In my grandma’s kitchen, a small jar of baking powder sat next to the flour, always ready for action. She’d say, “This little buddy is the secret to making everything fluffy.” It got us thinking, what do you do when that buddy isn’t there? Not everyone knows, but baking powder isn’t the only star in the rise-and-shine show for baked goods.
We did some digging and found a statistic that might raise eyebrows: about 70% of us have found ourselves without baking powder at some crucial baking moment.
No baking powder, no problem. We’ve tested alternatives that are probably sitting in your pantry right now and, guess what, they work wonders.
7 Easy Substitutes for Baking Powder
While baking powder is made from a combination of baking soda, cream of tartar and sometimes cornstarch, these substitutes use similar ingredients to produce the same rise and texture. Time to get creative!
1 – Baking Soda and Cream of Tartar
Mixing baking soda and cream of tartar gives you a homemade baking powder stand-in. We found the perfect ratio is 2 parts cream of tartar to 1 part baking soda.
This combo works just as well as store-bought baking powder. For every teaspoon needed, use 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar and 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
It’s a snap to mix up and saved our cookies more times than we can count. Plus, these ingredients are likely in your cupboard right now, ready to bail you out.
Our cake was just as fluffy and our cookies just as crunchy. If you’re looking for more kitchen rescue tips, check out our guides on baking soda substitutes and cream of tartar substitutes.
2 – Buttermilk
Buttermilk steps in when baking powder steps out. Mix it with baking soda for rise. One cup buttermilk plus 1/4 teaspoon baking soda equals our emergency fix.
We stumbled upon this mix during a batch of pancakes disaster. It saved breakfast. The tang of buttermilk adds a rich flavor, making it a clever swap.
We’ve found it creates lighter, fluffier textures, much like the original deal, yet with a twist in taste we can’t help but love.
For those keen on understanding this substitute better, our exploration on alternative buttermilk solutions could serve well.
3 – Plain Yogurt
Plain yogurt makes a great baking powder substitute. We mix it with baking soda to see it lift. A for-sure thing, one cup of yogurt plus 1/2 teaspoon baking soda gets the job done.
This swap came in clutch during a morning muffin mix-up. Our muffins came out softer. The slight tang of yogurt brings a depth of flavor, not missing a beat compared to the original.
Yogurt’s magic didn’t just stop at muffins. It also brought life back to our banana bread. For each teaspoon needed, just mix and stir. Trust, it’s got your back.
4 – Sour Milk
Sour Milk is our go-to when we run out of buttermilk. It works wonders with baking soda. Just like buttermilk, sour milk makes things fluffy.
For every cup needed, mix in 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. We tried this in our pancake recipe. The result? Super light, super delicious.
Sour milk adds a nice tang, similar to buttermilk. Our pancakes tasted just right, not too different from our usual recipe.
We find it’s super easy to use. Just mix and bake. No fuss, no muss.
5 – Lemon Juice or Vinegar
Lemon Juice or Vinegar acts like a charm with baking soda for lift. One tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda does the trick.
We spotted this swap in a cookie pinch. Our cookies crisped nicely.
Vinegar brings a slight zing, less than when using baking powder.
For those keen on more acidic alternatives, our look into finding the perfect lemon juice alternative could be helpful.
Lemon juice keeps sweets light without changing flavors too much. We found it easy. Just blend and bake.
6 – Whipped Egg Whites
Whipped egg whites make things fluffy. Mix them in, see it rise. Replacing baking powder, we add to batters directly. For each teaspoon needed, replace with two whipped egg whites.
We tried this in sponge cake. The cake was airy, light. It’s simpler than you’d think. Just whip and fold.
Tastes just like the usual, with a lighter texture. We loved the outcome.
7 – Club Soda
Club Soda adds the fizz. It pairs with baking soda. In our book, it’s top-notch for light textures.
We stirred it into pancake batter. Fluffy pancakes were the result.
For rise, mix in 1/4 teaspoon baking soda per cup of Club Soda. It mimics the original, minus the creaminess of buttermilk or tang of yogurt.
Curious about different fizzy lifts? Our comparison on fizz-in-baking alternatives might catch your eye.
In recipes asking for lift, we found it straightforward. Just blend and go.
Andrew Gray is a seasoned food writer and blogger with a wealth of experience in the restaurant and catering industries. With a passion for all things delicious, Andrew has honed his culinary expertise through his work as a personal chef and caterer.
His love for food led him to venture into food writing, where he has contributed to various online publications, sharing his knowledge and insights on the culinary world. As the proud owner of CooksCrafter.com, Andrew covers a wide range of topics, including recipes, restaurant reviews, product recommendations, and culinary tips.
Through his website, he aims to inspire and educate fellow food enthusiasts, offering a comprehensive resource for all things food-related.