The Best Yeast Substitutes for Baked Goods (2024)

FAQs

The Best Yeast Substitutes for Baked Goods? ›

You can substitute yeast with equal parts lemon juice and baking soda. So if a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of yeast, you can use half a teaspoon of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of baking soda. Keep in mind that the bread will not need the typical proofing time and the dough will begin rising right away.

You can substitute yeast with equal parts lemon juice and baking soda. So if a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of yeast, you can use half a teaspoon of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of baking soda. Keep in mind that the bread will not need the typical proofing time and the dough will begin rising right away.

Baking Soda and Lemon Juice

If you want to successfully substitute the yeast called for in a recipe, you just need to swap in the right amount of baking soda and acid to make the dough rise. You can use lemon juice, buttermilk, or milk combined with an equal part of vinegar as your acid.

If you want to avoid store-bought yeast in your pizza dough, baking powder is a quick-fix alternative. Another method, far more time consuming but very rewarding, is to make sourdough pizza.

Substitutions: If you can't find fresh cake yeast that's truly fresh, it's fine to sub active dry yeast. One 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast (i.e. 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast) equals 0.6-ounce cube of fresh cake yeast.

Instead of using yeast to make the bread rise, quick breads rely on other leavening agents like baking soda and baking powder to get height. "Quick breads, like banana bread, zucchini bread, and cornbread are delicious and easy alternatives to yeast-based bread and can satisfy cravings in a pinch," says Tyler Lee.

A natural yeast start is made by combining and fermenting these yeasts (found on grapes, berries, apples, wheat, etc) with water and flour, and then keeping them fed and alive to use in baking. A start is a wet substance, not a powder.

Yeast is my go-to for bread, pizza dough, and sweet rolls like cinnamon buns. These items benefit from its slow fermentation, which adds depth to both flavor and texture. On the other hand, baking powder should be your choice for quick breads, cookies, and cakes.

As a general rule, don't use self raising flour if there is another leavening agent called for in the recipe such as yeast or baking soda. The leavening in the self raising flour is usually enough. More, don't substitute self raising flour in your recipe without paying close attention to the rest of the recipe.

No-yeast pizza dough does not go through a lot of kneading and rising, so it has a softer, fluffier, less chewy, and more bread-like texture. It's not super crispy, it does not make those big delicate bubbles on the edges, and it doesn't get very brown.

Which is better for pizza dough, yeast or baking powder? ›

Texture: With a yeasted dough, the texture will be slightly chewy and airy from the dough rise. If you're using another leavening agent, like baking powder, your dough will have a denser and cakier texture, much like a quickbread. If you use no leavening agent, you'll get a super-thin crust with a more distinct snap.

Yes, you can. “Cake” doughnuts are made from a dough that uses baking powder or baking soda - like a scone or biscuit dough does. I've made sourdough donuts that did not have added active dry yeast in them, but did have baking soda as an additional leavening agent with the sourdough starter itself.

Baking Soda and Lemon

If you are lacking yeast in your pantry or dry goods storage, try combining baking soda and lemon juice. The chemical reaction between these two ingredients will help your recipe rise.

For example, if there is too much yeast, the bread may collapse during baking due to the release of too much gas. Not enough yeast will result in a dense loaf of bread. The type of yeast also determines how quickly the bread will rise. Active dry yeast and fresh yeast are commonly used in baking.

If your recipe calls for active dry yeast, how do you substitute instant? Substitute instant yeast 1:1 by weight or volume for any active dry yeast called for in your recipe. If your recipe calls for a packet of yeast (7g, a slightly heaped 2 teaspoons), use the same amount of instant.

Dried Mushrooms

Like yeast, mushrooms are a type of fungus, so they offer many of the same flavor benefits. Some mushrooms taste more like meat than cheese, but there are many varieties (like chanterelle, oyster, shiitake and porcini) that work as a nutritional yeast alternative when dried and ground into a powder.

Vinegar, milk and baking soda mixed together helps the bread rise. Use one teaspoon of baking soda, half a teaspoon of vinegar and half a teaspoon of milk to replace two teaspoons of yeast. Lighter batters may have a slightly different texture, but you will still get a rise from the dough.

Combine flour and spring water in a medium bowl; stir well. Cover loosely with a cloth and let sit on a kitchen counter for 2 to 3 days, or until bubbly. To use and feed your starter; take out the amount needed for your recipe and then replace that amount with equal parts flour and spring water.