You can be successful baking with substitutes if you first spend a little time understanding the function that ingredients play in a recipe and follow some basic rules. Understanding the Basics Baking is food science.
Oven temperature affects texture, consistency, appearance, and baking time.
The amount of heat absorption or reflection depends upon pan color and material, rack position, and product size and shape. These factors also affect the total baking time. Atmospheric pressure and humidity determine how much liquid and leavening agents are needed and also impact the total baking time. Surprisingly, most of the information needed to understand substituting ingredients is right in your home. Many cook-books provide a wealth of information if you read beyond the recipes.