Baking powder is a leavening agent, which means it helps items like cakes, breads, and cookies to rise. The baking powder creates gas bubbles that force the other ingredients to expand.
If you forget to add baking powder to your cake or mixture, your product will not be fluffy. Instead, it may be flat and hard. It could also collapse in the middle, making it under-cooked and inedible.
But let’s take a more in-depth look at what can happen if you forget to add baking powder to your baked goods.
What Will Happen To Cake If You Forgot The Baking Powder?
If your cake recipe calls for baking powder and you forget it, trouble could ensue. Since the baking powder helps the cake rise and become fluffy, your creation will not rise and will be dense.
It will look something like a giant hockey puck. Other cakes may collapse and fail to cook all the way through.
What Will Happen To Brownies If You Forget To Add Baking Powder?
Adding baking powder to brownies will lift them and make them more cake-like. But in this particular baking project, it may not be a bad thing.
No baking powder means the brownies will be denser and more fudge-like. Many people prefer a chewy, fudgy brownie.
What Will Happen If You Forget To Add Baking Powder To Cookies?
Forgetting the baking powder in cookies will make them less fluffy and more dense. They will still be edible, even tasty. Of course, it depends on the cookie.
Some cookies don’t need the fluff, while others do.
What Can You Substitute For Baking Powder?
It happens to the best of us. You go to make your treat and you’re missing an ingredient. You don’t want to trudge to the store.
In the case of baking powder, what can be used in its place?
1. Buttermilk
Buttermilk is a great substitute for baking powder. It has the same leavening properties as powder. Just combine it with a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and you’re good to go.
2. Yogurt
The live cultures help to give the same bubbling action as baking powder. The yogurt will also need to be combined with a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.
3. Club Soda
No baking soda is needed. The carbonation of the soda water will be enough to lift your baked goods and make them fluffy.
4. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice has enough of an acid-base that, when combined with baking soda, it will act as baking powder in your baked goods.
5. Self-Rising Flour
Self-rising flour is a great substitute for baking powder as it already contains baking powder.
Each cup of self-rising flour has 1-1/2 teaspoons of baking powder.
6. Whipped Egg Whites
Perhaps one of the best substitutes for baking powder. Eggs are usually already a part of the recipe. If the ingredients also call for sugar, it is even better.
Combine the eggs and sugar and whisk for a good 10 minutes.
By then, your mix should go from yellow to a fluffy cream color. Many people use this in place of baking powder and baking soda because they believe it tastes better and makes the product fluffier.
Does Baking Powder Go Bad?
Baking powder does not go bad in the sense that it turns rotten, but it will eventually lose its potency.
The powder will usually stay at its peak performance for about 6 months to a year. If you’re not sure, here’s an easy test to see if your baking powder still packs a punch.
Put 1/2 teaspoon into a bowl. Pour in boiling water (about 1/4 cup), if it bubbles, the baking powder is good. If it stays flat, toss it.
For the maximum benefit of the powder, keep it in a cool, dry place, and always make sure the lid is on, nice and tight.
What Is Baking Powder Made Of?
Baking powder contains:
- sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
- cream of tartar
- aluminum sulfate
- corn starch (keeps the powder from activating too early)
Can I Use Baking Powder In Place Of Baking Soda?
You can indeed use baking powder to replace baking soda, since the power contains some baking soda. You will just need to use 3 times the amount that the recipe calls for.
For example, if a recipe needs 1 teaspoon of baking soda, you want to use 3 teaspoons of baking powder.
What Does Baking Powder Taste Like?
Baking powder does not taste good. It has a bitter taste and a chalky, grainy texture. Baking powder is not made to be eaten by itself.
It’s specifically made to mix in with other ingredients to make baked goods rise and be fluffy.
Can You Make Your Own Baking Powder?
Yes, you can make your own baking powder. There are a few reasons for making your own.
Some people believe homemade has fewer metallic/bitter undertones. Others want to know exactly what is in their food.
While some people may just be out and don’t want to go to the store.
It’s super easy if you have the ingredients.
For 1 teaspoon of homemade baking powder you will need:
- 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar
- 1/4 teaspoon of cornstarch
Fun Baking Powder Facts
1. Baking powder was invented in 1843 by Alfred Bird, a British chemist.
2. Baking powder has 2 calories per teaspoon.
3. Before baking powder was invented, people used a variety of things to make their batter rise. Many of them were sour or extremely acidic, so the baked goods were not always too tasty.
Some of the items used were:
- yeast
- pearlash (a white salty substance used to produce soap and glass)
- smelling salts
- mix of lemon juice and vinegar
