6 Baking Soda Substitutes for Banana Bread

Banana bread is typically made with plain flour with a raising agent added to it. However, you could choose to use self-raising flour as it already contains baking powder, so you don’t need to add an additional leavening agent.

Flour comes in three different strengths, Weak Flour, Medium Strength Flour, and Strong Flour. These are defined by the ‘W Index’. The W Index is a reference to the overall strength of the flour. Now whilst most flour packs do not list the W Index, you can actually work it out by looking at the protein content, by weight. This can be helpful when you are deciding which flour to use.

Weak Flour has a W Index of 90 – 60. Its protein content is roughly 9% to 10%. This type of flour is suitable for baking biscuits and also cakes.

Medium Strength Flour has a W Index of 160 – 150. Its protein content is roughly 10% to 12.5%. This type of flour is suitable for baking Pizzaa, focaccia, and baguettes.

Strong Flour has a W Index of above 300. Its protein content is above 13%. This type of flour is suitable for baking sourdough bread.

So now you can choose the best flour for your recipe.

Baking powder is not as strong as baking soda, so you will need to adjust the quantities. I recommend you use about three times as much. So if your recipe suggests using 1 teaspoon of baking soda, then you should use 3 teaspoons of baking powder.

Baking powder is used to add volume to baked goods. It is made from a mixture of carbonate, or bicarbonate, and a weak acid. In order to ensure the acid and bicarbonate do not react in the container, there is another ingredient added, such as cornstarch, which works as a blocker.

Add the baking powder into the other dry ingredients and mix well. My top tip is to always add the baking powder into the dry ingredients, before incorporating with the wet ingredients. And don’t overmix, or else you could end up with a tougher texture.

As baking powder already contains acid you do not need to add any further acidic ingredients.

Using white vinegar as a replacement for baking soda may sound a bit strange – but it does work! And don’t worry your banana bread won’t taste like something out of the chip shop!

Combine all the dry ingredients in your mixing bowl. In another bowl add the wet ingredients together, such as bananas, eggs, oil, etc. Then add in the vinegar. I would recommend using about 1 teaspoon of vinegar per each cup of flour in your recipe. Slowly fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Remember not to overmix as your bread could become too tough. Then just bake as usual.

Note: If you use brown vinegar, your banana bread will have a darker colour and a malty flavor. You could also consider using apple cider vinegar which will give the bread a slightly tart flavor.

Using yogurt as substitute for baking soda in banana bread can add both mositure and a nice tangy acidity to it. I would always go for a plain, unsweetened yogurt. And I would also choose full-fat yogurt, as the low-fat yogurts tend to be a bit runnier.

Reduce the amount of other liquids slightly to account for the moisture added by the yogurt. For example if your recipe calls for 1/3 cup of milk or oil, then you should replace a portion of it with yogurt. Try replacing about half of the liquid ingredient with the yogurt and see how that goes. Just add enough to form a loose, but not runny, batter.

Combine the mashed bananas, eggs, and yogurt mix before adding to the dry ingredients. Be careful not to overmix. Then simply transfer the batter to a greased baking tin and bake according to the recipe’s instructions.

Using whipped egg whites as a substitute for baking soda in banana bread can add a touch of lightness and lift to the bread. Here’s how to incorporate whipped egg whites into your banana bread recipe:

Start by separating the egg whites from the yolks. You’ll only be using the egg whites for this substitution. You can use the leftover yolks to make a delicious omlette, caesar salad dressing, or use them as an egg wash.

Next, in a clean, dry mixing bowl, whip the egg whites using a hand mixer or stand mixer until stiff peaks form. This means that when you lift the beaters, the egg whites should hold their shape without collapsing.

Just before baking gently fold the whipped egg whites into the banana bread batter. Use a spatula to carefully incorporate the egg whites and don’t mix too much or you will knock all the air out of the whipped egg whites.

Transfer the batter to a greased loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake the banana bread according to the recipe’s instructions, adjusting the baking time if necessary.

By incorporating whipped egg whites into your banana bread batter, you can achieve a lighter texture and improved rise without relying on baking soda. Just be sure to handle the whipped egg whites gently to maintain their volume and airiness.

Whilst cream of tartar and baking soda may look similar, they are both completely different ingredients. Cream of Tartar is a fine white powdery substance that helps increase volume in desserts such as merinugues. It also acts as a stablizing agent when added to whipped egg whites and can prevent sugar syrups from cystallizing. It can be used in both sweet and savory bakes.

Cream of tartar, on its own, is not a leavening agent as it requires the addition of an acidic ingredient for it to activate. I recommend for every 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda called for in the recipe, you can substitute it with 1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar.

This adjustment accounts for the differences in potency between the two ingredients. Cream of tartar is often used with baking soda in recipes to create a leavening effect, but when used alone, it requires less volume to achieve a similar effect. And remember to mix it with an equal amount of a liquid in your recipe to activate its leavening properties.

Be careful when measuring the cream of tartar as adding to much can produce an unpleasant aftertaste.

Did you know that Cream of Tartar has many uses, and not all of them are to do with baking? You can use it to remove stains, unclog blocked drains, or even brighten up your white laundry.