5 Baking Powder Substitutes That Work Perfectly

By Stephen M

Photo credit: homecookworld.com

Occasionally, we become short of an important ingredient for a recipe, affecting our cooking if omitted. Imagine gathering ingredients for baking only to realize that you have no baking powder. This can hugely affect your baking, and heading off to the grocery shop would be the only option. But before you do that, try out the following substitutes.

What Constitutes Baking Powder?

Baking powder is a quick leavening agent comprising a water-activated acid and baking soda. It releases carbon dioxide bubbles when mixed with water, and these bubbles cause the food to rise. Baking soda is used especially in baking to raise bread and cake without the use of yeast. The following replacements are excellent for when you don’t have baking soda on hand.

Baking Soda and Buttermilk

Buttermilk contains acid and, when combined with baking soda, acts as a good leavening agent. To use this in place of baking powder, add 1/2 cup buttermilk and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Since buttermilk is liquid, you have to reduce the other liquid recipes to maintain a balance.

Cream of Tartar and Baking Soda

Cream of tartar, also known as potassium bitartrate, is one of the ingredients used in baking powder. In the absence of baking powder, you can rely on the cream tarter and baking soda if available to perform the same duty. Add 5/8 teaspoon cream of tartar to combine 1/4 teaspoon baking soda to substitute one teaspoon of baking powder,

Baking Soda and Yogurt

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Yogurt is also an excellent substitute when combined with baking soda because it contains some acid. Like buttermilk, take a proportion of 1/2 cup of yogurt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and mix. You have to reduce the other liquid ingredients to make way for the yogurt.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

You can use vinegar and baking soda to substitute baking powder. You can use any other kind of vinegar for this process, not just white. All you need is to mix 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with 1 teaspoon of vinegar.