One of the things I really love to do on a rainy weekend at home is to experiment with baking.
Homemade bread, cakes, or brioche, the flavor fills the entire house and it gives a cozy and warm feeling.
Of course, the worst that could happen when I have prepared everything to bake a cake is to find out I have run out of baking powder. I guess many of you have been in this situation.
Don’t panic! There are some wonderful substitutes or baking powder that could save a trip to the store. Whipped egg whites, cream of tartar, or a self- rising flour are common substitutes.
Baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate paired with acid. When you combine it with water the acid reacts with the sodium bicarbonate in an acid-base reaction and releases carbon dioxide gas.
This reaction leads to bubbles formation that actually add air into the bakings and make them fluffy and soft.
5 Easy Substitutes For Baking Powder
1Vinegar
The acid PH of vinegar makes it a perfect substitute for baking powder. Vinegar itself has been produced thanks to a fermentation process during which bacteria convert the alcohol into acetic acid. When you combine it with baking soda you will get the leavening effect you are looking for in cakes and cookies.
Substitute every 5 grams of baking powder to 1/2 teaspoon vinegar, mixed with 1/4 teaspoon baking soda to get the real effect.
Despite the strong flavor of the vinegar, you shouldn’t worry about the taste of your meals. But it would be better to use white vinegar to avoid coloring the food.
2Club Soda
Club soda is often used as a baking powder substitute.
Thanks the sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda that contains it is a common ingredient in many baking recipes. You should know that this baking powder substitute is recommended for baking that do not require a huge volume.
Pancakes or some cookies are perfect recipes to substitute baking powder. It usually replaces the liquid ingredient in the recipe- such as milk or plain water.
3Plain Yogurt
Plain yogurt is produced by a fermentation process which increases the lactic acid concentration and decreases the PH levels.
Substitutes with lower PH levels are considered acidic. Which makes it a perfect baking powder substitute.
To use plain yogurt instead of baking powder, replace 1 teaspoon of baking powder in the recipe with 1/2 cup of plain yogurt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda.
4Sour Milk
Similar to plain yogurt, sour milk has low levels of PH. The acidity reacts with baking soda that makes the leavening effect in your cakes and bakeries.
For an ultimate result replace 5 grams baking powder with 1/2 cup of sour milk mixed with 1/4 teaspoon baking soda.
5Lemon Juice
It is easy to guess that lemon juice is a strong acid. That makes it a great substitute for baking powder.
Remember it has a strong flavor too and you should be careful when you use it. The ultimate proportion of 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice mixed with 1/4 teaspoon baking soda replaced 5 grams of baking powder.
