Alcohol Substitution Guide
What to use in place of alcohol in recipes.
Pictured Recipe: Garlic-Rosemary Mushrooms with White Wine
Sometimes alcohol is called for in recipes to enhance the overall flavor of a dish. If you prefer to cook without alcohol, it can be omitted from a recipe or replaced with a nonalcoholic alternative. Keep in mind that the overall flavor of the dish will not be exactly the same, but the substitutions will give you an approximation of the flavor. Here are some general recommendations for nonalcoholic substitutes.
What Can I Substitute For…
Beer
Nonalcoholic beer, chicken broth, apple cider or beef broth
Bourbon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract in place of each tablespoon of bourbon
Brandy
Apple juice concentrate, white grape juice or pear juice
Champagne
Ginger ale, sparkling cider, cranberry juice or white grape juice
Cognac
Apricot, pear or peach juice
Cointreau
Orange juice concentrate
Crème de cassis
Black currant Italian soda syrup or black currant jam
Frangelico
Hazelnut or almond extract
Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur
Unsweetened orange juice concentrate
Marsala
White grape juice
Port
Concord grape juice with a pinch of lime zest; cranberry juice with a dash of lemon juice; or Concord grape juice concentrate
Rum
1/2 teaspoon rum extract plus enough water to make 1 tablespoon in place of each tablespoon of rum
Sherry
Unsweetened apple, orange or pineapple juice plus 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vermouth, dry
White grape juice or white-wine vinegar
Vermouth, sweet
Apple juice, grape juice or balsamic vinegar
Wine, white
White grape juice, apple juice or chicken broth
Wine, red
Concord grape juice, cranberry juice or beef broth