Packets of Mrs Rogers new Baking Powder and Baking Soda were on the kitchen bench the other day, and Miss Eight asked what the difference was, so we thought that’s a good topic for us to post in case you find yourself in the same situation with a curious young baker.
Baking powder and baking soda may seem similar, but they actually work in different ways to help our cakes and cookies rise and become fluffy and delicious.
Think of baking soda as a little helper who needs a friend to do the job right. Baking soda is like a magician’s wand, but it needs an acidic friend like vinegar or lemon juice to work its magic. When they team up with moisture, they create carbon dioxide bubbles that make our baked goods rise.
Now, baking powder is like a superhero that can work on its own. It already has baking soda inside, along with a little bit of acid called cream of tartar, and some starch to help it dry out. So, when it gets wet, it creates the bubbles all by itself and makes our treats fluffy and yummy.
Remember, when you’re baking, always follow the recipe and use the right leavening agent. If the recipe calls for baking soda, don’t use baking powder instead, because it won’t have an acidic friend to work with.
If you don’t have baking soda but you do have baking powder, don’t worry! You can use three times the amount of baking powder instead. But, there’s a little trick to it. Baking powder has salt in it, so you need to use half as much salt as the recipe says. That way, everything will turn out just right!
So, now you know the difference between baking powder and baking soda! They may seem like boring kitchen ingredients, but they’re actually little helpers that make our baked goodies rise and taste amazing!