What is Baking Powder and How Does it Work?
Baking powder is typically a mix of 3 ingredients: baking soda (which is a base), an acid, and a buffer (cornstarch, flour, etc.) to keep the other two from reacting before the baking process. It is a leavening agent, which essentially means it helps your baked goods rise during the baking process. Baking powder works by creating and releasing carbon dioxide gas into dough or batter through the acid-base reaction. This gas then forms bubbles and, voila! Your mix begins to rise.
Making Baking Soda Substitutes
As described above, baking powder is effectively just a mix of baking soda and an acid. If you have baking soda, you can mix it with an acidic ingredient like buttermilk or lemon juice to create the same (or at least very similar) effect. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the ratios of each ingredient when you’re substituting for baking powder are very important.
The most common way to substitute baking powder is to combine baking soda and an acid. If you have baking soda at home, here are some of the most common acidic ingredients you might be able to add to your mix to achieve the same fluffy texture that baking powder would provide:
Baking Soda and Cream of Tartar
To substitute baking powder with baking soda and cream of tartar, use 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar for every 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
Baking Soda and Buttermilk
To use baking soda and buttermilk as a baking powder substitute, use 1/2 a cup of buttermilk and 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) of baking soda for 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of baking powder. Reduce the amount of other liquids in your recipe to counteract the additional liquid that you’re adding.
Baking Soda and Yogurt
Yogurt contains lactic acid, which causes the bubbling reaction with baking soda. To substitute baking powder with yogurt, use 1/4 cup of yogurt for every 1 teaspoon of baking powder. You may need to adjust the amount of liquid in your recipe accordingly.
Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
Be careful with this one, as lemon juice has a strong tangy taste that could affect whatever you’re making, so it would be ideal for lemony or tart baked goods. To substitute for 1 teaspoon of baking powder, combine 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
You can substitute 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of baking powder with 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) of baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon vinegar. Be careful when using vinegar, though, because it can add a strong sour taste to whatever you’re making. We only recommend using vinegar when the recipe requires a small amount of baking powder.
Baking Powder Substitutes With No Baking Soda
Depending on the recipe you’re working with, there may be an opportunity to substitute something for baking powder, even if you don’t have baking soda. Here are some possible options:
Self-Rising Flour
Self-rising flour actually already contains baking powder and salt. If you're using self-rising flour, you can omit the baking powder from your recipe. However, you'll need to consider the amount of baking powder present in the flour to ensure the ratios won’t throw off your baked good’s final form.
Club Soda
Club soda contains both the sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and the acid required to create a bubbling effect, so it can be used as a baking powder substitute. However, the amount of baking soda in club soda is quite low, so it’s recommended to only use club soda as a substitute for baking powder for simple recipes like pancakes, muffins, or quick breads.
Baking Powder-Free Recipes: Get Baking!
Ready to try out some baking powder-free recipes? Here are a few of our favorite recipes that are perfect for using self-rising flour or yogurt when you don’t have baking powder:
