Baking powder is one of the most common ingredients that are used in baking goods to add volume and make the texture of the baked goods lighter. But what if you don’t have baking powder on hand are there baking powder substitutes?
Yes, there are substitutes for baking powder. This guide will explain the best 8 baking powder substitutes.
Table of Contents
What is baking powder?
Baking powder is used to expand and add volume baked goods, bread, and cakes. it is a very common ingredient found in a majority of baked goods.
Baking powdered is made of sodium bicarbonate which is typically paired with an acid. Some baking powdered have cornstarch as a filler. Baking powder is considered a leveling agent when used in baking.
A lot of questions are asked about using baking soda instead of baking powder. The difference is that baking soda does not have an acid component it just as sodium bicarbonate. Because of this, it does not have the same leavening properties as baking powder.
The top baking powder substitutes
If you find yourself without baing powder but you have baking soda on hand you may be able to replicate the same type of use as a baking powder when you add any of the below substitutes with baking soda. See if you have any of these household items you could use in a pinch.
1. Plain Yogurt Plus Baking Soda
Because yogurt is an acidic ingredient you can mix plain yogurt with baking soda which can have a similar effect of baking powder. This will be the similar type of substitutions you would make for buttermilk below.
If your recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of baking powder…
Use…
- 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda with the other dry ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt with wet ingredients
*Do not forget to reduce your liquids by 1/2 cup.
2. Buttermilk + Baking Soda
Acidic and buttermilk go together like peanut butter and jelly. Because of this, you can use buttermilk and baking powder as a substitute. Here are the measurements if you decide to use it.
When a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of baking powder…
- Use 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda mixed in with your dry ingredients.
- Add 1/2 cup of buttermilk with the wet.
*Decrease your wet ingredients by 1/2 cup
3. Lemon Juice + Baking Soda
Substituting lemon juice and baking soda will work as a baking powder substitute. Lemons are high in citric acid. Squeezing lemons will get you what you need when you are out of baking powder.
So how much lemon to replace 1 teaspoon of baking powder? Let’s look below to find out.
to replace 1 teaspoon of baking powder for your recipe you will need the following…
- 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice with wet ingredients
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with your dry ingredients
4. Baking Powder Substitute Using Molasses + Baking Soda
Molasses is a mix of sugar cane juice that has been put into a high heat to boil. Molasses is sweet and it has high acidic content so when you mix that with baking soda you can achieve a leavening property.
So how much molasses and baking soda would you need to substitute baking powder?
Mix 1/4 of a cup of molasses and 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder to replace 1 teaspoon of baking powder. Keep in mind that you should also reduce the amount of sugar when doing these because molasses is sweet.
5. Sour Milk + Baking Soda For a Baking Powder Substitute
Sour milk has lactic acid. This happens when the milk starts the fermentation process. Because of this when you mix it with baking soda you can get the same type of properties you would get with baking powder. So how much do you need to substitute baking powder? Let’s take a look.
- 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to the dry mix
- 1/2 cup of sour milk to the wet.
Reduce the wet mix by 1/2 cup
6. White Vinegar + Baking Soda is a Baking Powder Substitute
Did you know that when you add white vinegar to baking soda it will react to give you a similar effect has baking powder? It will and it is neutral in terms of flavor so there is a good chance it goes undetected in your recipe.
Here is how much you need to substitute 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.
7. Cream of Tartar + Baking Soda is Another Baking Powder Substitute
In a pinch, you could use Cream of Tartar mixed with baking soda. This will give you something like baking powder that will allow your baked product to level and rise.
Here are the measurements you can use to replicate 1 tablespoon of baking powder.
To get 1 tablespoon of baking powder…
- Mix 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar with 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
8. Egg Whites For a Baking Powder Substitute
Egg whites that are beaten to incorporate air in them are another grat baking powder substitute. They can help with the rising of your baked goods when you do not have any baking powder on hand. When you see a recipe most of the time that requires whipped egg whites you probably will not see baking powder in the recipe.
Choosing The Best substitute
When selecting the best substitute you should think of a few things.
One important aspect is the flavor you are adding into the baked goods.
Using something like Vinegar may have a sour taste even though it may be one of the substitutes that offer a more neutral flavor you may want to use a minimal amount.
Remember to adjust those wet ingredients when substituting baking powder with other ingredients. Using a liquid replacement will require you to reduce the other liquid parts so you can get the proper consistency when baking.
In Closing
As you can see if you are ever out of baking powder and looking for a substitute you may have the ingredients already at your house for the substitution. Follow the appropriate measurements to gain 1 teaspoon of baking powder and then make sure you reduce the wet ingredients if it calls to do so.
