Mixing your own baking powder
Also searched as: homemade baking powder, baking powder substitute, baking soda and cream of tartar
In short: Baking powder is a mix of a base, an acid and a little starch. You can mix it yourself from baking soda and cream of tartar in a minute.
Like fireworks with the fuse packed separately: only once water is added does it go off.
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp cornflour
- a dry screw-top jar
Step by step: what happens
- 1Mix baking soda, cream of tartar and starch while dry
Baking soda is the base, cream of tartar the acid. Dry, they do not react with each other.
Chemical leavening - 2Do not leave out the starch
It takes up moisture from the air before the acid and base do, and keeps the mix free-flowing.
Starch (corn, potato) - 3Stir into the batter with the liquid and bake straight away
With water, acid and base react and form carbon dioxide. This mix gets going at once, so do not wait.
Chemical leavening - 4Test freshness: sprinkle a little into hot water
If it foams vigorously, it is still active.
Result
About 4 tsp of baking powder, as much as one sachet. 1 tsp replaces 1 tsp of shop-bought baking powder.
Keeps for
A few weeks, dry and airtight. Moisture starts the reaction too early.
What to use it for
- Cakes, muffins and pancakes when you have run out.
- For people who want phosphate-free baking powder.
- Smitten Kitchen: Make your own baking powder
- Harold McGee: On Food and Cooking (2004)