Baking powder is a dry leavening compound used in baked goods to make them rise. It is used to lighten the texture and increase the volume of baked goods like muffins, biscuits, cakes, and cookies. Unlike baking soda, which needs an acidic component to become activated in baked goods, baking powder already contains an acidic component. It consists of an alkali component of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), an acidic component of potassium bitartrate or tartaric acid (cream of tartar), and sometimes a buffer such as corn or potato starch to absorb moisture and prolong shelf life. If you follow a gluten-free lifestyle you may be wondering: is baking powder gluten-free?
Baking powder is gluten-free and contains no grain products. However, some brands contain aluminum, which has been linked to neurological diseases and reproductive problems in some people. Some gluten-free brands of baking powder include Rumford, Hain Pure Foods, and I’m Free Perfect. The best alternatives to baking powder which are gluten-free are Heinz White Vinegar and Organic Valley Buttermilk.
In this article, we will discuss whether baking powder is a healthy food additive in baked goods. We will go over some baking powder brands available on the market as well as some healthier alternatives. And lastly, we will review some healthy gluten-free substitutes that can be used in place of baking powder altogether. Let’s dig in!
Contents
Is Baking Powder Healthy?
Baking powder is a nontoxic food additive when it is used in small quantities. The typical ingredients in baking powder include baking soda, cream of tartar, and corn or potato starch. Baking soda is a naturally occurring substance that has been found to provide relief of indigestion or heartburn. Cream of tartar is a byproduct of wine-making and is found naturally in many plants. The only concerning ingredients in baking powder have been corn starch as corn is a genetically modified food, and the addition of aluminum in some brands. Aluminum has been linked to multiple neurological diseases and reproductive problems in some people. There are alternatives available that contain potato starch instead of corn starch, and do not contain aluminum. We will go over some of those in this article.
What Are Some Common Baking Powder Brands?
Clabber Girl Double Acting Baking Powder
The Clabber Girl Company, known to be synonymous with baking since 1850, manufactures an array of baking powders. In addition to their own baking powder with the Clabber Girl name, they also produce Rumford, Davis, Hearth Club, Fleischmann’s, Royal, and KC brands. This baking powder is gluten-free, but as you can see in the ingredient list, it contains aluminum and corn starch, the 2 ingredients that people typically want to avoid.
Ingredients:
- Corn Starch
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Sodium Aluminum Sulfate
- Monocalcium Phosphate
Nutrition Facts (per 1/8 tsp. 0.6g):
- Calories: 0
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 60mg (3% DV)
- Total Carbohydrates: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Bob’s Red Mill Double Acting Baking Powder
This baking powder is gluten-free, vegan, certified Kosher, and contains no added aluminum. However, the label does not state whether the corn starch is non-GMO, and Bob’s Red Mill usually displays clearly whether something is free from GMOs.
Ingredients:
- Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Corn Starch
- Monocalcium Phosphate
Nutrition Facts (per 1/4 tsp. 1g):
- Calories: 0
- Total Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 160mg (7% DV)
- Total Carbohydrates: 0g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Vitamin D: 0mcg
- Calcium: 7mg (0% DV)
- Iron: 0mg
- Potassium: 0mg
Argo Double Acting Baking Powder
Argo Company has been around since 1846. Their baking powder is similar to Bob’s Red Mill baking powder and is free from gluten and aluminum, but also does not state whether the corn starch is sourced from non-GMOs.
Ingredients:
- Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Corn Starch
- Monocalcium Phosphate
Nutrition Facts (per 1/8 tsp. 0.6g):
- Calories: 0
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 95mg (4% DV)
- Total Carbohydrates: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Healthy Gluten-Free Baking Powders
Rumford Double Acting Baking Powder
This gluten-free baking powder is manufactured by the Clabber Girl Company, but unlike the original Clabber Girl baking powder, this one does not contain aluminum and uses certified non-GMO corn starch.
Ingredients:
- Monocalcium Phosphate
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Non-GMO Corn Starch
Nutrition Facts (per 1/8 tsp. 0.6g):
- Calories: 0
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 50mg (2% DV)
- Total Carbohydrates: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Calcium: 29mg (2% DV)
Hain Pure Foods Gluten-Free Featherweight Baking Powder
This baking powder is gluten-free, and unlike the other baking powders listed above, this one contains no sodium and is made with potato starch. Corn products in America are known to be GMO, so for those who would like to avoid corn can opt for this baking powder that contains potato starch instead.
The use of potato starch adds an advantage over corn starch in that it has a lower swelling temperature, increases leavening effect, and reduces moisture migration in baked goods.
Ingredients:
- Potassium Bicarbonate
- Monocalcium Phosphate
- Potato Starch
Nutrition Facts (per 1/8 tsp. 0.6g):
- Calories: 0
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Potassium: 70mg (2% DV)
- Total Carbohydrates: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Calcium: 4%
I’m Free Perfect Gluten-Free Baking Powder
Not only is this baking powder gluten-free, it was created specifically for people who also use gluten-free flour in their baked goods. Without gluten, it is harder to trap all those air bubbles that are created by a leavening agent such as baking powder.
A lot of baked goods that are made with gluten-free flour require more moisture and a longer rest period before they are baked. Traditional baking powder begins to react as soon as liquid is added, which means the batter starts to rise before it gets to the oven and does not rise while baking. This results in a dense and flat product, and usually gives gluten-free baked goods a bad name. This baking powder is heat-activated and gives baked goods the extra lift they need to turn out light and fluffy.
Ingredients:
- Non-Trans Palm Lipid
- Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate
- Sodium Bicarbonate
Nutrition Facts (per 1 tsp. 3g):
- Calories: 10
- Total Fat: 1g (1% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 1g (5% DV)
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 450mg (20% DV)
- Total Carbohydrates: 0g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Vitamin D: 0mcg
- Calcium 0mg
- Iron: 0mg
- Potassium: 1mg (0% DV)
Healthy and Gluten-Free Baking Powder Substitutes
White Vinegar or Lemon Juice
To substitute 1 teaspoon of baking powder, you can use an acid like white vinegar or lemon juice that will react with baking soda to create the same leavening result in your baked goods.
Vinegar is made from sun-ripened grain, but it is gluten-free because the distillation process filters out all the gluten proteins.
Ingredients needed are ¼ teaspoon baking soda with ½ teaspoon white vinegar or lemon juice to replace 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
Heinz All Natural Distilled White Vinegar
Ingredients:
- Distilled White Vinegar
- Diluted with Water to 5% (50 grains) acidity
Nutrition Facts (per 1 Tbsp. 15ml):
- Calories: 5
- Total Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 0g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Plain Yogurt
Plain yogurt is naturally acidic and works well as another substitute for baking powder in most recipes. However, if you decide to use this, you will need to reduce the other liquids in your recipe by ½ cup.
Dannon yogurt is certified gluten-free and non-GMO.
Ingredients needed are ½ cup plain yogurt and ¼ teaspoon baking soda to replace 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
Dannon Lowfat Plain Yogurt
Ingredients:
- Cultured Grade A Reduced Fat Milk
- Pectin
- Vitamin D
Nutrition Facts (per ¾ cup 170g):
- Calories: 110
- Calories from Fat: 0
- Total Fat: 2.5g (3% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g (8% DV)
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 10mg (3% DV)
- Sodium: 110mg (5% DV)
- Total Carbohydrates: 12g (4% DV)
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 10g
- Added Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 8g (16% DV)
- Vitamin D: 0mcg
- Calcium: 310mg (25% DV)
- Iron: 0mg
- Potassium: 380mg (8% DV)
Buttermilk or Sour Milk
When bacterial cultures are added to milk, it starts to ferment, breaking down sugars into acids creating buttermilk. When milk starts to sour, it also undergoes a process known as acidification which causes the pH levels to decrease. Because of the acidity in buttermilk and sour milk, they both can be used with baking soda to substitute baking powder in your recipe. However, just like plain yogurt, you will need to reduce the other liquids in your recipe by ½ cup.
Organic Valley buttermilk is certified organic, non-GMO, and does not contain gluten from any packaging processes.
Ingredients needed are ½ cup buttermilk or sour milk and ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to replace 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
Organic Valley Lowfat 1% Buttermilk, Pasteurized
Ingredients:
- Organic Cultured Lowfat Milk
- Organic Nonfat Milk
- Salt
- Vitamin A Palmitate
- Vitamin D3
Nutrition Facts (per 1 cup 240mL):
- Calories: 100
- Total Fat: 2.5g (3% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g (8% DV)
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 15mg (5% DV)
- Sodium: 250mg (11% DV)
- Total Carbohydrates: 12g (4% DV)
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 12g
- Includes 0g Added Sugars
- Protein: 8g
- Vitamin D: 15%
- Calcium: 25%
- Iron: 0%
- Potassium: 8%
- Vitamin A: 20%
Molasses
Molasses is a thick, dark syrup resulting from the process of making sugar. It is acidic enough to be used as a replacement for baking powder when it is combined with baking soda. You will need to reduce other liquids and sugar in your recipe by ¼ cup.
Brer Rabbit Unsulphured molasses are gluten-free, Kosher, and certified non-GMO.
Ingredients needed are ¼ cup molasses and ¼ teaspoon baking soda to replace 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
Brer Rabbit Unsulphured Molasses
Ingredients:
- Molasses
Nutrition Facts (per 1 Tbsp. 15mL):
- Calories: 60
- Total Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 25mg (1% DV)
- Potassium: 210mg (6% DV)
- Total Carbohydrates: 15g (5% DV)
- Sugars: 12g
- Protein: 0g
- Calcium: 8%
- Iron: 2%
- Magnesium: 8%
In Conclusion
Baking powder is a gluten-free and for the most part healthy product. The only concerns with it are the added aluminum and corn starch that are present in some brands. Fortunately, there are brands that produce gluten-free, aluminum-free, and GMO-free baking powders. If you want to avoid baking powder altogether, there are substitutes that you can use instead.
Related Questions
Is baking powder the same as baking soda?
No, baking powder and baking soda are not the same. They may appear similar, but baking soda requires an acidic component to be activated in baked goods, whereas baking powder already contains the acidic component and only needs a liquid to become activated.
Is baking powder keto-friendly?
No, baking powder is not keto-friendly because commercially produced brands contain corn starch or potato starch to absorb moisture and prolong shelf life. You can make your own baking powder at home by combining one part baking soda and two parts cream of tartar without the starch.
Is baking powder vegan?
Yes, baking powder is vegan as it contains no animal-derived ingredients.