Homemade Baking Powder

Homemade Baking Powder

Homemade baking powder is my latest kitchen experiment. I ran out of baking powder making Una’s Apple Cake earlier in the week. This prompted me to look and see if I could make my own instead of making an extra trip to the store just for that because I was stuck mid-recipe. 

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Never run out of baking powder again!

There is nothing worse than running out of something in the middle of a baking project. It is one of my pet peeves when it comes to cooking or baking. Being able to make my own things like baking powder with pantry staples means that I will not run out again in the middle of making something again. I have confidence in being able to make something from start to finish and not have to start over or interrupt the project. 

This is where this homemade baking powder recipe comes in so handy! It is amazing to make things yourself and never have to worry about running out again.

Did you know you could make baking powder? Honestly, I didn’t either until this week when I ran out. For whatever reason, that is one of those things we all assume is some special concoction that magically happens and it has to be purchased at the store. It generally isn’t at the top of my scratch-made list of things I do. I doubt it is for many people. 

It’s so easy to make homemade baking powder yourself

What struck me was how easy homemade baking powder is to make! Why didn’t I know this sooner?! I kind of feel a little dumb now because I had never looked into this or knew how easy it really is. 

What does baking powder do? It is a leavening agent, and when mixed with a wet batter, a chemical reaction happens. Meaning it works by releasing carbon dioxide gas, causing bubbles and lightening a batter. This is what causes cakes, cookies, and even pancakes to have a light or fluffy texture versus being thick and dense. 

Homemade Baking Powder Ingredients

1 Tbsp Baking Soda 

2 Tbsps Cream of Tartar 

These equal 3 Tbsps Baking Powder! 

Homemade Baking Powder Directions

Mix these ingredients until well combined and store in an airtight container. 

Homemade Baking Powder Notes

It is literally that easy! To make a batch of homemade baking powder and keep it on the shelf, I recommend adding in a tablespoon of either cornstarch or arrowroot powder. If you have a corn allergy or on a grain-free diet, use the arrowroot powder. Otherwise cornstarch is fine.

These will help keep the baking powder dry and not start the chemical reaction before it is in a batter. For this same reason, do not store the baking powder in the refrigerator. The condensation will cause a chemical reaction before it is time. 

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the pantry. I don’t know how long this will last in the pantry without testing it over time. I made a small batch to use immediately. However if you do store it in the pantry and want to test it, mix 1 teaspoon baking powder with ⅓ of a cup of water. If it fizzes and bubbles, the baking powder is still good! If it is flat, your baking will be too. You’ll want to mix up a new batch of baking powder. 

What I love about this recipe is I always have the necessary ingredients on hand! Baking soda is great for cleaning and absorbing yucky smells. Cream of tartar is an excellent way to make buttermilk if I don’t have any traditional buttermilk. Combined with milk, it will cause the milk to curdle and create buttermilk. 

More uses for the ingredients

To make buttermilk from milk and cream of tartar, mix 1 ¾ teaspoon cream of tartar with 1 cup of milk and let it sit for approximately 5 minutes. Be sure to mix it thoroughly. Now you have an excellent buttermilk substitute, and another reason to keep cream of tartar in your pantry. 

Both of these ingredients have other uses, and I love adding another one to the list! Do you get excited by household items having multiple uses? Because I certainly do, and this is a big one! 

Knowing how to make my own baking powder also saves me time and money because I’m using ingredients I already have, and saving a trip to the store. I generally have no shortage of things to do, so anything that will save me time and an extra trip to the store is amazing. 

I also love that the ingredient list is things most of us are very familiar with and use with some consistency. Knowing the ingredients in my food is a big deal to me. It always amazes me how many people don’t know what is in their food or where it comes from. Knowing how to make things myself also helps to combat supply shortages. 

Discussion

Have you tried making this homemade baking powder recipe at home? If so, tell me about your experience in the comments! Check out my other condiment and sauce recipes for more options to make household staples yourself!

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