Baking Powder Substitutes
Out of baking powder? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.
Need to convert baking powder between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the baking powder converter.
What to use instead of baking powder
Baking soda + cream of tartar
DIY mix
1 tsp baking powder = 1/4 tsp baking soda + 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
Closest DIY swap. Mimics baking powder's acid plus base combo. Use immediately: once wet, the reaction starts and waiting kills the lift.
Baking soda + lemon juice
DIY mix
1 tsp baking powder = 1/4 tsp baking soda + 1/2 tsp lemon juice
Quick single-acting swap when cream of tartar is missing. Bake straight away: the acid hits the soda on contact, so no resting in the bowl.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What can I substitute for baking powder?
- There are 2 workable substitutes for baking powder, depending on what you have on hand and which property of baking powder matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually Baking soda + cream of tartar. Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
- Will substituting baking powder change how my recipe turns out?
- Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the baking powder converter
- How do I measure baking powder accurately?
- Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The baking powder converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the baking powder converter
Other ingredient and produce substitutes
Find what to use instead of:
- Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Caster Sugar
- Raw Sugar
- Palm Sugar
- Plain Flour
- Self Raising Flour
- Cake Flour
- Corn Flour
- Arrowroot
- Tapioca Starch
- Icing Sugar
- Oat Flour
- Almond Meal
- Almond Flour
- Baking Soda (Bicarb)
- Cream of Tartar
- Gelatin
- Agar-Agar
- Ground Coffee
- Instant Coffee
- Garlic Powder
- Parsley
- Coriander
- Chopped Dried Apricots
- Sultanas
- Raisins
- Craisins
- Dates
- Dried Figs
- Butter
- Margarine
- Shortening
- Ghee
- Peanut Butter
- Almond Butter
- Sunflower Seed Butter
- Hulled Tahini
- Unhulled Tahini
- Cream Cheese
- Mascarpone
- Ricotta
- Cottage Cheese
- Plain Yoghurt
- Greek Yoghurt
- Sour Cream
- Mayonnaise
- Crème Fraîche
- Heavy Cream
- Whipping Cream
- Honey
- Maple Syrup
- Golden Syrup
- Molasses
- Vanilla Extract
- Vanilla Essence
- Vanilla Bean Paste
- Parisian Essence
- Vegetable Oil
- Olive Oil
- Applesauce
- Mashed Banana
- Pumpkin Puree
- Kidney Beans
- Butter Beans
- Chickpeas
- Black-Eyed Peas
- Chopped Onion
- Crushed Garlic
- White Rice
- Brown Rice
- Basmati Rice
- Jasmine Rice
- Arborio Rice
- Sushi Rice
- Milk
- Condensed Milk
- Evaporated Milk
- Coconut Milk
- Coconut Cream
- Almond Milk
- Soy Milk
- Oat Milk
- Buttermilk
- Parmesan Cheese
- Mozzarella
- Halloumi
- Goat's Cheese
- Grated Cheese
- Bocconcini
- Feta
- Domiati
- Paneer
- Pecorino Romano
- White Vinegar
- Lemon Juice
- Lime Juice
- Apple
- Pear
- Lemon
- Lime
- Orange
- Grapefruit
- Potato
- Sweet Potato
- Carrot
- Pumpkin
- Butternut Squash
- Onion
- Shallot
- Spring Onion
- Garlic
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Spinach
- Kale
- Silverbeet
- Egg
- Egg White