Cajun Spice
1 Tablespoon Cajun Spice = ½ teaspoon white pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1/1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon ground red pepper, ½ teaspoon paprika and ½ teaspoon black pepper.

Contributed by: Roshan Nandwani

Roshan mixes these spices when Cajun spice is not available.

Cardamom
Cardamom = Equal amount of cinnamon

Contributed by: Michael Lopa

When cooking for Indian food that requires this ingredient, Michael uses cinnamon instead of cardamom.

Cardamom
Cardamom = equal amount of ginger

Carob Powder
1 tablespoon carob powder = 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (either natural or Dutch-processed)

Chicken or Beef Broth
1 cup chicken or beef broth = 1 cup hot water and 1 teaspoon instant bouillon granules (or 1 bouillon cube)

Chili Powder
Chili Powder = a dash of bottled hot pepper sauce plus a combination of oregano and cumin

Chinese Sausage
Chinese Sausage = Equal Amount of Hamonado Longanisa

Chive
Chive = equal amount of either green onion; onion; or leek

Chocolate, bittersweet
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate  = 1/2 ounce unsweetened chocolate plus 1 tablespoon granulated white sugar

Cilantro
Cilantro = equal amount of parsley

Cinnamon
1 teaspoon cinnamon = 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg or allspice 
or
1 teaspoon cinnamon = 1/2 teaspoon ground all spice
or
1 teaspoon cinnamon = 1 teaspoon ground cardamom

Cloves 
Cloves = equal amount of allspice
or
Cloves = equal amount of cinnamon
Or
Cloves = equal amount of nutmeg

Cocoa Powder, dutch-processed
3 tablespoons dutch processed cocoa powder = 3 tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder plus 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
or
3 tablespoons dutch processed cocoa powder = 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate plus 1/8 teaspoon baking soda (reduce fat in recipe 1 tablespoon)

Cocoa Powder, natural unsweetened
3 tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder = 3 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa plus 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar, lemon juice or white vinegar
or
3 tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder = 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate (reduce fat in recipe by 1 tablespoon)

Coconut Cream, fresh
1 cup fresh coconut cream= 1 cup canned coconut cream
or
1 cup fresh coconut cream= 1 cup top layer of canned coconut milk (not low fat) (do not shake or stir can before skimming)
or
1 cup fresh coconut cream= 1 cup heavy whipping cream (35%) plus 1/2 cup coconut cream powder

Coconut Milk
Coconut milk = Equal amount of whole cow’s milk

Contributed by: Ma. Belina Mariano

Ma. Belina likes to use coconut milk instead of whole cow’s milk to add flavor to her food.

Cookie Crumbs
1 cup cookie crumbs = Equal amount of chocolate or vanilla wafers
or
1 cup Cookie crumbs = Equal amount of graham crackers

Contributed by: Bernz Cheng

According to Bernz, she uses either wafers or graham crackers for her pie crusts when the recipe calls for cookie crumbs.

Cookie Crumbs
1 cup cookie crumbs = 1 cup wafers
or
1 cup cookie crumbs = 1 cup vanilla wafers
or
1 cup cookie crumbs = 1 cup graham crackers
or
1 cup cookie crumbs = 1 cup macaroons
or
1 cup cookie crumbs = 1 cup gingersnaps

Cooking Sprays (shortening to coat pans, baking sheets and baking pans to prevent them from sticking)
Cooking spray = light coat of margarine / butter

Cooking Wine
1 cup wine = 13 tablespoons water, 3 tablespoons lemon juice and 1 table spoon sugar
or
A little less than 1 cup of apple juice and lemon juice

Contributed by: Mayi Lopa

Mayi shares her affordable alternative for cooking wine.

Cornmeal, stone ground
1 cup stone ground cornmeal = 1 cup regular milled cornmeal
or
1 cup stone ground cornmeal = 1 cup corn grits
or
1 cup stone ground cornmeal = 1 cup polenta
or
1 cup stone ground cornmeal = 1 cup maize meal

Corn Syrup
Corn syrup = light brown sugar with water
or
Corn syrup = light brown sugar with honey

Corn Syrup, light
1 cup light corn syrup = 1 cup dark corn syrup
or
1 cup light corn syrup = 1 1/4 cups sugar plus 1/3 cup water

Corn Syrup, dark
1 cup dark corn syrup = 3/4 cup light corn syrup plus 1/4 cup light molasses

Cream of tartar
Cream of Tartar = Equal amount of vinegar
Or
Cream of Tartar = Equal amount of lemon juice

Contributed by: Darrel Magbanua

Darrel likes using vinegar instead of cream of tartar since this ingredient is readily available in her kitchen and she can use it for her other dishes as well.

Cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar = 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
or
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar = lemon juice

Cream, half & half (10 - 12% Butterfat),
1 cup half & half cream = 7/8 cup whole milk plus 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
or
1 cup half & half cream = 1/2 cup light cream (5%) plus 1/2 cup whole milk
or
1 cup half & half cream = 1/2 cup partly skimmed milk plus 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (35%)

Cream, heavy (35% butterfat) (not for whipping),
1 cup heavy cream = 2/3 cup whole milk plus 1/3 cup melted unsalted butter

Cream, Clotted
Cream, Clotted, 1 cup = 1 cup crème fraîche
or
Cream, clotted, 1 cup = 1 cup mascarpone cheese
or
Cream, Clotted, 1 cup  = 1 cup heavy whipping cream (35%), whipped

\Cumin
Cumin = equal amount of chili powder

Currants
1 cup currants = 1 cup raisins
or
1 cup currants = 1 cup chopped dates
or
1 cup currants = 1 cup other dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, blueberries)

Dates
Dates = equal amount of prunes or raisins

Dry Sherry
Dry Sherry = Equal amount of Chinese cooking wine

Contributed by: Ric Parma

Ric suggests using Chinese cooking wine in place of dry sherry. It is more affordable and, according to her, tastes better.