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Baking powder is a leavening agent used to help batters rise when they’re cooked. Luckily, if you’re out of baking powder and in a pinch, you can make your own with ingredients that are probably already in your pantry! Your homemade mixtures will work in your batter more quickly, so make sure you bake it right away!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp (14 g) of baking soda
- 2 tbsp (10 g) of cream of tartar
- 1 tsp (3 g) of corn starch (optional)
Substitutes 3 tbsp (41 g) of baking powder
- 1 tsp (4.6 g) of baking soda
- 1 ⁄ 4 tsp (1.2 mL) of lemon juice
Substitutes 1 tsp (14 g) of baking powder
- ¼ tsp (1.5 g) of baking soda
- ½ cup (122.5 g) of plain Greek yogurt or 1 ⁄ 2 c (120 mL) of buttermilk
Substitutes 1 tsp (14 g) of baking powder
Steps
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Mix 1 tbsp (14 g) of baking soda with 2 tbsp (10 g) of cream of tartar. Use a small whisk to thoroughly sift the powders together. The cream of tartar causes a reaction with the baking soda and forms baking powder. [1] X Research source
- Cream of tartar can be found in the baking aisle of your local grocery store.
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Store the mix in an airtight container if you’re not using it right away. Use a resealable plastic container and store it in your pantry. Make sure no moisture gets inside the container since your baking powder could clump. [2] X Research source- Baking powder can be stored indefinitely. You can check if your baking soda is fresh by pouring hot water on it and seeing if it bubbles. [3] X Research source
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Add 1 tsp (3 g) of corn starch to prevent clumps. If you don’t plan to use your baking powder right away, it will start to clump up and be hard to use. Stir in 1 tsp (3 g) of corn starch with a whisk to prevent clumping. [4] X Research source
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Add 1 tsp (4.6 g) of baking soda to the dry ingredients of your batter. Whisk the baking soda thoroughly with the rest of the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. [5] X Research source
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Pour 1 ⁄ 4 tsp (1.2 mL) of lemon juice into the wet ingredients. Keep the wet ingredients, like eggs or milk, in another mixing bowl separate from the dry ingredients. [6] X Research source
- Lemon juice can affect the flavor of your baked goods if you use too much. If you don’t want added citrus flavor, do not use lemon juice.
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Mix the dry and wet ingredients according to the recipe. Stir all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. This combines the lemon juice and baking powder, causing the reaction that creates baking powder. [7] X Research source
- This creates a single-acting baking powder. Store-bought baking powder is usually double-acting, meaning it leavens your batter when it’s first mixed and when it cooks. Cook the batter once you mix in the baking powder.
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Add 1/4 tsp (1.5 g) of baking soda to your dry ingredients. Keep the dry and wet ingredients in separate mixing bowls. Use a whisk to mix the baking soda entirely into the other dry ingredients. [8] X Research source
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Use either ½ cup (122.5 g) of Greek yogurt or 1 ⁄ 2 c (120 mL) of buttermilk. Both types of dairy are fermented and can trigger the reaction needed to make baking powder. Make sure to use plain, unflavored dairy so it doesn’t affect the flavor of your baked goods and mix it with the rest of your wet ingredients. [9] X Research source
- Check the dairy section of your local grocer for Greek yogurt or buttermilk.
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Reduce the other liquids used in your recipe to account for the dairy. Buttermilk and yogurt will make your batter runnier if you don’t change the amounts of the other ingredients. Adjust the amounts of your other wet ingredients until you remove 1 ⁄ 2 c (120 mL). [10] X Research source
- If there are other dairy products in your recipe, reduce their amounts first. Then adjust the levels of any extracts or flavorings you would normally add to the recipe.
- This may affect the flavor and bake of your recipe.
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Combine the wet and dry ingredients according to the recipe. Mix all the ingredients together in 1 of the mixing bowls. This starts the reaction between the dairy and baking soda to make baking powder. [11] X Research source
- Use the batter right away to get the baking powder’s full effect.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I make a substitute for an egg wash?Traci Morgan-Hoernke is a Gluten-Free Baking Specialist based in Milwaukee, WI. She is the owner of MOR Foods, LLC, a Bakery in Milwaukee dedicated to providing delicious Gluten-Free treats. She was inspired to start the bakery after spending years navigating her own son’s food allergies and subsequently built a business based on catering to those with food sensitivities.Instead of an egg wash, you can opt for brushing liquid oil over your baked goods, like we do with our bread, to achieve that desirable golden hue. Another option is to create a mixture of tapioca starch and water, whipping it up and lightly brushing it over the surface. Additionally, some recommend using non-dairy milk, such as rice or almond milk, for a similar effect. It's important to note that while these alternatives add a sugar and fat component to achieve browning in the oven, they may not replicate the exact results of an egg wash.
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QuestionHow much vinegar do I use to equal 1 teaspoon of baking powder?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerUse 1/4 teaspoon or 1.2 milliliters with a tablespoon of baking soda to make baking powder.
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QuestionWhat kind of vinegar do I use?Community AnswerYou should use regular white vinegar.
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Tips
- Mix the baking powder substitutes together right before you plan on cooking with them.Thanks
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Warnings
- The baking powder substitutes you mix are single-acting, meaning they release gas as soon as they’re mixed. Put your mix in the oven soon after you make the substitute. [12] X Research sourceThanks
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Things You’ll Need
Using Cream of Tartar
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
- Airtight container
Adding Lemon Juice to a Recipe
- 2 mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
Using Yogurt or Buttermilk in Your Recipe
- 2 mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about baking, check out our in-depth interview with Traci Morgan-Hoernke .
References
- ↑ https://www.thespruceeats.com/make-your-own-baking-powder-995820
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-baking-powder-out-of-baking-soda-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-212553
- ↑ http://bakingbites.com/2011/03/how-to-test-baking-powder-and-baking-soda-for-freshness/
- ↑ https://www.thespruceeats.com/make-your-own-baking-powder-995820
- ↑ https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/substitute-baking-powder/
- ↑ https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/substitute-baking-powder/
- ↑ https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/substitute-baking-powder/
- ↑ https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/substitute-baking-powder/
- ↑ https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/substitute-baking-powder/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To substitute baking powder in a recipe, start by adding 1 teaspoon of baking soda to the dry ingredients for every 3 teaspoons of baking powder the recipe calls. Then, add 1/4 teaspoon of lemon juice to the wet ingredients for every 1 teaspoon of baking soda you used. Finally, combine the dry and wet ingredients according to your recipe and voila! The lemon juice and baking powder will react with each other and create a baking powder substitute. To learn how to use cream of tartar as a baking powder substitute, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I'm staying at my niece's and wanted to bake some vegan banana bread, but no baking powder. I'm from out of town and didn't want to get lost finding a store with baking powder, so I searched my fave recipe and then did the conversion. It was so great that you gave me exact amounts to use, instead of finding another place to help. It's baking now and I know she's going to love it! Thanks so much." ..." more
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"I'm staying at my niece's and wanted to bake some vegan banana bread, but no baking powder. I'm from out of town and didn't want to get lost finding a store with baking powder, so I searched my fave recipe and then did the conversion. It was so great that you gave me exact amounts to use, instead of finding another place to help. It's baking now and I know she's going to love it! Thanks so much."
..."
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"Had sweet tooth, craved butterscotch blondies. Recipe called for baking powder, but I didn't have any! Googled for substitute, and this popped up immediately! Didn't have to search at all! Worked great, thank you for making it so easy!"
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"My kids wanted homemade pancakes the day after Thanksgiving. We didn't have baking powder. Oops! So, acting as if this was what I intended anyway, in true mom fashion, I said "Let's make a substitute using baking soda" (I wasn't sure that we could do that, but I seemed to remember that we could). By looking at this wikiHow and choosing the lemon option, we made the best pancakes ever! Thanks, wikiHow."
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"I just needed a teaspoon of baking powder. I checked the expiration date on mine, and it was over a year old! Did not want to run to the store for a teaspoon of an ingredient, so I searched online for a substitute. I found this article most helpful. Thanks."
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"Realized I didn't have to go buy baking powder or cream of tartar if I have baking soda and lemon juice on hand, which I do! So I can carry on with cooking without going back to the store. "
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