This is a story about me standing in my kitchen in a panic asking out loud, “What can I substitute for baking soda?” It starts out as a tragedy. It turns into a fairy tale ; )
Yesterday, Jeremy and I were making some Gingerbread Blondies* for some troops overseas. I was convinced I had all the ingredients for this holiday treat.
Deep into the recipe I saw an ingredient I had misread, baking soda…not baking powder.
Jeremy knew something was wrong because as my eyes fell upon the “add baking soda” part, I screamed. I do that a lot in the kitchen. The first hundred times I did it, Jeremy thought I had cut off my fingers. Nope! When I scream in the kitchen it’s usually because I accidentally used sugar instead of salt or I am missing an ingredient or something is expired 🙂
Jeremy says I feel the need to be heard every 15 min. and that is why I randomly scream. I reject that. REJECTED. But, it’s probably something that needs to be revisited. In a therapy session. He should really look into that, poor guy. 🙂
I had to explain to him that, OBVIOUSLY, I am actually very cool and collected when under duress. Anytime something has really gone wrong, like a sliced finger (ask Brandy), a fire (not contained in a fireplace), a pecan pie falling in slow motion hot from the oven onto the floor…I am actually very quite silent. I assess. And then act.
Anyway, I screamed, showed Jeremy all my appendages to calm him down and then exclaimed, “I have no baking soda.”
What Can I Substitute for Baking Soda?
After talking to my mom (a master in the kitchen who now answers “Kitchen Hotline!” when I call her phone) I had the solution. You can use baking powder in place of baking soda, you just need to triple the amount. You can do this because there is actually baking soda in baking powder, but just a little bit.
I use the above baking soda: Argo Baking Powder! It is aluminum free! You can get it on Amazon Prime and always have it on hand!
My recipe called for 1 teaspoon of baking soda so I substituted with 3 teaspoons baking powder. (That math was for free. Any additional math requests and there will be a fee.)
BUT WAIT…another gem of a fact. There is salt in baking powder so it is usually a good rule of thumb to omit any salt the recipe calls for. My recipe called for a tsp of salt and since I like testing things…I added the salt. 🙂 I know, Out. Of. Control. I live on the edge.
When the gingerbread squares were baked and cooled, I tasted one. And screamed. And then I showed Beau all my appendages for added relief. And then noted that the baked treat was a little on the salty side.
It was slight. Not overpowering, but still there.
Other than that, they were seriously delicious. We will make these again and again for holidays to come. And they were pretty effortless (if you have a mixer). Get the recipe (or scroll to bottom of post for full recipe in printable format).
So, let’s recap. You can keep your birthday suit on (that’s what you cook in, right?) when you realize you have no baking soda. Just reach for the baking powder, triple the amount called for and omit the salt.
Done and done.
*We wanted to make a Christmas treat for the troops we know that will be gone for the holidays. I needed a treat that travels well. These blondies are both festive and travel very well. If you need to make a treat that will travel, get the recipe below.
And now for the cliff notes. This is my artistic side coming out 🙂 Enjoy:
White Chocolate Gingerbread Blondies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- Vegetable-oil cooking spray
- 2 3/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 1/2 sticks (20 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, plus 1 large egg yolk
- 1 1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup unsulfured molasses
- 10 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Coat a 17-by-12-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
- Line bottom with parchment cut to fit, and coat parchment.
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.
- Beat butter and brown and granulated sugars with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Add eggs and yolk, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Gradually add flour mixture, and beat until just combined. Stir in white chocolate.
- Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake until edges are golden, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 2-inch squares or desired shape.
Notes
Blondies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Recipe Credit: Martha Stewart
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
This is truly, SO fantastic. I may print and frame. No lie.
I can attest to the calm, cool and collected Brianne when the finger is nearly sliced off. She’s basically a rockstar.
Thanks for posting the info. I have a problem with those screams too. Ha ha! You were the first article I clicked on for substitution. I was in the middle of making my boys homemade cookies when I realized I was ou tof baking soda. Your post was a blessing. I just used baking powder and it worked like a charm. Thanks!
You are a lifesaver! Thank you from somebody who just realized she didn’t buy a second box of baking powder all of those months ago.
Following you now after this tip.
Awesome sauce! So glad I looked for a substitution…didn’t want to have to run out to the store and I want to make paleo zucchini and/or peach muffins to take into work tomorrow.
If it calls for 3/4 teaspoons of baking soda do I put it I. 3 times?
THanks for this!
I react the same way you do when I forget an item.
you have been in my favor today thank you for the tip on baking soda.
thank you so much came out ok
Thank you!
You were a life saver today. I was out of Baking soda for my homemade biscuits.
★★★★★
I appreciate your knowing your tip of substituting triple amount of Baking Powder is = to t tsp. of Baking Soda. That is very good to know.And to omit salt when doing so…
Thank you
Lil Bit
Thank you, now I can go ahead and make ANZAC biscuits for ANZAC day.
My recipe called for 1/2 tsp baking soda as well as 1 1/4 tsp of baking powder…so then what should i do?
Yaaay life saver!
What if my recipe calls for baking powder and baking soda and I only have the baking powder, do I still add the baking powder and the triple baking powder to make up for the missing baking soda?
Thank you..now I can bake my favorite banana loaf
Excellent thanks for the info. Baking soda is never on my shopping list.
Not trying to pit you down but what if I don’t have baking powder. What do I do. I’m 12 and want to make scones for my moms breakfast before she leaves for work one day. Please help. I just want to do something nice for her after all she has done for me.
what can i use if i don’t want to use neither baking soda nor baking powder?
Thank you so much for your insight on no baking soda .. I new their was salt in baking soda and that is why I can’t eat many pad try’s because the salt does raise your blood pressure and since I am going medicine free it makes all the difference .. God Bless You
Thanks for the tip and for doing the math!
★★★★★
Love your writing and that I can substitute! The free math was a bonus esp since I hate math 😉
Gosh thank you. Right in the middle of making my molasses cookie dough, and you guessed it, no B soda I googled and here you come to my rescue. Would have never guessed to triple BP. Thank you again, and I enjoyed the humor , MERRY CHRISTMAS
needed baking soda I had none realizing this only after I had my ingredients mixed up. Stuck in the middle of the night with no stores open. I went to the neighbors and asked politely
★★
Thanks for the information, It helps me a lot.
Thanks and love the gingerbread recipe and your generosity to the troops. Very toughtful.
Thank you so much! So grateful for your comment. xoxo
Thanks Dear..I was baking a chocolate cake for my son..baking soda was not there…I used your formula of 3 times although in a hurry forgot to omit the salt…but the cake came out very well…it was little dry…but I used sugar syrup to make it moist…Thanks a bunch…
★★★★★
What happens if you don’t have either what can I use
Eek half way into a recipe and realize I don’t have baking soda OR powder!!
Thanks so much for saving my banana bread and saving my lazy butt a trip to the grocery store lol.
Dang…i added the salt already
I followed your suggestion for substituting baking powder for baking soda & salt. It worked well in the oatmeal cookies I made. I discovered I was out of baking soda while I was creaming the butter & sugar, so it was especially helpful. Thank you.
I am so grateful it worked, Amy! Those cookies sound yummy 🙂
Thanks for this tip! I just stumbled across your blog when searching for baking soda replacement. Perfect! And your writing is so much fun to read. 🙂
Thanks so much, Jess! I am so grateful you found my little space and left a comment that made me smile 🙂
Thanks for the tip. I don’t like the taste of food with baking soda in it.
I made muffins and was supposed to put 3 teaspoon of baking powder. I had 2 containers that looked so much a like of baking powder and baking soda. I have been making these bran muffins for weeks now and realized I have been adding 3 teaspoons of soda instead of baking powder. So I made them with baking powder today. I have to say I really like the baking soda better.
Oh my goodness, Brenda! What an amazing discovery. Love when things like this happen 🙂 Happy baking!
I was right to trust you. My cookies turned out just fine.
I am so grateful! Thank you for trusting me 🙂
My recipe is for 2tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt with only one cup of flour. I’m thinking 2tbsp of baking soda is going to be way too salty, even if I omit the salt. Ideas?
Thank you!! I’m making chocolate chip cookies and realized I was out of baking soda. I really did not want to make a trip to the store just for that. I decided to google to see if there was a substitute and clicked on your site. Love your humor!!
Never be anxious
because of your assignments because assignments are meant to help you in your
learning process and adding into it Environmental law assignment help are the best thing
to opt for. https://australianlawassignmenthelp.com/environmental-law-assignment-help/
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful article. Keep posting like this.
CourseMentor is a well-known provider of educational content to students all over the world. We assist students with all types of assignments. For more information visit our website <a href=”https://coursementor.com/”>CourseMentor</a>.
It’s an efficient method of transferring funds. You can send money to friends, family, and business partners using the Cash App. For more info visit Cash App Query You can make withdrawals and deposits to your bank account using an app on your phone. It is possible to transfer funds to friends.
Protetox contains powerful natural antioxidants that are scientifically designed for weight loss and detoxification.
For more : https://protetoxe.us/
Overall, while baking soda is a commonly used ingredient, it’s good to know that there are alternatives available. With a bit of creativity and experimentation, you can still create delicious baked goods even without baking soda on hand.
Thanks for posting the info. I have a problem with those screams too. Ha ha! You were the first article I clicked on for substitution.
I visit this fantastic forum every day. It’s amazing to find a place that provides easy access to free information.
★★★★
This is truly, SO fantastic. I may print and frame. No lie.