Baking Powder in Everyday Cooking – Uses Beyond Baking

Baking powder is like the humble hero in the world of cooking, it's an ingredient that brings life and lightness to a variety of desserts, especially baked goodies. Made up of an acid, a base, and a special ingredient like cornstarch, it reacts with moisture and heat to create bubbles of carbon dioxide. These bubbles expand further when exposed to heat (in the oven), making doughs and batters rise beautifully and resulting in light, airy creations. But baking powder isn't just for baking; it is also used in cooking to enhance breakfast favorites or add some pizzazz to savory dinners.

Everyday Recipes Using Baking Powder

Recipe 1: Fluffy Pancakes

The easiest recipe out there using baking powder is for pancakes that you can make either sweet or savory, depending on your preference.

Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Salt
• Milk
• Eggs
• Butter
• Baking powder

Instructions:

• Mix the dry ingredients along with a generous amount of baking powder.
• Then combine them with the wet ingredients until you get a batter.
• Pour the batter onto a griddle or pan.
• Wait until bubbles form before flipping them over to cook evenly.
• Serve these pancakes right away.

Tip:

• To make your pancakes extra fluffy, let the batter rest for a minute before you start cooking.

Recipe 2: Crunchy Onion Rings

An appetizing classic with drinks, baking powder adds a slightly airy structure to the batter, making the crust of the onion rings even more crunchier.

Ingredients:

• Sliced onions
• All-purpose flour
• Cornmeal
• Milk
• Baking powder

Instructions:

• Make a batter by combining flour, cornmeal, milk, and baking powder.
• You can start by dipping the onion rings into the batter and deep frying them until they turn a color.

Tip:

• Add a pinch of paprika powder to the batter for a smoky flavor and a little spicy kick to the onion rings.

Recipe 3: Biscuits

Biscuits might not puff up like cakes and muffins do, but they need baking powder to fluff up, especially for the flakier and thicker ones.

Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Butter
• Milk
• Sugar
• Salt and
• Baking powder

Instructions:

• Make sure you cut the cold butter into the mixture. Then rub it into the mixture until it becomes crumbly.
• Then add milk to create a dough.
• Roll it out, cut into shapes, and bake until they've risen and turned golden.

Tip:

• If you want a golden top on your biscuits, brush them with melted butter before baking.

Recipe 4: Crispy Waffles

With the help of a waffle maker, you can have the crispiest batch of waffles with a slight rise thanks to the baking powder.

Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Eggs
• Milk
• Oil
• Sugar

Instructions:

• Mix the dry ingredients separately from the wet ones.
• Then, combine both mixtures well.
• Pour this batter into a waffle iron and cook until they become lovely and crisp.

Tip:

• For a luxurious breakfast treat, serve your waffles with berries and a dollop of whipped cream or any other toppings of your choice

Recipe 5: Light Tempura Batter

This batter is perfect for seafood like shrimp, fish, and even chicken if you love a crisp and light golden fried crust that the Japanese are renowned for.

Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Ice water (kept cold)
• Egg
• Baking powder

Instructions:

• Gently mix these ingredients together to create a batter.
• You can then dip vegetables or seafood in it before frying them until they turn crispy.

Tip:

• Remember that keeping the water cold will result in a lighter tempura batter, otherwise, you will have a denser batter, which is not ideal.

Recipe 6: Quick Cornbread

Cornbread is a Native American classic that needs just a few ingredients to make it and baking powder is essential for it to puff up well.

Ingredients:

• Cornmeal
• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Milk
• Eggs
• Oil
• Baking powder

Instructions:

• Start by combining all the ingredients and pouring the mixture into a greased pan.
• Bake it until a toothpick comes out clean.

Tip:

• If you want to add more texture and flavor to your cornbread, consider adding corn kernels or jalapenos into the batter.

Recipe 7: Cheese Scones

The perfect tea time treat or just plain snack, cheese scones are amazing

Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Cheese
• Butter
• Milk
• Baking powder
• Salt

Instructions:

• Begin by cutting the butter into the ingredients.
• Then add cheese and milk to form a dough.
• Cut the dough into triangles and bake them until brown.

Tip:

• To enhance the cheese flavor of these scones further, opt for Cheddar cheese or something with more body, like Parmesan and Gouda cheese.

Recipe 8: Puffy Yorkshire Pudding

Puddings don’t generally need baking powder, but if yours need a little lift, then add a pinch or two of baking powder to the batter.

Ingredients:

• Eggs
• Milk
• All-purpose flour
• Salt
• Baking powder

Instructions:

• Start by whisking eggs with milk and flour.
• Allow it to rest before pouring into muffin tins brushed with oil.
• Bake until the pudding is puffed up and turns golden in color.

Tip:

• To achieve puffiness in your Yorkshire pudding results, preheat muffin tins with oil before pouring in the batter.

Recipe 9: Battered Fish

All batters of fish tend to have baking powder in them for a little air in it that allows the oil to seep in and make for a really airy and crispy coating.

Ingredients:

• White fish fillet
• All-purpose flour
• Beer
• Baking powder

Instructions:

• Create a batter by mixing together flour, beer, and baking powder.
• Dip your fish fillets into it before frying until they turn brown.

Tip:

• To achieve a crispier layer, it's advisable to pat the fish dry before coating it with the batter.

Recipe 10: American scones

Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Butter
• Eggs
• Cream
• Baking powder

Instructions:

• Start by combining the dry ingredients, and then cut in the butter.
• After that, add the wet ingredients.
• Shape the dough into a round shape, cut it into pieces, and bake them.

Tip:

• For added texture and flavor, you can consider adding dried fruits or nuts to your scones.

Tips and Tricks

If you want to make the most of baking powder in your cooking:

• Make sure it's fresh, for maximum leavening power.
• Measure to avoid over or under using the baking powder.
• Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately before combining them to prevent premature reactions.
• Be careful not to overmix batters so that you maintain air bubbles in your mixture.
• Feel free to experiment with additional flavors and spices to elevate your basic recipes.

Baking powder is an ingredient that goes beyond its traditional use in cakes and cookies. It has the power to transform textures and structures in dishes, making it a staple in kitchens worldwide. Whether you're making pancakes or crispy onion rings, there are possibilities for innovation. Embrace the versatility of baking powder and let it inspire creativity in your cooking; its magic extends beyond just baking.