Baking powder is a well-known substitute for baking soda, and the two ingredients can replace one another.
What happens if you run out of both ingredients and need to bake zucchini bread, though? Can you make zucchini bread without baking soda or baking powder?
Yes, it’s possible, and there are a few ingredients you can use to replace these raising agents.
This article will discuss the different substitute ingredients for zucchini bread and how to make it without baking soda and baking powder.
Let’s jump right into it!
What Can I Use to Replace Baking Soda or Baking Powder?
Trying to bake without baking soda or baking powder may seem like an impossible task. However, there are a few ways to make zucchini bread without using these baking essentials.
Whether you ran out of baking soda/powder or want to try baking without them, you have a few alternatives to choose from.
While these replacements need some adjustments to fit the recipe, they can certainly get the job done. They’re also not beginner-friendly, so you might find using them a bit challenging.
On that note, here are the substitute ingredients you can try:
1 – Self-Rising Flour
Self-rising flour is a convenient mixture of salt, baking powder, and flour. It’s a baker’s cheat product that started in England in the 1800s as a ready mix for baking bread while on board sailing ships.
There’s not much problem with using self-rising flour for the standard zucchini bread recipe, but other recipes may need some adjustments.
For instance, if the recipe uses an acidic ingredient like buttermilk, you’ll have to use regular milk to balance the self-rising flour’s given acidity.
Using this flour as a substitute may not be too friendly for beginner bakers. However, it does help train them to be more experienced and flexible.
2 – Potassium Bicarbonate
While potassium bicarbonate is often used for dietary supplements, it’s also a viable substitute for baking soda and baking powder. The only thing is it might affect how your zucchini bread will taste due to its lack of salty flavor.
Nevertheless, you can remedy this by adding a bit more salt to compromise. However, if you’re cutting down on sodium intake for whatever medical reason, this should work nicely for your zucchini bread.
If you decide to use potassium bicarbonate, it follows a simple 1:1 ratio with baking soda. As for replacing baking powder, it should be 1:3.
3 – Baker’s Ammonia (Ammonium Carbonate)
Before baking powder and baking soda were a thing, baker’s ammonia served as one of the old century’s main raising agents.
Like potassium bicarbonate, it also follows the same ratio for replacing baking soda and baking powder.
Its key characteristics include giving your baked goods a distinct crispy texture. However, this mostly goes well with thin snacks and pastries such as crackers and cookies.
While you can use it to make zucchini bread, it’s not really the best option. Baker’s ammonia tends to produce an unpleasant smell due to the carbon dioxide and ammonia that comes out when you combine it with acid and heat.
Can You Make Zucchini Bread With Just Flour and Water?
Yes, it’s possible to make your own zucchini bread with just flour and water, but it might not come out as the tastiest and most pleasant-looking zucchini bread you’ve ever made.
Flour and water are enough to make a quick flatbread. However, it needs a raising agent to get that loaf of zucchini bread you’re looking for.
That’s not to say a flat zucchini bread isn’t worth a try for different kinds of recipes. After all, it might just work well as a savory wrap or quick snack that you can dip in some curry.
Overall, if you want proper zucchini bread, you either use one of the substitutes or wait until you have baking soda or baking powder.
How to Make Zucchini Bread Without Baking Soda or Baking Powder
The recipe for making zucchini bread without baking soda or baking powder is almost the same. There might be some slight changes in its taste and appearance, but it will still work.
You’ll still follow the same process of combining your wet and dry ingredients separately. If you’re going to use potassium bicarbonate, you can add extra salt to make up for its lack of sodium.
After mixing the wet and dry ingredients thoroughly, you can go ahead and blend the two mixtures until you form the bread’s shape. Once you finish, bake the zucchini bread as you usually would with baking soda or baking powder.
The results may not be what you expect, but the zucchini bread can still be a healthy and tasty treat. You should have no problem pairing it with your preferred side dish or recipes to enhance the flavor.
Final Thoughts
It’s reassuring to know that you have substitute ingredients to work with when your hands are tied. Making zucchini bread without baking soda or baking powder can be challenging, but it’s doable.
If you ever find yourself stuck in a similar situation, you can step up to the plate by using one of the mentioned ingredients. You’ll get more experience as a baker since you’re trying to produce similar results by using different components.
All you have to do is look at the situation as a challenge to improve your baking skills!
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.