Last Updated on October 9, 2023 by Toya
Out of your favorite spice? This list outlines effective ways to substitute for spices with ingredients you have in your kitchen! This list is super handy and worth having in every kitchen for ease of access. This is why we’ve put together this spice substitution chart, which outlines over 25 easy ways to substitute for common spices in a pinch.
Common spice substitutes
Allspice
For one teaspoon of allspice, replace it with one teaspoon of whole allspice or a mixture of ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, + ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, + ¼ teaspoon ground cloves. Read more about other allspice substitutes here.
Black pepper
For one teaspoon of black pepper, replace it with one teaspoon of white pepper or one teaspoon of papaya seeds. Check out more black pepper replacements here.
Cayenne pepper
If you have no cayenne pepper, replace it with 1 ½ teaspoons of red pepper flakes. Read about more cayenne pepper substitutes here.
Chili powder
If you need something to substitute for 1 teaspoon of chili powder in a recipe, a suitable mix is a combination of ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper + ⅛ teaspoon of paprika, ¼ teaspoon of cumin, ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder + ⅛ teaspoon of oregano.
Chipotle Powder
It is possible to substitute 1 teaspoon of chipotle powder with one teaspoon of smoked paprika. Check out more chipotle powder alternatives here.
Cumin
One teaspoon of cumin can be replaced with either ½ a teaspoon caraway or ½ a teaspoon of coriander.
Cardamom
One teaspoon of cardamom can be substituted with either one teaspoon of allspice or one teaspoon of apple pie spice.
Coriander
An easy alternative for one teaspoon of coriander is one teaspoon of caraway.
Cinnamon
If you have no cinnamon available, it is possible to swap out one teaspoon of cinnamon with ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon oil or ½ teaspoon of nutmeg. If you have none of the substitutes listed here, check out these other cinnamon substitutes here.
File powder
When you have no file powder available, replace 1/2 a tablespoon with 3 cups of okra.
Fenugreek
If you’re making a recipe that call for fenugreek but you have none a couple of great alternatives for one teaspoon of fenugreek is either a ½ teaspoon of maple syrup or ½ teaspoon of fennel seeds.
Garlic powder
For every teaspoon of garlic powder you need to replace in a recipe, ½ a teaspoon of garlic flakes or 2 large garlic cloves. You can also check out more garlic powder replacements here.
Ground Ginger
3/4 teaspoon of ground ginger can be substituted for 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger.
Ground cloves
One teaspoon of ground cloves can be replaced with one teaspoon of allspice. Out of allspice as well? Try these other ground clove substitutes for more ideas.
Lemon peel
If you happen to be making a recipe that calls for one teaspoon of Lemon peel but you have none, then one teaspoon of orange peel is an ideal substitute.
Mace powder
For every teaspoon of mace powder a recipe calls for, substitute 1 tablespoon of mace blades or ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Also, read more about mace powder substitutes here.
Onion powder
You can alternate 1 teaspoonful of onion powder with one teaspoon of dehydrated minced onion or ¼ of a fresh onion that is chopped. Also, check out these other substitutes for onion powder here.
Paprika
One teaspoon of paprika can be replaced with 1 teaspoon of tomato powder or one teaspoon of homemade paprika made with bell pepper. There are a few more paprika substitutes worth checking out here.
Red pepper flakes
If you need 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes for a recipe and you’re out of this spice, if can be replaced with one teaspoon of crushed dried cayenne peppers or ½ teaspoon of Sichuan chili flakes.
Sumac
One teaspoon of sumac can be replaced with 1 ½ teaspoons of lemon zest and a pinch of salt.
Saffron
If you find saffron too expensive or cannot find it, substitute 15 saffron threads with ½ teaspoon of turmeric or 15 threads of marigold spice.
Turmeric powder
Making a dish that requires turmeric power but can’t find any? If so, one teaspoon can be substituted with three teaspoons of turmeric roots.
Tamarind powder
To substitute one teaspoon of tamarind powder, simply use 1 tablespoon of fresh tamarind in its place. Check
Vanilla bean
Can’t find any vanilla beans? It is easy to replace with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
White pepper
Out of white pepper? One teaspoon of black pepper can be alternated with one teaspoon of ground mustard or one teaspoon of ground ginger
Chart With Substitutes For Common Spices
| Food | Amount | Substitutes |
| Allspice, ground | 1 teaspoon | 1 tsp of whole allspice or ¼ tsp cinnamon + ¼ tsp nutmeg + ¼ tsp ground cloves |
| Black pepper | 1 teaspoon | 1 tsp white pepper or 1 tsp papaya seeds |
| Cayenne pepper | 1 teaspoon | 1 ½ tsp red pepper flakes |
| Chili powder | 1 teaspoon | 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper + 1/8 tsp paprika, ¼ tsp cumin, ¼ tsp garlic powder + ⅛ tsp of oregano. |
| Chipotle Powder | 1 teaspoon | 1 tsp smoked paprika |
| Cumin | 1 teaspoon | ½ teaspoon caraway or ½ tsp coriander |
| Cardamom | 1 teaspoon | 1 tsp allspice or 1 tsp apple pie spice |
| Coriander | 1 teaspoon | 1 tsp caraway |
| Cinnamon | 1 teaspoon | ¼ tsp cinnamon oil or ½ tsp nutmeg |
| File powder | ½ tablespoon | 3 cups okra |
| Fenugreek | 1 teaspoon | ½ tsp maple syrup or ½ tsp fennel seeds |
| Garlic powder | 1 teaspoon | ½ tsp garlic flakes or 2 large garlic cloves |
| Ground Ginger | ¾ teaspoon | 1 tbsp fresh ginger |
| Ground cloves | 1 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon allspice |
| Lemon peel | 1 teaspoon | 1 tsp orange peel |
| Mace Powder | 1 teaspoon | 1 tbsp mace blades or ½ tsp nutmeg |
| Nutmeg | 1 teaspoon | 2 tsp mace |
| Onion powder | 1 teaspoon | 1 tsp dehydrated minced onion or ¼ fresh onion chopped |
| Paprika | 1 teaspoon | 1 tsp tomato powder or 1 tsp homemade paprika (made with bell pepper) |
| Red pepper flakes | 1 teaspoon | 1 tsp crushed dried cayenne peppers or ½ tsp Sichuan chili flakes |
| Sumac | 1 teaspoon | 1 ½ tsp lemon zest + pinch of salt |
| Saffron | 15 threads | ½ teaspoon turmeric or 15 threads of marigold spice |
| Turmeric powder | 1 teaspoon | 3 tsp turmeric roots |
| Tamarind powder | 1 teaspoon | 1 tbsp fresh tamarind |
| Vanilla bean | 1 whole | 1 tsp vanilla extract |
| White pepper | 1 teaspoon | 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp ground mustard or 1 tsp ground ginger |
Download spice substitution chart
