Baking basics
Substitutes for baking powder
Baking powder is baking soda with a dry acid already mixed in, so it makes bakes rise without anything acidic in the batter.
-
Baking soda + cream of tartar
- How much
- ¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar for each 1 tsp baking powder
- How
- Mix it in with the dry ingredients and bake soon after: this mix starts working as soon as it gets wet.
- What changes
- Rises the same if you don't let the batter sit.
- Best in
- Cakes, muffins, biscuits, pancakes.
-
Baking soda + buttermilk or yogurt
- How much
- ¼ tsp baking soda for each 1 tsp baking powder, and swap ½ cup of the recipe's milk for buttermilk or thinned yogurt
- What changes
- Good rise with a light tang.
- Best in
- Pancakes, biscuits, quick breads.
-
Self-rising flour
- How much
- Use it for the flour and leave out the baking powder and salt
- What changes
- Each cup has about 1½ tsp baking powder and ¼ tsp salt built in, so it only fits recipes close to that ratio.
- Best in
- Biscuits, pancakes, simple cakes.
Good to know
- Is yours still good? Stir ½ tsp into ¼ cup hot water: it should fizz right away.
- Baking powder is usually gluten-free, but check the label if you bake for someone with celiac disease.
Simmerbee recipes with baking powder (32)
- Air-Fryer Falafel Patties
- Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
- Bakery-Style Blueberry Streusel Muffins
- Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Blondies
- Cheddar Chive Buttermilk Scones
- Chocolate Cupcakes with Fudge Frosting
- Classic Cream Scones
- Classic Crispy Potato Latkes
- Classic Vanilla Butter Pound Cake
- Crisp Classic Waffles
- Crispy Oven-Baked Honey Garlic Wings
- Crispy Pan-Fried Falafel with Tahini Sauce
- Crispy-Edged Cast-Iron Skillet Cornbread
- Cut-Out Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
- Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits
- Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes
- Fluffy Gluten-Free Buttermilk Pancakes
- Fluffy Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream
- Glazed Blueberry Lemon Scones
- Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes
- Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Sugar Tops
- Lemon Cream Cheese Bundt Pound Cake
- Lemon Cut-Out Sugar Cookies with Lemon Glaze
- Moist Cinnamon Walnut Zucchini Bread
- One-Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Fudgy Frosting
- Oven-Baked Gochujang-Honey Wings
- Soft Peanut Butter Cookies with a Fork Crosshatch
- Soft Sugar Cookies (No Rolling Pin Needed)
- Sweet Honey Cornbread with Honey Butter
On those recipes, tap Swaps next to the ingredient for the short version.
More baking basics swaps
Baking sodaCornstarchYeastCocoa powderChocolate and chocolate chipsVanilla extractCream of tartar
Ingredient guide: Baking powder: pick, store and measure