Oh dear help! Baking powder/Baking soda dilemma

[BendyBob]

I'm in the middle of making a cake.

Only now I notice the recipe says it requires Baking Powder and Baking soda.

Eh?!

I only have Baking powder in the house. Shall I just use a bit more of that? If so, how much?? It's all getting a bit too 'science lesson' for me now on a Sunday.

yes substitute baking powder for eqiva;lent weight of bicarb

I think Baking soda is the same as bicarb - if you don't have bicarb I'd add a bit more baking powder but probably not the full amount that they say. What are the quantities?

yeah just add a bit more baking powder. Baking powder contains baking soda.

You need to use 2-3 times more baking powder than baking soda.

bicarbonate of soda and baking soda are the same thing

Thankyou SO much MrsB!

I've now just done that, but was worried I'd done the wrong thing there. Am reassured!

Baking Powder is just baking soda with cream of tartar and cornstarch in it.

Ooh more replies, um hang on.

It says 2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp bicarb.

Oh well I've just bunged in another 1/2 tsp of baking powder instead now. It'll be fine...

It's banana, date and walnut loaf for dh. He'll just be happy however it turns out

Ah.

It should be ok.

For future reference the extra baking soda is needed to help neutralise the acids in the recipe, as all that fruit means it has a high acid content and the baking powder alone won't be able to deal with it.

Hope that wasn't too sciency for a sunday

Ah I seee..

Think I'll get some to keep in the cupboard for next time then.

Gosh you are such a clever lot on here. Many thanks everyone.