Substitute for Baking Soda in Cookies | 7 Best Baking Soda Substitutes

The other day I planned on baking my favorite cookies, confident that I had all the ingredients.

Then I realized that I did not have baking soda.

So, “What happens if you don’t have baking soda for cookies?”

It got me thinking, “What can be used in place of baking soda?” and “What can I Substitute for Baking Soda in Cookies ?”

For baking soda look for substitutes like baking powder, sour milk, self-rising flour, potassium bicarbonate, active dry yeast, Baker’s ammonia, and egg whites that are already available in your kitchen. These ingredients make the cookies to rise when baking, making them a good substitute for baking soda.

so, before making a quick run to the grocery store, consider using an ingredient that you might already have.

In baking, baking soda is a key ingredient that serves as a leavening agent.

When added to baked goods, it causes a chemical reaction producing carbon dioxide bubbles that in turn causes the baked good to rise under oven temperature.

As baking soda works in quite a unique way, finding substitutes may seem hard to find.

But I’ve done the hard work for you as I have found the best substitutes for baking soda in cookies for you.

You’ll also find out about their health benefits and bad impacts on health too.

7 Best Substitutes for Baking Soda in Cookies

Craving your favorite cookies but out of baking soda? 

I can help, as I’ve found the seven best substitutes for baking soda that you can easily use when baking cookies.

However, when making cookies without baking soda or using substitutes, it is important to note that substitutes may produce varied results.

But that doesn’t mean it should keep you away from making your favorite cookies.

Here is an infographic of baking soda with short details if you don’t have time to read out this whole article but if you have time, must read the whole article as it is going to tell you a lot of health benefits of using these 7 substitutes for baking soda.

Here is a list of baking soda substitutes to try the next time you run out of baking soda when making cookies.

1.  Can I substitute Baking Powder for Baking Soda in Cookies?

The most common and readily available substitute I’ve found for baking soda is baking powder, especially in cookies.

Because the baking powder is composed of a mix of baking soda, cream of tartar and corn-starch, it partly contains baking soda, which helps give the cookies a gentle rise.

However, since the baking powder is a combination of other ingredients, including baking soda, it is very mild than baking soda.

So, if a recipe has one teaspoon of baking soda, you’ll have to substitute three teaspoons of baking powder to match.

You also need to be mindful that replacing baking powder in cookies might make the texture of them a bit different.

Where baking soda gives chewy cookies, adding baking powder might give more fine cookies.

 

Health Benefits of Baking Powder

• It can help with inflammatory conditions
• It helps fight tooth decay
• It can relieve seasonal allergies
• It may help with heartburn
• It helps as a disinfectant

Baking Powder Bad Impacts on Health

Baking powder overdose may cause

• Abdominal pain
• Severe Diarrhea
• Nausea

2. Can I substitute Potassium Bicarbonate for Baking Soda in Cookies?

Believe it or not, but one of the best substitutes for baking soda in cookies is Potassium Bicarbonate.

Yes, it might not be a kitchen staple but might be lurking around in your medicine cabinet.

This multi-purpose supplement, Potassium Bicarbonate is a very close substitute for baking soda as it shares similar properties.

The only difference is that potassium bicarbonate is low in salt, which might be suitable for some people.

But if you’re aiming for a similar taste in cookies, then you might need to add a little salt in your recipe when using Potassium bicarbonate.

It’s ideal to start small and slowly increase the quantity to achieve your desired taste.

 

Health Benefits of Potassium Bicarbonate

• It helps in improving heart health
• It is beneficial for bone strength and bone density
• It helps in reducing potassium deficiency
• It may help in dissolving kidney stones
• It may lower the risk of a stroke

Potassium Bicarbonate Bad Impacts on Health

• It may cause anxiety
• It can cause diarrhea
• It may cause a tingling sensation in the hand or feet

3.  Can I substitute Self-rising flour for Baking Soda in Cookies?

While self-rising flour can be a good substitute for baking soda in cookies, I’d say it’s a bit tricky.

When using self-rising flour in the cookie recipe in place of baking soda, a few ingredient adjustments would be needed.

Because self-rising flour is a combination of all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt, you’ll have to be careful with ingredients in the recipe.

If the recipe has baking soda, it might also have an acidic ingredient, but when using self-rising flour, it already includes an acidic agent.

So, you’ll have to replace the acid in your recipe with something more neutral, for example, whole milk in place of buttermilk. 

You also need to be careful with salt too to keep the flavors balanced.

It may seem tricky, but a little trial and error is an excellent way to master your baking skills, especially as a home cook.

Health Benefits of Self-rising Flour

• It is enriched with vitamins and minerals
• It has dietary fiber that is good for digestion
• It helps in keeping up the energy levels
• It is also a source of calcium
• It has proteins and carbohydrates

Self-rising Flour Bad Impacts on Health

• It may elevate blood pressure
• It may cause elevation in blood sugar levels
• It may cause gluten reactions

4.  Can I substitute Dry Active Yeast for Baking Soda in Cookies?

Definitely! My favorite baking soda substitute in cookies is an active dry yeast.

It is the most natural ingredient that is a no-chemical compound and is also rich in vitamin c, calcium, and iron.

It functions very similarly to baking soda, making cookies to rise.

The best thing about active dry yeast is that it doesn’t add any bitter flavor to cookies like baking soda and it also doesn’t contain any gluten.

Using yeast in cookies may affect the outcome but won’t be a bad one, I promise.

Yeast might not be useful for all cookie recipes; you might have to make adjustments.

Health Benefits of Dry Active Yeast

• It keeps the digestive system healthy
• It is a good source of vitamins and proteins
• It helps in keeping up the energy levels
• It helps the body’s immune system do its job
• It helps fight disease

 

Dry Active Yeast Bad Impacts on Health

• It may cause gas and bloat
• It may cause mouth sores
• It may cause itchy rashes

5.  Can I substitute Baker’s Ammonia for Baking Soda in Cookies?

One of the practical substitutes with historical significance, Baker’s ammonia is a good substitute for baking soda in cookies.

In the 13th-century Baker’s ammonia was used as a leavening agent.

It was then replaced by baking soda and baking powder in modern-day baking, though it’s still used today, occasionally.

Baker’s ammonia adds distinct crispiness to baked goods, hence is ideal to be used for cookies.

Health Benefits of Baker’s ammonia

• It can help relieve the symptoms of bronchitis
• It is used as smelling salt to relieve a blocked nose
• It is used as a respiratory stimulant
• It acts as a pharmaceutical aid
• It is used to prepare an aromatic spirit of ammonia

 

Baker’s Ammonia Bad Impacts on Health

• It may cause respiratory irritation
• It may cause nausea
• It may cause vomiting

6.  Can I substitute Double-Acting Baking Powder for Baking Soda in Cookies?

For best cookie results, use double-acting baking powder as a substitute for baking soda.

Double-acting baking powder gives cookies a better rise than regular baking powder. When using double-acting baking powder in a recipe, make sure to substitute acidic liquids with non-acidic liquids too.

Health Benefits of Double-Acting Baking Powder

• It can help with inflammation
• It may help fight tooth decay
• It may help in relieving allergies
• In some, it can help with heartburn
• It can be an effective disinfectant

Double Acting Baking Powder Bad Impacts on Health

• It may cause stomach pain
• It may cause diarrhea
• It may cause nausea

7.  Can I substitute Egg Whites for Baking Soda in Cookies?

Egg whites can be used as a substitute for baking soda in cookies.

However, using eggs in a recipe can be tricky because you can add eggs only if the recipe calls for it. One important thing to remember when using eggs is that egg yolks and egg whites act differently in a recipe.

So, for cookies whisk egg whites separately with sugar this will have a drying effect on your cookie batter. This will give a nice volume to your cookies.

Health Benefits of Egg Whites

• It helps in boosting immunity
• It helps in muscle growth
• It is safe for consumption for heart patients
• It helps improve brain function
• It helps in strengthening bones

 

Egg Whites Bad Impacts on Health

• It may cause allergic reactions to some
• It may increase the risk of biotin deficiency
• It may cause an excess of protein

What is a Good Substitute for Baking Soda in Cookies?

Being out of baking soda doesn’t mean you’re out of luck and can’t make your favorite cookies. I have listed some of the best substitutes that you can use when making cookies.

However, for me, the best substitute out of all must be a double-acting baking powder because it closely matches the chemical reaction of baking soda in a recipe. You will have to make a little adjustment with the acidic ingredients, but that doesn’t matter much, does it?

So, the next time you’re looking for a baking soda substitute head back to this list of substitutes and see which ingredients you have on hand, and make it work for you.

Check out a few more substitutes in this video

Conclusion

Baking is a science, and baking soda is one chemical reaction you need for those nicely risen cookies. But when you don’t have baking soda at hand, fret not because the best substitutes listed above will work the same way.

You can still enjoy your favorite cookies while making a little adjustment of ingredients sitting right there in your kitchen.

Share this list of substitutes for baking soda in cookies with a baking enthusiast who might find it helpful too.