Buzz
Baking powder is a key ingredient that causes dough to rise during cooking. If you're out of it, you can easily create this ingredient at home using what you already have in your kitchen! Homemade baking powder tends to work faster, so be sure to bake your goods immediately!
Ingredients
Using cream of tartar powder
- 1 tablespoon (15g) of baking soda
- 2 tablespoons (10g) of cream of tartar powder
- 1 teaspoon (3g) of cornstarch (optional)
Substitute 3 tablespoons (40g) of baking powder
Add lemon juice to the recipe
- 1 teaspoon (5g) of baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon of lemon juice
Replace 1 teaspoon (15g) of baking powder
Add yogurt or buttermilk to the recipe
- ¼ teaspoon of baking soda
- ½ cup (120g) of plain Greek yogurt or ½ cup (120ml) of buttermilk
Substitute 1 teaspoon (15g) of baking powder
Steps
Use cream of tartar powder
Mix 1 tablespoon (15g) of baking soda with 2 tablespoons (10g) of cream of tartar powder. Use a small whisk to combine the two ingredients. Cream of tartar reacts with baking soda, producing a homemade baking powder.
- Cream of tartar is available at the baking supply section of most grocery stores.
Keep the powder mixture in a sealed container if you're not using it right away. Use a plastic container with a secure lid and store the powder in a kitchen cabinet. Ensure the container stays dry to prevent the baking powder from clumping together.
- Baking powder doesn’t have an expiration date. If you pour hot water onto baking soda and it bubbles, it’s still fresh.
Add 1 teaspoon (3g) of cornstarch to prevent the powder mixture from clumping. Baking powder that isn’t used immediately can gradually clump, making it harder to use. Therefore, mix in 1 teaspoon (3g) of cornstarch to keep it from solidifying.
Add lemon juice to the recipe
Incorporate 1 teaspoon (5g) of baking soda into the dry mixture. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine the baking soda with the other dry ingredients in the bowl.
Add ¼ teaspoon of lemon juice to the wet ingredients. You'll place wet ingredients, such as eggs or milk, in a separate bowl from the dry ingredients.
- Lemon juice may alter the flavor of your baked goods if you use too much. If you’re not fond of the lemon taste, it's better to avoid adding lemon juice.
Mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients according to the recipe. Ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined in the bowl. This process will cause the lemon juice and baking soda to react, creating the desired leavening effect.
- This method results in a single-action baking powder reaction. Commercial baking powder typically has a double-action reaction, meaning the mixture rises both during mixing and baking. Be sure to bake the batter after adding the baking powder to the mixture.
Add yogurt or buttermilk to the recipe
Add 1 teaspoon (4.5g) of baking soda to the dry ingredients. Separate the dry and wet ingredients. Use a whisk to thoroughly mix the baking soda into the dry ingredients.
Use ½ cup (120g) of plain Greek yogurt or ½ cup (120ml) of buttermilk. These fermented dairy products can trigger the necessary reaction to activate the baking powder. Be sure to use plain, unflavored varieties to avoid altering the flavor of the baked goods. Mix well with the other wet ingredients.
- You can find Greek yogurt or buttermilk in the dairy section of most supermarkets.
Reduce the amount of other liquids in the recipe when using dairy products. Buttermilk and yogurt will make the batter more liquid, so you’ll need to decrease the amount of other liquids by ½ cup.
- Start by reducing any dairy products used in the recipe (if applicable). Then, cut down on any extracts or flavorings you usually add to the recipe.
- This adjustment may affect the flavor and outcome of the recipe.
Mix the dry and wet ingredients according to the recipe. You will combine all ingredients in the same bowl. The reaction between the milk and baking soda will create the leavening effect.
- Use the mixture immediately to get the most out of the baking powder’s effectiveness.
Tips
- Prepare the homemade baking powder substitute in advance before you need it during the cooking process.
Warning
- The homemade baking powder substitute you make is a single-action type - gas bubbles will form as soon as you mix the baking powder with the dry ingredients. Therefore, be sure to put the mixture into the oven right after adding the substitute baking powder.
What You Will Need
Use cream of tartar
- Bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
- Sealable container
Add lemon juice to the recipe
- 2 bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
Add yogurt or buttermilk to the recipe
- 2 bowls
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
