Baking Powder Substitute: 5 Pantry Options

Don’t panic when you run out of baking powder. I’ll share 5 easy solutions that work as a baking powder substitute, and you probably have them all in your fridge or pantry.

Have you ever wanted to make a cake but realized you were out of baking powder? It has happened to me many times!

Thankfully, there are plenty of easy-to-find substitutes to help you with your baking.

What is Baking Powder?

To understand how a baking powder substitute works, you need to understand what baking powder is.

Baking powder is a leavening agent that is used when you bake dough or batter to help it rise.

It is baking soda + an acid + something to absorb the moisture.

The acid and baking soda react with each other when they come into contact with any liquid, producing carbon dioxide gas bubbles. These bubbles cause the dough or batter to rise.

The cornstarch in baking powder absorbs moisture and helps to keep the baking powder dry and stable so that it doesn’t react until it is added to a recipe.

I have a homemade baking powder recipe that is gluten free.

Baking Powder Ingredients

The typical baking powder you purchase at the grocery store is made of baking soda, an acid (such as cream of tartar), and a moisture-absorbing substance (such as cornstarch).

Substitute for Baking Powder

• Self-rising flour: Self-rising flour is a type of flour that already contains baking powder and salt, so it can be used in place of baking powder in many recipes. Make sure you omit any additional baking powder and salt.
• Baking soda and cream of tartar: If you don’t have baking powder, you can make your own by mixing together baking soda and cream of tartar.
• Baking soda and vinegar or lemon juice: Another option is to mix baking soda with vinegar or lemon juice to create a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide gas bubbles.
• Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a fermented dairy product that contains lactic acid, which can react with baking soda to produce carbon dioxide gas bubbles.
• Yogurt: Like buttermilk, yogurt contains lactic acid that can react with baking soda to produce carbon dioxide gas bubbles.

Substitute for 1 tsp Baking Powder

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda + 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda + 1/2 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice
• 1/4 cup self-rising flour (omit any additional salt from the recipe)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda + 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda + 1/4 cup plain yogurt

Remember that these substitutes may not produce the same rising effect as baking powder, so your baked goods may not turn out quite the same.

I’ve always had great results using baking soda and cream of tartar and baking soda and lemon juice.

Substitute for 1 tbsp Baking Powder

• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda + 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda + 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice
• 3/4 cup self-rising flour (omit any additional salt from the recipe)
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda + 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda + 3/4 cup plain yogurt

More substitutions to try

• Egg Substitute
• Buttermilk Substitute
• Cornstarch Substitute

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