Baking Powder Substitute
For 1 tsp of baking powder, use ¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar. Mix just before using — the acid starts working when wet. (The Extension sheet's version also adds ¼ tsp cornstarch.) Below: the swap scaled to the amounts recipes use.
For 1 tsp of baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar
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Mix just before using — the acid starts working when wet. (The Extension sheet's version also adds ¼ tsp cornstarch.)
Data & method: from Colorado State University Extension, fact sheet 9.329 (Ingredient Substitutions). An automated test pins each ratio to its source. How we calculate →
Scaled to what your recipe calls for
Baking soda + cream of tartar, computed for the amounts recipes actually use:
| Recipe needs | Use instead |
|---|---|
| ½ tsp of baking powder | ⅛ tsp baking soda + ¼ tsp cream of tartar |
| 1 tsp of baking powder | ¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar |
| 2 tsp of baking powder | ½ tsp baking soda + 1 tsp cream of tartar |
| 3 tsp of baking powder | ¾ tsp baking soda + 1½ tsp cream of tartar |
Need a different amount — or a different ingredient?
The calculator scales every option to your exact amount, for all 17 staples we cover.
Best swap Baking soda + cream of tartar
¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar
Mix just before using — the acid starts working when wet. (The Extension sheet's version also adds ¼ tsp cornstarch.)
Source: Colorado State University Extension, fact sheet 9.329 (Ingredient Substitutions)
Other swaps bakers look for
- Buttermilk substitute
- Cake Flour substitute
- Self-Rising Flour substitute
- Brown Sugar substitute
- Powdered Sugar substitute
- Sour Cream substitute
- Heavy Cream substitute for baking
- Whole Milk substitute
- Egg substitute
- Cream of Tartar substitute for leavening
- Cornstarch substitute for thickening
- Honey substitute
- Vegetable Oil substitute for baking
- Unsalted Butter substitute
- Bread Flour substitute
- Vanilla Extract substitute
Weighing instead? 1 cup of baking powder in grams: 192 g →
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use instead of baking powder?
The best swap for 1 tsp of baking powder is ¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar — mix just before using — the acid starts working when wet. (The Extension sheet's version also adds ¼ tsp cornstarch.). Source: Colorado State University Extension, fact sheet 9.329 (Ingredient Substitutions).
How much substitute do I use for a different amount of baking powder?
Scale the parts linearly. The table on this page covers the common amounts, and the calculator scales every option to exactly what your recipe calls for — never a vague "adjust to taste".