Baking powder is a key ingredient in many pastry and bread recipes. It works as a leavening agent, helping the batter rise as it bakes. If you find yourself missing baking powder, you can substitute other items in your pantry to get the same effects. Although cream of tarter is commonly suggested to make faux baking powder, there are other dairy items you can use instead. Fortunately, this method of faking it will save you a last minute trip to the store.
Measure out 1/2 tsp. of baking soda with 1/2 cup of buttermilk or plain yogurt. This mixture can be used in place of 1 tsp. of baking powder in your recipe. Adding an acidic ingredient in the form of a dairy product to the baking soda helps to recreate the rising effect of baking powder.
Make a nondairy substitute for baking powder by combining 1/4 tsp. of baking soda with 1/3 cup of molasses. Add this to your recipe as a substitute for 1 tsp. of baking powder. This combination of molasses and baking soda will certainly sweeten the batter, so be sure to keep that in mind. If making garlic bread, for instance, you would not want to use this method of baking powder substitution.
Adjust the other liquid ingredients in your batter once you add in the baking powder substitute. This will keep the batter from becoming runny and from baking incorrectly.