Can Cornstarch Replace Baking Powder
Oh, plenty! It’s a rockstar in other ways. Cornstarch makes sauces silky and puddings thick. It gives you that perfect, glossy stir-fry glaze. It even makes fried chicken extra crispy.
But here’s a quirky fact: cornstarch and water make a non-Newtonian fluid. Punch it, and it’s solid. Let it sit, and it’s liquid. You can walk on it! Seriously, there are viral videos of people running over cornstarch pools. Try that with baking powder—you’ll just sneeze.
So cornstarch is a kitchen scientist. Just not a leavening one.
The Desperate Baker’s Guide
What if you’re truly stuck? No baking powder, no baking soda, no store open. Your only powder is cornstarch. Please don’t swap it directly. Instead, try this: cream your butter and sugar longer. Beat in eggs like your mixer owes you money. That traps air. It won’t be perfect, but it’s better than cornstarch catastrophe.
Or—and this is the wild card—use buttermilk and baking soda if you have them. That’s a classic duo. Cornstarch? Keep it for gravy.
Is Baking Powder Cornstarch? Differences, Uses & Substitutes
Honestly, a slightly flat cake is still delicious. A cornstarch cake is a hockey puck. You’ve been warned.