I’m often asked what “caster sugar” or “bicarb” is amongst other ingredients, so I thought I’d list all of the common UK ingredients and their US equivalents/substitutions for you all. If there are any recipe specific ingredients which are not listed here and you are unsure on, then don’t hesitate to leave a comment on the relevant post asking.
If there is something you think should be on this list and I’ve missed, then please send me a quick email: annie [at] anniesnoms [dot] com or use the Contact Me page 🙂
A very important side note: A “stick” of butter in the US is 113 grams of butter in the UK, unfortunately we seem to only be able to buy 250/500g blocks of butter here!
Common Baking Ingredients
UK Ingredients | US Ingredients |
Plain Flour We don’t officially have “Cake Flour” here, but for every 1 cup of plain flour, take out 2tbsp and replace with 2tbsp cornflour. Sift together and there you have it! | All Purpose Flour Cake Flour |
Self-raising Flour | Self-rising Flour |
Bread Flour | Strong Flour |
Wholemeal Flour | Whole Wheat Flour |
Cornflour | Cornstarch |
Polenta | Cornmeal |
Bicarbonate of Soda | Baking Soda |
Caster Sugar | Superfine Sugar |
Light Brown Sugar | Brown Sugar (unless otherwise specified) |
Icing Sugar | Powdered/Confectioner’s Sugar |
Golden Syrup | Corn Syrup |
Glucose Syrup | Light Corn Syrup |
Digestive Biscuits | Graham Crackers |
Double Cream | Heavy Cream |
Single Cream (or substitute half milk and half single cream – most people just use cream) | Half and Half |
Skimmed Milk | Non-fat milk |
Semi-Skimmed Milk | Reduced Fat Milk |
Treacle | Molasses |
Jam | Jelly |
Solid white Vegetable Fat | Shortening |
Cooking Chocolate/Dark (at least 70% cocoa solids) | Bittersweet Chocolate |
Plain Chocolate (around 50% cocoa solids) | Semisweet Chocolate |
Chocolate/Candy
UK Chocolate/Sweets | US Candy Bars |
Milky Way | 3 Muskateers |
Mars Bar | Milky Way |
Smarties | M&M’s (closest equivalent, we get M&M’s in the UK too) |
Bounty | Mounds |
Refreshers (the small round fizzy sweets) | Smarties |
Candyfloss | Cotton Candy |
Ice Lolly | Popsicle |
Jelly Babies | Jelly Beans |
Maltesers | Whoppers |
Toffee Crisp | Nestlé Crunch (closest equivalent, this doesn’t have caramel) |
After Eights | Peppermint Patties |
Starbar | Take 5 (closest equivalent, UK has rice crisps, US has pretzels in) |
Vegetables
UK Name | US Name |
Rocket | Arugula |
Aubergine | Eggplant |
Coriander | Cilantro |
Spring Onions | Scallions |
Courgette | Zucchini |
Bell Pepper | Sweet Pepper |
Cookery Terms
UK Terms | US Terms |
Starter | Appetizer |
Main | Entrée |
Grilling | Broiling |
Greaseproof Paper (white, waxy paper. Some brands call their brown parchment like paper greaseproof. In my recipes, I always use the white waxy greaseproof!) | Wax Paper |
Hob | Stove |
Tinned Food | Canned Food |
Cling Film | Plastic Wrap |
Baking Tray | Baking/Cookie Sheet |
Frying Pan | Skillet |
Sieve | Strainer |
Annie is a self-taught baker, recipe developer and food photographer, who has an obsession with dessert and beauty! 
