Baking powder and baking soda are common baking ingredients. Both act as leavening agents for your batter or dough, which means they’re key players that make your baked goods rise into fluffy, delicious treats. Despite doing the same thing, though, they’re unique ingredients with different chemical compositions. Learn all about the differences between baking powder and baking soda with this quick rundown.
Baking Soda Is a Base
Baking soda is a base chemical known as sodium bicarbonate, which means that it remains stable until it comes into contact with an acid. This is the defining feature of baking soda: it requires an acidic ingredient to activate it. That’s why recipes that use baking soda as a leavening agent will also have an acidic ingredient, such as vinegar, buttermilk, yogurt, or lemon juice. By combining both the base and the acid, you achieve the chemical reaction that causes your baked goods to rise.
Baking Powder Is a Base and an Acid
The biggest difference between baking powder and baking soda is that baking powder contains both the base and the acid, making it a complete leavening agent in and of itself. Baking powder is a mix of baking soda (the base) and cream of tartar (a dry acidic ingredient). Many baking powders also contain cornstarch to prevent the base and the acid from activating before you use them. Instead, the baking powder is activated by liquid or heat once you use it in your recipe.
Can You Substitute One for the Other?
Technically, you can swap baking soda for baking powder—and vice versa—in your recipe. But it’s not a simple 1:1 ratio. Because baking soda is a pure base, it’s stronger than baking powder. This means you’ll need much more baking powder if you’re using it to replace baking soda, which can end up changing the taste of your baked goods.
Meanwhile, baking soda requires an acid. If you swap it for baking powder, you’ll need to add an acidic ingredient, which will, in turn, change the taste, texture, and consistency of the end result.
Find the Ingredients You Need With Damask Cakes
When you purchase a cake baking kit with ingredients from Damask Cakes, you receive the right amount of baking soda or baking powder. This takes the guesswork—and the stress—out of baking. Enjoy creating delicious cakes, cupcakes, and more when you shop our colorful baking kits at Damask Cakes today.
