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 |
