What Is Baking powder and How Can I Use It?

Baking powder is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 5,283 recipes to get you started.

What is baking powder?

Baking powder is generally just baking soda mixed with an acid, and a number of kitchen acids may be mixed with baking soda to simulate commercial blends of baking powder.

Vinegar (dilute acetic acid), especially white vinegar, is also a common acidifier in baking; for example, many heirloom chocolate cake recipes call for a tablespoon or two of vinegar.

Where a recipe already uses buttermilk or yoghurt, baking soda can be used without cream of tartar (or with less).

Alternatively, lemon juice can be substituted for some of the liquid in the recipe, to provide the required acidity to activate the baking soda.

In China, a small amount of powdered coal is sometimes added to baking soda to simulate baking powder.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find baking powder: Baking powder is usually found in the baking supplies section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Baking powder is a member of the Baked Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

发酵粉

British (UK) term

Baking powder

en français

levure

en español

levadura en polvo

How much does baking powder weigh?

Related

Baked Products

Recipes using baking powder

There are 5283 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Very P-Nutty Muffins

Peanut butter banana muffins with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a swirl of sour cream for extra-tender crumb. Elvis-inspired snack muffins, freezer-friendly, ready in under an hour.

Pumpkin Biscuits (Lacto)

Savory pumpkin biscuits with whole wheat, wheat germ, bran, and a clever clove of garlic to balance the sweetness. Drop biscuits with a spoonbread interior, no butter or eggs needed.

Jello Any-Fruit Cake

A soft cake bottom, with a fruit filled middle topped with a tantalizing cinnamon topping. Learning how to make Jello fruit cake that use any fruit you have on hand including summery rhubarb with strawberry gelatin.

Easy Christmas Cutout Cookies

These Christmas cutout cookies are so easy for you and your kids to make together, and they taste so yummy too!

Graham Wafers

These homemade graham wafers are crisp, lightly sweet, and perfect for snacking, crushing into crumbs for pie crusts, or pairing with spreads. Made with wholesome graham flour and a touch of vanilla, they bake up golden and delicious in just minutes.

White Chocolate Scones

White chocolate scones with heavy cream, cold butter, and generous chunks of white chocolate that go soft and creamy in the oven. Flaky, layered, and tender from keeping the butter cold.

Kale & Two Cheese Scones

Craving a breakfast treat that's hearty, cheesy, and not overly sweet. These kale and cheese scones are your new best friend. Inspired by the cozy vibes of an American bakery, we've packed them with tender kale, sharp cheddar, nutty Parmessan, and a hint of plump raisins for a subtle sweetness that balances the savory kick. A generous grind of black pepper adds a spicy edge, making these perfect for brunch, snacks, or even alongside soup.

Persian Swiss Chard & Dill Frittata

Get ready to whip up a vibrant, herb-packed dish that’s bursting with flavor and perfect for any meal of the day! This Persian-inspired frittata is a fresh twist on the classic omelet, blending tender Swiss chard, fragrant dill, and zesty scallions into a fluffy, golden masterpiece. Baked to perfection, it’s easy to make and even easier to love. Serve it with warm flatbread, a sprinkle of feta, or a side of crisp veggies for a delightful meal. Let’s dive into this green goodness!

Tom's Favourite Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Chocolate chip pancakes from scratch with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla. Fluffy, kid-approved breakfast that hits the table in 30 minutes flat.

Dairy-Free Whole Wheat Apple Pancakes

A dairy-free and eggless whole-wheat apple pancake.

Favourite Pineapple Cake

Eggless pineapple cake made with sweetened condensed milk for a soft, moist crumb, flavored with pineapple essence and crushed pineapple, then finished with pineapple icing. A bakery-style cake with no eggs.

Frosted Rich Brownies

Frosted rich brownies: low-fat brownies built on evaporated and powdered skim milk instead of butter, then crowned with a coffee-spiked cocoa frosting. Deeply chocolate without the heaviness.

Buttermilk Waffles

Buttermilk waffles with chopped cashews folded into the batter and a quick fresh blueberry compote spooned over top. Light, crisp, and ready for weekend brunch in under 25 minutes.

Naan #3

Quick naan skips the yeast in favor of baking powder and soda for a faster, eggy Indian flatbread shaped into teardrops and baked hot. Soft, pliable, ready for any curry.

Mom's Pancakes

Fluffy homemade pancakes with golden-brown edges and tender centers, ready in just 15 minutes. Simple pantry staples transform into a weekend breakfast tradition kids will request every Saturday morning.

Chewy Coco brownies

Chewy cocoa brownies made from scratch with a sugar substitute, so they're lower in sugar but still rich, fudgy, and chocolatey. A simple one-bowl brownie built on cocoa powder, no melting.

Uncle's Favorite Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry muffins where half the berries get mashed into the batter for purple swirls and double the fruit flavor. Sugar-crusted tops, bakery-style domes.

Old-Style Wheat Biscuits

Old-style wheat biscuits: tender, fluffy whole-wheat biscuits made with canola oil and a quick buttermilk substitute. A homestyle baked good ready in 30 minutes flat.

Pancakes

Classic buttermilk-style pancakes with crispy edges and a tender crumb. This foolproof recipe uses the well method for lump-free batter and yields six generous servings of diner-quality breakfast.

Cocoa Layer Cake

A simple, one-bowl cocoa layer cake that comes together in minutes and bakes into two tender 9-inch layers. Rich chocolate flavor without fuss—perfect for beginners.

Breakfast Pancakes

Breakfast pancakes made cloud-fluffy by separating the eggs and folding stiffly whipped whites into the batter. The technique that delivers diner-style pillowy stacks at home in 40 minutes.

Gloria's Best Gingerbread Cookies

Soft, warmly spiced gingerbread cookies made with molasses, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg. Roll and cut into festive shapes for Christmas decorating with simple icing.

Basic Breakfast Pancakes

Basic homemade breakfast pancakes from scratch with pantry staples, no boxed mix needed. The secret is a barely-stirred lumpy batter and a screaming-hot griddle for fluffy, golden flapjacks every time.

Farmer's Market Pancakes

Beakfast pancake or muffin batter with zucchini, bananas, and raisins.

Buttermilk Waffles with Raspberry Sauce

Buttermilk waffles with raspberry sauce trade syrup for a bright purple-red puree spiked with orange zest. The tang of buttermilk and lift from baking powder give crisp-edged waffles a fluffy interior.

Howard's Pancakes

Howard's pancakes, a simple homemade pancake recipe with eggs, sugar, milk, baking powder, butter and just enough flour to make a fluffy batter. Cook on a hot griddle and serve with fruit and syrup.

Karen Butler's Banana Bread

Banana bread loaded with chocolate chips, raisins, and chopped nuts in a moist oil-based loaf. A retro family recipe stuffed with extras, perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Chocolate Waffles

Chocolate waffles bake up crisp outside and tender inside, with cocoa, brown sugar, and a splash of rum for depth. Cake flour keeps them light. A brunch-meets-dessert waffle made for piling on berries, cream, or syrup.

Nutty Maple Waffles

Nutty maple waffles with separated whipped egg whites for cloud-light texture, evaporated milk, and chopped pecans pressed into each waffle. Maple-scented breakfast classic.

Miss Lulu's Chocolate Waffles

Vintage chocolate waffles made with melted semisweet chocolate and folded egg whites for a tender, cake-like texture. Serve hot with syrup, whipped cream, or a scoop of ice cream for brunch or dessert.

Applesauce Chipotle Cornbread

Chipotle cornbread bakes in a hot cast iron skillet with puréed chipotles, applesauce, and buttermilk for smoky heat and a crisp crust. Low-fat Southwestern twist on classic cornbread.

Cute Sugar Cookies

Cut-out sugar cookies made with powdered sugar and egg whites for ultra-tender, snowy-white cookies that hold their shape under cookie cutters. Perfect for holiday decorating with frosting or colored sugar.

Blueberry Muffins with Nutmeg Topping

Bakery-style blueberry muffins with nutmeg sugar topping. Three flours, butter, and buttermilk give a tender crumb and tall domed tops crowned with crackly spiced sugar.

Best Chocolate Chip Brownies

Fudgy cocoa brownies loaded with chocolate chips and nuts, baked in a sheet pan for 48 generous squares. Rich chocolate batter topped with melty chips creates chewy-crisp perfection.

Chocolate Raisin Poppyseed Cookies

Eastern European chocolate poppyseed cookies with milk-soaked poppy seeds, melted unsweetened chocolate, raisins, lemon zest, and warm cinnamon-clove spice. A tea-time treat unlike any other cookie.

Pancakes (Prodigy)

Classic pancakes from a small-batch base of flour, milk, egg and a touch of sugar. Tender, golden discs that hit the griddle in 20 minutes flat. The kind of weekend stack that needs only butter and maple syrup.

Charlies Delicious Brownies

Charlie's brownies are one-bowl easy: dump, beat for a minute, and bake, then top with a glossy chocolate fudge icing. Brown sugar and melted unsweetened chocolate make them rich, and the icing seals the deal.

Streusel Snack Apple Muffins

Apple oat muffins topped with cinnamon-brown sugar streusel. Quick oats add hearty texture, fresh apple keeps the crumb moist. One-bowl batter, ready in 30 minutes.

Cathy's Buttermilk Pancakes

Buttermilk pancakes made with bacon drippings and folded egg whites for impossibly tall, fluffy stacks with a smoky-savory undercurrent. Twenty minutes from bowl to plate. Old-school Southern breakfast.

Favourite Chocolate Crackles

Chocolate crackle cookies: fudgy chocolate dough rolled in powdered sugar that splits into white-and-black crackle patterns as they bake. Holiday cookie tin classic.

Peanut Butter Snack Cookies

Classic peanut butter snack cookies with the signature fork-pressed crisscross pattern. Crisp edges, soft middles, and a deep peanut flavor. Makes three dozen for the cookie jar.

Famyly's Favorite Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

This is my family's absolute favorite banana muffin. To make an awesome banana bread, pour the prepared batter into a greased 9x13 loaf pan instead of muffin tins and bake for 45-60 minutes at 350 degrees.

Apple with Cream Cake

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Australia Šokolaadlkoogid

Lamingtons, the classic Australian treat, squares of tender almond butter cake dipped in chocolate icing and rolled in shredded coconut. Pillowy, chocolatey, and snowy with coconut in every bite.

Mom's Christmas Ornament Cookies

Classic six-ingredient rolled sugar cookies built for cutting Christmas shapes and decorating with royal icing. Crisp edges, soft centers, holds intricate details beautifully.

Delicious Breakfast Waffles

Light, crisp homemade waffles made with a classic trick: whipped egg whites folded into the batter for a fluffy interior and golden, crunchy edges. Serve with fresh berries, syrup, and whipped cream.

Mom's Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes

Mom's whole wheat blueberry pancakes use applesauce and soy milk for a dairy-free vegan-friendly breakfast. Hearty whole-grain pancakes with juicy berries and no eggs.

Dad's Berry Buttermilk Scones

Dad's berry buttermilk scones bake whole wheat dough studded with blueberries or blackberries into wedges with crisp sugar tops. A wholesome breakfast scone made in cake pans.

Homemade Peanut Cookies

Homemade peanut cookies bake crisp butter dough laced with a shot of coffee and crowned with roasted peanuts. A simple cut-out cookie with a subtle mocha edge and a salty-sweet crunch on top.

Aunt's Chocolate Chip Raisin Cookies

Chocolate chip raisin cookies baked low and slow for crisp golden edges and chewy centers. Two cups each of plump raisins and semi-sweet chips packed into every cookie.

All 5,283 recipes