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40 Hacks to Help You Become an Expert Baker

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Know the Difference Between Baking Powder and Baking Soda 23/40

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Know the Difference Between Baking Powder and Baking Soda

Baking powder and baking soda are not one and the same, so it's important to pay attention to your recipe ingredients because you can't use them interchangeably. Baking powder is a leavening agent and actually contains baking soda, plus a powdered acid (usually cream of tartar), so it can be used in recipes without the addition of extra acid. Baking soda is also a chemical leavener, but it needs to be combined with both a liquid and an acid in order to provide the lift or rise you're looking for in baked goods. In some cases, you may even need to use both. But if not, make sure you've got the right one! 

Here are all the things you can do with baking soda. 


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Ingredients

  • 2 large water or soda bottles (empty)
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 sticks butter
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 tbsp cocoa powder

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Ready 2 large plastic bottles, cleaned and dried.
  3. Add 1 cup of flour to each bottle.
  4. Add 1/2 cup of sugar to each.
  5. Melt butter, then add equal halves to each bottle.
  6. Add 6 eggs, 3 in each.
  7. Add 1/2 tbsp of baking powder to each.
  8. Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream to each.
  9. Shake the bottles thoroughly until the contents are well mixed.
  10. In one of the bottles only, add the cocoa powder.
  11. Beginning with the cocoa powder mixture, add a dolop of batter to the center of a circular
  12. baking tin. Do the same with the other mixture, placing the dolop directly in the center of the previous one.
  13. Continue with alternating additions of each mixture until all batter is used and the tin is full.
  14. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
  15. Serve and enjoy!