Ask Nancy

If you are an experienced baker or cook, by all means substitute ingredients freely. If you haven't been baking or cooking very long, you'll want to start slowly. In baking, certain basics shouldn't be altered. Baking is very precise in the amount of flour, sugar, fat and leavening used, so don't change those. Feel free, though to try different nuts or other "add ins" like chocolate chips and candy. Or switch out the flavoring or extract used.