How to Make Baking Powder

Did you know you can make your own baking powder? I tend to make my own quite a bit, especially when I don’t want to make a trip to the shop. Depending on how much you are needing, here are a few recipes that will help you.

What is Baking Powder?

This leavening agent is used in baking to help provide lift (it is a raising agent) and texture to baked products.

It contains three ingredients – baking soda, cream of tartar and cornflour (cornstarch).

The cornflour is there to help absorb moisture and to prevent the powder from clumping which helps extend the shelf life of the product. Therefore, if you are using the product immediately, then you can leave the cornflour out.

No Cream of Tartar?

If you don’t have any cream of tartar on hand, what else can you use?

You just need to replace it with another acid such as buttermilk. So, if the recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of baking powder, use ¼ teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and ½ cup of buttermilk.

Using Baking Powder

Baking powder is used in cakes, quick breads, pancakes and more. 

Bicarbonate of soda is usually used in recipes that include an acidic ingredient such as buttermilk, vinegar, lemon juice, while baking powder is used in recipes that don’t.

Making Baking Powder

This recipe is great when you run out of the commercial product, if you are a gluten-free family or if you are trying to eliminate aluminium from your diet.

Yes, there is aluminium in some baking powders!

To make 1 TBSP this powder, you will need:

• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 tsp arrowroot powder / cornstarch (your preference)

Mix all the ingredients together and use as needed.

Store in an air-tight container.

Making Large Quantities

Pretty much, you will need to use equal amounts of bicarb soda and arrowroot powder / cornstarch and twice as much cream of tartar, making it easy to adjust the ratios if you need to make a larger batch.

So therefore to make ¼ cup of this Powder, you will need:

• 1 TBSP bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
• 2 TBSP cream of tartar
• 1 TBSP arrowroot powder / cornstarch

Mix all the ingredients together and use as needed. Store in an air-tight container.

How to store Baking Powder

Baking powder should be stored in a cool, dry place in an air-tight container. Cans of commercial baking powder will have an expiration date stamped on the bottom; always check the date before using the baking powder.

Testing Baking Powder

To test if baking powder is still good, add one teaspoon of baking powder to 1/3 cup of hot water; if the mixture bubbles vigorously, then the baking powder is good to use.

Using Baking Powder

This powder contains baking soda or bicarbonate of soda, so when a liquid is added to the recipe, the powder and the liquid react to form bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. Due to this, it is important to use the recipe right away before the bubbles disappear and before over-mixing.

Baking powder is used in baking, in things such as cakes, muffins, and bread. It is important to measure this ingredient precisely as too little or too much can have serious effects on your baking, such as falling or preventing it from rising.

Here are some recipes that use baking powder.