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Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a familiar ingredient in baking recipes. Wondering which baking soda recipes to try and what precautions to take when baking with baking soda? Explore over 10 simple baking recipes with baking soda in this article!
1. The Role of Baking Soda in Baking
Baking soda is often mixed with flour to neutralize acidity, resulting in fluffy cakes. Using a small amount of baking soda can help your cakes rise perfectly. Therefore, baking soda is commonly used in making steamed cakes, sponge cakes, and more.
For more information: What is Baking Soda? All the Uses of Baking Soda
2. Baking Soda Recipes
Baking Soda for Steamed Buns
Baking soda is widely used in recipes for steamed buns to create a fluffy, airy texture for the bun's crust. Simply mix flour and baking soda in a bowl, add other ingredients, and start kneading the dough. After steaming, the buns will expand and have a soft, enticing crust.
Image: Curated
Baking Soda for Butter Sponge Cake
Butter sponge cake is the next name on the list of baking soda recipes. This cake is loved for its simplicity, requiring basic ingredients and can be flavored in various ways such as vanilla sponge cake, chocolate sponge cake, etc.
To make the cake, follow these steps: Mix vegetable oil, baking soda, baking powder, and sifted flour (sift all 3 types of flour through a sieve), mix well in one direction. Then add fresh milk and mix well. In another bowl, separate 4 egg whites and beat until foamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and stir well. When the eggs become thick, add 4 egg yolks and vanilla and beat until evenly mixed. Gradually add the flour mixture and mix well.
When baking cakes, line the mold with parchment paper, pour the batter in, gently tap the mold on a flat surface to release air bubbles. Finally, place it in the oven, check if the cake is cooked by inserting a toothpick. Once done, the cake will have an appealing golden color, be fluffy, soft, and moist.
Image: Curated
Baking Soda for Bread Making
Commonly, bread such as milk bread, mini bread, pillow bread,... is made from baking soda dough. The bread carries a fragrant aroma from the flour and bakes to a beautifully golden, crispy crust. When torn open, the bread reveals a soft, fluffy interior with a slight bounce. Just a few mini bread rolls or slices of pillow bread, served with pate, eggs, or for those with a sweet tooth, spread with peanut butter or fruit jam, will make for a delicious and nutritious meal.
Image: Curated
Baking Soda for Vietnamese Hollow Donuts
Vietnamese hollow donuts are a traditional snack in Vietnam. The donuts are fried to a uniform golden color, hollow inside, with a slight sweetness and fragrant aroma from white sesame seeds. Knead the flour evenly, cover tightly, and let the dough ferment for 12 hours. Dissolve sugar, salt, and baking soda in water, then add the fermented dough and knead thoroughly by hand. Sprinkle flour on a flat surface and place the dough on it, knead a few more times until the dough forms a smooth, moist, but not sticky ball. Divide the dough into equal parts, roll them in white sesame seeds, and roll them out thinly.
Fry the donuts in hot oil in a frying pan, turn them over and flip them to make them puff up and cook evenly.
Cookies
Cookies are a popular treat that surely everyone has tried at least once. The recipe is simple, with variations in flavors such as matcha, chocolate, red velvet,... But fundamentally, cookies have a rich, buttery taste, with hints of milk and eggs. They are crispy and irresistible with just one bite.
Mix peanut butter, brown sugar, flour, baking soda, eggs, and cocoa powder in a large bowl and mix well with an electric mixer. Note, make sure to sift the flour and baking soda to be smooth. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, scoop the batter onto the sheet, use the bottom of a glass to flatten the batter to about 0.5 cm thick. Then sprinkle chocolate chips on top and press lightly to adhere to the surface of the cookie. Finally, bake the cookies at 200°C for 8 minutes.
Image: Curated
Baking Soda for Sponge Cake
Among the list of baking soda recipes, sponge cake is indispensable. The sponge cake boasts a beautiful light color, a soft and smooth texture that is irresistibly enticing and unforgettable.
To achieve the desired fluffiness in sponge cake, baking soda is essential for even leavening. The sponge cake has a subtle sweetness and a slightly chewy texture from the rice flour. It's a light and delicate treat, perfect for breakfast or brunch.
Image: Curated
Pancake Delight
Pancake is a breakfast dish considered a national favorite in the U.S. and beloved by many around the globe. Pancakes aren't just for breakfast; they're also for lunch, dinner, or even a midnight snack - a term coined by Americans to enjoy breakfast foods like pancakes at midnight.
You can enjoy pancakes as a sweet treat when paired with butter, maple syrup, fruits, and whipped cream. But they also pair well with savory options like fried eggs, bacon,...
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Simple Pancake Recipe: A liquid mixture of egg yolks, milk, buttermilk, and melted butter. A dry mixture of flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt, sifted for smoothness. In another bowl, beat together eggs, vegetable oil, and unsweetened milk. Gradually pour the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, whisking until smooth. Heat a non-stick skillet, pour batter, and cook until golden on both sides.
Muffin Magic
Muffins are also globally renowned sweet treats. They resemble cupcakes but lack frosting, and their texture, especially when combined with fruits like blueberries, raspberries, is exceptional. Don't forget to add a bit of baking soda for that fluffy rise! The baked muffins will boast an appealing color and even rise. Their crumb will be tender and fluffy.
Image: Curated
Banana Bread with Baking Soda
The next name on the baking soda baking list is banana bread. This could also become a dish for the health-conscious crowd by substituting flour with oatmeal and incorporating various seeds. To make the banana bread extra soft and fluffy, you combine it with a bit of baking soda.
After baking, the bread emits a fragrant aroma of ripe sweet bananas and aromatic cinnamon. The bread rises nicely, with a moist and soft center. This baking soda recipe is truly a delightful dessert for a quick and nutritious dinner or breakfast.
Image: Curated
Tips for Baking with Baking Soda
To ensure success with baking soda, here are some key points to keep in mind:
- Before baking, check if your baking soda is still active by mixing 2g of baking soda with 10ml of vinegar. If it fizzes, it's still good to use.
- Once you've added baking soda to your batter, bake your goods immediately. Leaving it too long will cause the baking soda to release CO2, resulting in less rise.
- Avoid adding too much baking soda thinking it will make your baked goods rise more. Stick to the recommended ratios in your recipes for best results.
- To prevent issues like a bitter taste, uneven rising, or clumpy batter, make sure to sift your baking soda and mix it thoroughly with the dry ingredients.
Read More:
- What is whole wheat flour? Discover the 3 most delicious cakes made from whole wheat flour
- What kind of pastries can you make with flour No. 13? Try out these 6 delicious pastry recipes to showcase your skills
