Cream of Tartar Substitutes

Out of cream of tartar? 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 cream of tartar between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the cream of tartar converter.

What to use instead of cream of tartar

  • Lemon Juice

    Ingredient swap

    1/2 tsp cream of tartar = 1 tsp lemon juice

    Lemon juice provides the same acidity for stabilising meringues and whipped cream. It adds a faint citrus note, so it works best when that flavour suits the recipe.

    See lemon juice substitutes →

  • White Vinegar

    Ingredient swap

    1/2 tsp cream of tartar = 1 tsp white vinegar

    White vinegar is a neutral-flavoured acid that swaps in wherever lemon tang would be unwanted, such as plain meringues and snickerdoodles. Use the same 2:1 ratio as lemon juice.

    See white vinegar substitutes →

  • Baking Powder

    Ingredient swap

    1 tsp cream of tartar + 1/2 tsp baking soda = 1.5 tsp baking powder

    This swap applies when a recipe uses cream of tartar and baking soda together as a leavening duo. Baking powder already contains both an acid and a base, so the pair can be replaced with 1.5 tsp baking powder.

    See baking powder substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for cream of tartar?
There are 3 workable substitutes for cream of tartar, depending on what you have on hand and which property of cream of tartar matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1/2 tsp cream of tartar = 1 tsp lemon juice. 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 cream of tartar 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 cream of tartar converter
How do I measure cream of tartar accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The cream of tartar 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 cream of tartar converter

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