Best Alcohol Substitutes For Cooking

There are many recipes that call for alcohol in the ingredients. But if you are cooking for someone who can’t consume alcohol, or just prefer not to use it, you may wonder what you can use in its place. Some of the best alcohol substitutes for cooking will often be determined by the type of alcohol being used, and the recipe you are making.

Each alcohol has a unique flavor profile, so there isn’t really one option that is a general fit to cover all types of alcohol, so we’ll cover several different types of alcohol and the best options to use in it’s place. But first, let’s talk about why we cook with alcohol.

Reasons To Use Alcohol When Cooking

Flavor

Like, we mentioned above, different alcohols have very distinct flavor profiles, and these flavors add to the recipes that they are used in. Think Vodka Sauce, Beef Bourguignon, and Chicken Marsala, to name a few. The alcohol used in these dishes impart a specific flavor.

Technique

Alcohol can be used to flambe, a method in which an alcohol like brandy is splashed on top of the food in a pan to create a flame during the cooking process. Alcohol can also be used to braise and deglaze. Adding beer to baked goods increases moisture, and when you add it to batter (fish and chips, anyone?), it creates a light and crispy crust. If you’re trying to make a good glaze, use red wine or sherry and simmer it down with pan juices from your meat. Making a sauce? Liquor and white wine are great for reducing sauces and concentrating the flavors.

Tenderizing

When cooking with meat, alcohol is a great way to tenderize before or during cooking. Alcohol breaks down collagen and fibers in the meat. You can use beer, vodka, bourbon, or other alcohol to tenderize.

Alcohol Commonly Used For Cooking

White Wine: Sauces, deglazing, marinating and poaching lean meats like fish and poultry
Red Wine: Sauces, deglazing, soups and stews
Beer: Marinades, soups and stews, batters, desserts
Bourbon: Sauces, desserts (especially fruits)
Whiskey: Seafood, cured meats, desserts
Rum: Caramelizing, flambéing, desserts
Vodka: Sauces, baked goods

There is alcohol in surprising places, and it’s commonly used in cooking. The common ingredient Vanilla Extract is a popular one that contains alcohol — the vanilla beans are soaked in alcohol, so if you need are trying to avoid alcohol in all forms, this is one you’ll need to find a replacement for.

Here is a list of common alcoholic ingredients used for cooking, and the best substitutes for each.

Amaretto

Amaretto is often used in baked goods, sauces, and glazes, and has an almond flavor. Here are the best substitutes:

Almond extract (look for the non-alcoholic kind): Use half a teaspoon in place of each tablespoon of Amaretto

Beer

Beer is often used as a tenderizer for meat, and it can also be added to batters for a light and flaky coating on things like fish and chips.

Use chicken broth, ginger ale, or white grape juice in place of light beer
Use mushroom stock or beef broth in place of dark beer
Use root beer or cola to tenderize meat
Use ginger ale or non-alcoholic beer for batters

Bourbon

Bourbon enhances flavors in your food and adds notes of smokiness, honey, caramel, and nuttiness.

Use Non-alcoholic vanilla extract and water in the ratio of one part vanilla and two parts water

Brandy

Brandy adds robust flavors to your recipes and helps keep meat moist and tender.

Apple cider
Apple juice
White grape juice

Champagne

Champagne is often used in sauces and marinades and adds a bit of acidity to the dish.

Ginger ale
Sparkling white grape juice
Sparkling apple cider

Coffee Liqueur

Coffee Liqueur adds a robust coffee flavor to your recipes.

Espresso
Coffee
Coffee extract
Coffee syrup

Cognac

Cognac is most often used for deglazing, but also adds and enhances flavors in soups and sauces. In desserts, it is great when paired with apples and stone fruits like peaches.

Peach juice
Pear juice
Apricot juice

Crème de Menthe

Adds a minty flavor to recipes.

Spearmint or other mint extract
Mint coffee syrup
Soda syrup

Curacao

Most commonly used in drinks and desserts, this imparts an orange flavor to your recipes.

Orange juice concentrate
Orange flavored syrup
Orange extract

Frangelico

Most commonly used in drinks, this adds a nutty flavor to desserts.

Almond extract
Hazelnut extract

Grand Marnier/Orange Liqueur

Grand Marnier is commonly used for flambéing and in classic dishes like crepes suzette. It imparts an orange flavor in your recipes.

Orange juice concentrate
Orange extract (use half teaspoon extract for each two tablespoons of liqueur)

Hard Cider

Adds fruitiness and sweetness to recipes, and can be used in brines, batters, cheese sauces, and other sauces.

Apple cider
Apple juice
Sparkling apple cider

Kahlua

Most often used in desserts, this liqueur made from coffee beans adds coffee flavored notes to your dishes.

Espresso
Coffee
Coffee extract
Coffee syrup

Red Wine

Red wine is often used for braising. It adds acidity to recipes, and helps tenderize meat during the cooking process or marinating.

Red grape juice
Beef broth
Unsweetened cranberry juice

Rum

Different rums add different flavor profiles to the recipes they are used in. Light rums can add the fruity or coconut notes, darker rums add caramel notes, and spiced rums add spicy notes.

For light rum: Mix white grape juice, pineapple juice, apple juice, or apple cider with a dash of almond extract
For dark rum: Mix molasses and juice with a dash of almond extract

Scotch/Whiskey

Scotch or Whiskey adds a smooth creamy finish to sauces and pairs well with meats. You only need small amounts.

Non-alcoholic vanilla extract and water in the ratio of one part vanilla and two parts water
Beef broth
Mushroom broth/stock
Vanilla extract
Apple cider vinegar

Sherry

Sherry adds sweet, nutty flavor profiles to your recipes. A drier sherry will add less sweetness to the dish.

Orange juice
Pineapple juice
Apple juice

Tequila

Tequila is best used for deglazing and flambéing. It adds caramelization as well as citrusy notes to your recipes.

Agave juice

Triple Sec

Another orange flavored liqueur, Triple Sec add citrusy, orange notes to your recipes.

Orange juice concentrate
Orange extract (half teaspoon in place of each two tablespoons)
Orange zest

Vermouth

Sweet vermouth enhances the sweetness in your recipes’ flavors, while dry vermouth adds herbal notes.

Dry vermouth: white grape juice, non-alcoholic white wine
Sweet vermouth: apple or grape juice, balsamic vinegar

Vodka

Vodka is most often used in sauces and enhances the flavors and aromas of your dishes.

Water
Chicken broth or chicken stock

White Wine

White wine is often paired with seafood and poultry and adds a bit of acidity to your recipes. It is great for deglazing as well.

Chicken broth or stock
Apple juice
Apple cider
White grape juice
Ginger ale

How To Choose The Best Alcohol Substitutes

Always consider your recipe when determining what to use as an alternative to alcohol when cooking. Here are a few tips:

When using as a tenderizer or marinade, use soda, ginger ale, or a sparkling juice in place of the alcohol. The carbonation will help break things down.
When making sauces, use a broth like chicken or beef that best matches your recipe — beef broth or mushroom broth for meat dishes, chicken broth for poultry or seafood.
For desserts, add something that has the most similar flavors for the alcohol that is originally called for.
For batters, like fish and chips, use ginger ale or soda.

The Best Pick For Alcohol Substitutes When Cooking

If you’re looking for the best alcohol substitutes, we always swap in a broth or stock in place of alcohol in most recipes. It is versatile and flavorful, and won’t change the overall flavor profile of the dish. When baking, we use a non-alcoholic extract, or the option that best matches the flavor of the recipe.

Find More Great Substitutes For Your Recipes!

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Heidi Deal

Heidi Deal is an editor, mother of two, and seasoned home cook who enjoys experimenting with new recipes and teaching her kids how to prepare family meals. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends.