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Substitute For Baking Powder

You can make your own home made substitute for baking powder as long as you have bicarbonate of soda (also known as baking soda).

Many people get the two confused which will lead to baking failures.

Baking Soda or Bicarbonate of Soda
This is 100% sodium bicarbonate, an alkaline chemical compound. It is used in the making of cakes, as an antacid and for carbonated drinks.

On its own it will not make a cake rise.

Baking Powder
This is a combination of ingredients that includes baking soda. Its other ingredients are some kind of acidic substance which is normally cream of tartar. In the modern baking powders a further acid is added, normally sodium phosphate along with a starch which is most often corn starch.

Baking powder on its own has quite a harsh taste.

How Does Baking Powder Work?
When baking powder is mixed with a liquid, the acid/cream of tartar reacts and forms bubbles of gas within the mixture. It is this that will ‘rise’ your cakes. The reaction takes place instantly and it is critical to the success of your baking that the mixture is baked straight after preparing. Leaving it to stand will mean the gas is released before it has been put in the oven.

Most modern baking powders aim to address this issue by adding the extra acid which is slower acting, the sodium phosphate. This will not start to react until it has been subjected to higher temperatures – the oven in other words. Baking powders that contain fast and slow acting acids are called ‘double acting’. They make for easier baking.

Baking powder neutralizes the harsh taste of the baking soda included.

Golden Rule
If a recipe calls for baking soda – you can use baking soda or baking powder

If a recipe calls for baking powder – you can only use baking powder

Making Your Own Baking Powder
Home made baking powder recipes will be of the single acting variety so ensure that immediately after mixing your ingredients you bake it immediately for the best results.

Baking soda + an acid

1.  Baking soda and cream of tartar

1 part baking soda to 2 parts cream of tartar

e.g. ½ teaspoon of baking soda + teaspoon of cream of tartar

This is equal to 2 teaspoons of baking powder

2.   Baking soda and buttermilk or sour cream or natural plain yogurt

Equal parts

e.g. ¼ cup of baking soda + ¼ cup of yogurt

This is equal to ½ teaspoon of baking powder

3.  Baking soda + honey/molasses

¼ teaspoon of baking soda + 1/3 cup of honey

This is equal to 1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 cup = 200 to 250 ml

1 teaspoon = 5ml

If you are using liquid as your acid replacement then ensure that other liquids in the recipe are adjusted accordingly to maintain the correct consistency for your mixture.

All of the above are fully effective substitutes for baking powder but do remember you will be producing a single acting baking powder rather than a double acting one that you may be used to.

About the Author: Article by Outofstress.com expert author Deneice Arthurton. Do not reproduce.