretto

Italian almond-flavored liqueur

Substitute With: Almond extract

Beer or ale

Various types

Substitute With: For light beers, substitute chicken broth, ginger ale or white grape juice. For heavier beers, use a stronger beef, chicken or mushroom broth or stock.

Calvados

Apple brandy

Substitute With: Apple juice concentrate or juice.

Champagne

Sparkling white wine

Substitute With: Sparkling white grape juice.

Coffee Liqueur

Coffee Liqueur

Substitute With: To replace 2 tablespoons of liqueur, use ½ to 1 teaspoon of chocolate extract mixed with 1 teaspoon of instant coffee, which has been mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. Can also substitute with espresso.

Cognac / Brandy

Aged, double-distilled wine or fermented fruit juice. Cognac is considered the finest brandy.

Substitute With: Peach, apricot or pear juice. Not replaceable in flambé dishes.

Cointreau

French, orange-flavored liqueur.

Substitute With: Orange juice concentrate or regular orange juice that has been reduced to a thicker consistency.

Creme de menthe

Thick and syrupy, sweetened mint liqueur. Comes both clear and green

Substitute With: Mix mint essence with a little water or grapefruit juice. Use a drop of food coloring if you need the green color.

Framboise

French raspberry liqueur.

Substitute With: Raspberry juice or syrup.

Frangelico

Italian hazelnut liqueur.

Substitute With: Hazelnut or almond extract mixed with water.

Grand Marnier

French liqueur, orange-flavored.

Substitute With: Orange juice frozen concentrate or reduced fresh orange juice.

Grenadine

Pomegranate syrup, sometimes alcoholic.

Substitute With: Pomegranate syrup or juice.

Kahlua

Syrupy Mexican liqueur made with coffee and cocoa beans.

Substitute With: Strong coffee or espresso with a touch of cocoa powder.

Kirsch (Kirschwasser)

Colorless liqueur made of cherries.

Substitute With: Black cherry, raspberry, boysenberry, currant, or grape juice or syrup.

Orange Liqueur

Orange Liqueur

Substitute With: Orange juice concentrate, orange juice, orange zest or orange marmalade.

Red wine

Sweet or dry wine.

Substitute With: Beef or chicken broth or stock, diluted balsamic vinegar OR red grape juice diluted balsamic vinegar.

Rum

Liquor distilled from molasses or sugar syrup.

Substitute With: For light rum, use pineapple juice flavoured with almond extract. For dark rum, use molasses thinned with pineapple juice and flavoured with almond extract. Or use rum extract flavouring.

Sake

Fermented rice drink.

Substitute With: Rice vinegar.

Sherry

Fortified dessert wine, sweet or dry, some with a slightly nutty flavour.

Substitute With: Balsamic glaze.

Triple Sec

Orange-flavored liqueur.

Substitute With: Orange juice frozen concentrate or reduced fresh orange juice.

Vermouth

Wine-based drink infused with herbs, sweet or dry.

Substitute With: For sweet, use apple or grape juice or diluted balsamic glaze. For dark rum, use molasses thinned with pineapple juice flavoured with almond extract. Or use rum extract flavouring.

Whiskey (whisky)

Distilled liquor.

Substitute With: Small amounts may be eliminated. Large amounts cannot be effectively substituted.

White Burgundy

Dry French wine.

Substitute With: Non-alcoholic wine, white grape juice diluted with white wine vinegar.

White wine

Sweet or dry wine.

Substitute With: Chicken broth or stock, diluted white wine vinegar or cider vinegar, white grape juice diluted with lemon juice, ginger ale, canned mushroom liquid, water. For marinades, substitute ¼ cup cider vinegar plus 1 Tbsp sugar plus ¼ cup water.