How to Double or Cut a Recipe in Half (with free printable!)

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Doubling a recipe when baking or cooking is easy with this free printable chart! Learn all the measurements and tips you need to halve or double any recipe.

When I was first married I loved trying new recipes that I thought my husband would like. (Ahh I love remembering the sweet newlywed time!) More often than not we didn’t need as much food for just the two of us that the recipes called for. I got used to halving the recipe in order to reduce leftovers.

Now, 11 years later I have the opposite problem-I need to double recipes in order to keep up with the appetites of our three teenage boys!

While it’s easier to double measurements than half them, I thought I’d make a handy printable recipe chart for you-I hang mine inside one of my cabinet doors so I can easily reference it when cooking. I hope it helps you as much as it’s helped me!

Click here for the doubling recipe printable chart.

Tips for doubling a recipe when baking

Doubling measurements vs. bake time

For most baking recipes you can simply double the amount of each ingredient in a single batch, however the baking time will vary depending on what you are baking.

For biscuits, cupcakes, cookies, or muffins; the baking time will be the same because you are making an extra batch or two, not larger ones. For a cake or loaf of bread however, it can extend the cooking time if you make a larger cake rather than more layers because you are reducing the surface area of the dough compared to the interior.

If you want to double a cake recipe, sometimes it is a better idea to make muffins or cupcakes instead of a larger cake. This is the case for our carrot cake and carrot cake muffins. It helps reduce the cooking time while still being able to feed a larger crowd.

Quick bread recipes like our banana bread, cheesy zucchini bread, and cream cheese pumpkin bread double easily and are great for making a few loaves at a time.

Don’t automatically double leavening agents

Leavening agents like baking powder and baking soda don’t always follow a simple doubling rule. While it might seem straight forward that doubling the amount of baking powder or baking soda will double the leavening effect, this isn’t always the case. Too much leavening can lead to an overly airy texture or a soapy taste, while too little can result in a dense, flat texture.

A good rule of thumb is to increase these ingredients by 1.5 times rather than doubling them. This helps maintain the right balance and prevents any issues with texture or taste.

Don’t forget the size of your bowl and pans

If you are doubling a recipe, be sure ahead of time that the mixing bowl and baking pans you’ll be using is large enough to hold a double batch. If not, you will need to make the recipe twice rather than doubling it all at once.

Keeping track of ingredients

Most recipe cards on websites can double or triple ingredients for you but if you are doing it on your own I suggest writing the entire recipe down with the doubled new measurements (use our chart to make it easy!) so that you can be sure every ingredient is doubled.

Tips for doubling a non-baking recipe

Don’t double seasonings automatically

When cooking savory meals, don’t automatically double the spices. Stronger seasonings or spicy ingredients like salt, pepper, cayenne, or red pepper flakes can become overwhelming if doubled automatically. Start by adding 1.5 times the amount called for then adjusting to taste.

When doubling ingredients like garlic, onions, or acidic ingredients (like lemon juice or vinegar), add them gradually and taste as you go. These strong flavors can easily overpower a dish if added in too large a quantity.

Adjusting cooking time

Larger quantities may require a bit more time to cook through evenly, so keep an eye on the dish and adjust as needed. If you’re doubling a stew, soup, or sauce, you might need to simmer it a bit longer to develop the flavors fully and allow for the evaporation of excess liquid ingredients.

Use the right sized cookware

Larger pots or pans may be necessary to ensure even cooking and to avoid overcrowding, which can cause uneven heating. You can also cook using multiple pans at the same time.

What recipes should not be doubled

Some recipes don’t work well when doubled due to their specific ingredients or methods. Recipes that rely heavily on precise proportions of ingredients or those that have delicate textures, like soufflés or some baked goods, might not turn out well if doubled.

For instance, delicate cakes or pastries that rely on precise chemical reactions can become dense or uneven if doubled. Recipes that involve frying or certain cooking methods, like our hibachi chicken or pan-seared steak, may not cook evenly if you try to double the quantity at once. It’s best to make these recipes in mulitple batches to ensure they turn out as intended.