Aluminum-free Baking Powder–grain free, corn free, AIP
This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. Learn more in our disclosure.
Looking for a great baking powder substitute or baking powder without aluminum? I’ve got you covered with this super simple aluminum-free baking powder recipe.
It also happens to be a corn-free baking powder so if you’re on a corn-free diet, it will work great for you as well!
If you’re concerned about aluminum in baking powder, you’re not alone.
While there has not been a definitive connection between aluminum in foods like baking powder and Alzheimer’s, many people are still looking to avoid aluminum in their foods, personal care products, and more.
Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get healthy living updates too.
Why Make Your Own Baking Powder?
- Corn Allergies – almost all baking powder is made with cornstarch
- Avoiding GMOs – most baking powders are made with GMO corn
- Avoiding Additives – many baking powders contain sodium aluminum sulfate, which some people wish to avoid
- You Ran Out of Baking Powder – having a DIY option for making staples such as baking powder is a huge help for those moments when you run out of an ingredient unexpectedly
- You’re On a Special Diet – This Homemade Baking Powder is whole30, paleo, AIP (autoimmune paleo), gluten-free, THM, and more
Why Is There Aluminum in Baking Powder?
Some baking powders are made with an aluminum-based salt–sodium aluminum sulfate or sodium aluminum phosphate. These substances become acidic when heated.
Baking soda is basic and it reacts with an acid to make baked goods rise. So these aluminum salts are part of what makes your baking powder containing baked goods rise.
As I mentioned, it’s been debated whether or not this form of aluminum contributes to such diseases as Alzheimer’s, etc., but regardless, many people wish to avoid this ingredient.
Interestingly, some people claim that baking powder that contains sodium aluminum sulfate can result in baked goods having a metallic taste, however from my research, that doesn’t seem to be the case–they appear to be either tasting some kind of residue from their baking pan or what they are tasting is the result of too much baking soda.
So this aluminum-free baking powder is simply a baking powder that doesn’t contain sodium aluminum sulfate or any other aluminum-containing ingredient.
Does Baking Soda Contain Aluminum?
Contrary to some sources, baking soda does not contain aluminum, so if you see a product labeled “aluminum-free baking soda”, that is either a marketing ploy, or an uninformed company.
Why Corn-free Baking Powder?
Not only is this homemade baking powder an aluminum-free baking powder, but it’s also a corn-free baking powder. Most baking powder is made with cornstarch, but this one is not.
So it’s perfect for those avoiding corn due to allergies or intolerances, as well as those on a grain-free diet.
As it turns out, this recipe works for many special diets. It’s not only corn-free, but it also works for the paleo, AIP, and grain-free diets.
Why Is There Arrowroot in This Baking Powder Recipe?
Arrowroot helps absorb moisture and as such will extend the shelf life of the product. So you can make a larger batch and keep your baking powder longer.
If you plan on making smaller batches and using this homemade paleo baking powder up quickly, then you can eliminate the arrowroot or other starches.
Another option, if you’d like to make a larger batch but still address the moisture problem, is to add silica packs to the baking powder after putting it in a container.
Keto Baking Powder Option
To make this baking powder starch-free and completely keto, just omit the starch. The recipe will likely not keep as long but it will work in recipes.
Recipe Notes and Substitutions
- Alternative Starches: If need be, you can use organic tapioca flour / starch instead of arrowroot, or, if you are not avoiding corn, organic cornstarch is another option.
- Starch-free Recipe: If you can’t have any starches, you can use this recipe without it. As mentioned above, the starch primarily helps to keep the other ingredients from reacting and so it prolongs the life of the baking powder.
More Homemade Pantry Staples
- Best Healthier Cinnamon Sugar (3 Ways) – get 3 great recipes for the all time favorite sugary blend, and see which one we liked best! (all sugar-free)
- Vegetable Broth Mix | All Purpose Seasoning – sure to be a huge favorite in your home–tastes great on EVERYTHING!
- Homemade Vanilla Liquid Stevia – save loads of money by making this yourself.
- Homemade Rice Milk – you won’t believe how easy it is to make your own dairy-free milk.
- Powdered Egg Replacer (like Ener-G) – whether you’re avoiding eggs or happened to just run out, this is a great substitute for all your egg-free baking!
- Easiest Coconut Milk – we make this several times each and every week. It’s a super frugal and convenient dairy-free beverage option that works for almost any application.
- Vanilla Extract Substitutes – not a pantry basic you can make, but these 23 substitutes are at-the-ready pantry alternatives you can use anytime!
Aluminum-free Baking Powder (grain free, paleo)
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup cream of tartar
- 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a small bowl. Blend with a whisk to mix well.
- Store in a tightly-closed container to prevent moisture from entering and causing the ingredients to begin to react.
- Use as you would regular baking powder.
Notes
- This recipe can easily be doubled or made in whatever quantity you like.
- Alternative Starches: If desired, you can use organic tapioca flour / starch instead of arrowroot, or, if you are not avoiding corn, organic cornstarch may also be substituted.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is merely an approximation. Optional ingredients are not included and when there is an alternative, the primary ingredient is typically used. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts since they have been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Don’t Feel Like DIYing?
Sometimes, you just don’t want to make something. If that’s your situation, this baking powder is a great aluminum-free option, but it does contain non-GMO corn.
I’d love to hear how this works for you!
(Note: This recipe was originally published in 2011. It was republished with new images and new helpful information. For reference, following is an image from an earlier edition of the post.)
I spent a couple years as a pastry chef in a kitchen where we oft ran out of key ingredients, including baking powder, which forced me to become a chemist a lot of the time.
Baking powder works because when heat and moisture are present the baking soda (alkaline) reacts with the cream of tartar (acid) and forms CO2 (bubbles/rising action). So, for a lot of recipes, baking powder can be omitted completely and a half measurement(apx.)of baking soda can be substituted if you can improvise some sort of acid into the recipe, such as brown sugar, cocoa powder, molasses, dark chocolate…. I once even used white vinegar!
Sorry to go on, but I very recently awakened to the seriousness on GMO food, factory farming, and food-health issues in general. I’ve become a born again vegetarian and nutritarian, if that makes any sense.
Anyway, glad I found your site! Cheers!
I think that the ability to substitute is one of the things I lean on most in my kitchen — for time and money saving success!
I am curious about you mentioning brown sugar and molasses as being acidic enough for the purpose that you mentioned. Is that really the case?
My path to health is still ongoing and has taken a lot of interesting twists and turns.
Welcome and hope to see you again!
I love make your own posts and would have never thought of baking powder. Love it!
Thanks for sharing at the hearth and soul hop.
That is so cool. I never knew you could make your own baking powder. I’d love for you to come by and share your recipe at These Chicks Cooked Recipe Spotlight tomorrow (Wednesday). Have a great day 🙂
Katie
Thank you! I was just thinking the other day that I would like to figure out how to make my own baking powder simply because I go through so much of it! I’m so excited about this! I already whip up my own powedered sugar, and I can’t wait to add this to my list of “make our own”!
There are numerous gluten free baking mix mixes. Pam’s makes one, and I’m pretty sure Bob’s Red Mill does as well. I have assumed that any Gluten Free Pancake Mix is the same thing. I have gotten that at Trader Joe’s. I haven’t specifically read the ingredients on those as I haven’t really incorporated them into my regular cooking or baking repetoire. But one of my favorite mixtures for things like gravy or breading is rice flour and potato (and or corn) starch. Also Guar gum and xanthan gum are used differently. One is better in baking (light and fluffy) and one is better in dough or pasta, chewy type items. I tend to use xanthan gum more often but it can cause digestive issues in quantity.
I like this recipe, especially cause it says arrowroot 🙂 Two in my family cannot tolerate corn, nightshades, or tapioca. Also, none of us can handle sodium acid pyrophosphate. I do a lot of baking! For leavening, I prefer using baking soda in recipes, and then adding apple cider vinegar at the end of mixing. I prefer being grain-free, since all of my family is allergic to gluten; In addition, grain-free baking can be done without additives and gums. I have grain-free pancake, bread, tortilla, and cake recipes for anyone who’d like to try them.
This is one of the coolest recipes I’ve seen in a while. Who knew it was so simple. I like when I find out really how basic thing are to make that we have been so programed into thinking that we simple must by them. Thanks for breaking this down for us! I am going to do this just as soon as I run out of my current stash.
thank you for sharing. i was looking for the way to make it…
I have heard it doesn’t do as well as xanthan gum.
Guar gum works just as good as xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is used by many major companies because it’s a cheap byproduct. The production of guar gum includes bacteria, a substrate, such as dairy or corn byproducts, and chemical extraction by isopropyl alcohol. Do you want to eat trace amount of isopropyl alcohol? Guar gum comes from a plant and does not require chemical extraction. I have used guar gum in gluten-free baking without a problem. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthan_gum
I am definitely going to make this. We own a gluten free bake shop out of home in Amherst, VA. We do allergy friendly baking too. A friend said she was trying to avoid corn and that baking powder had corn in it. So I am glad I can make a recipe for myself without corn in it. She mentioned that Hain was corn free too.
Now I have to figure out how to not use xanthan gum in my recipes if we want it to be corn free. THAT is a challenge!
How about trying guar gum instead?
Well I’ll be….I had no idea you could make your own. Thank you so much for sharing, I think I’ll make myself some Baking Powder 🙂
Thanks for sharing with Friday Potluck… I love make your own things! Right up my alley. Thanks so much!
I’ve also used potato starch instead of arrowroot as a less expensive way to make my own baking powder.
I am sure that tapioca starch would work as well. Great tip – I was thinking the same things when I wrote the post!
WOW, I had no idea that corn was in baking powder, just when I think I have my son’s allergy items out of the house I realize it’s in something else!! SO frustrating! I’ll be using your recipe for sure.
Thanks for sharing! I’m allergic to corn and yes, it is in EVERYTHING!! have you seen King Corn? Good documentary! Worth a watch! 🙂
Yes, King Corn is a thought-provoking documentary. The corn producers (I refuse to call them farmers) around this country are not growing corn because they want to. The documentary also gives good insight into how highly processed HFCS is.
Rose, I love soda pop, too! When I decided to give it up I started making my own “healthy soda pop”. Here is my recipe. Try it and let me know what you think. I just love this stuff and drink it every day.
https://marly67.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/converting-milk-kefir-grains/
Wow! I had no idea! Love making stuff at home. Just made mayo yesterday. 🙂
I would love to find a healthy recipe for biscuit mix that is gluten free, something like Bisquick..
I will get back to you on that. Do you have a recipe that you most want to use it for — -just for biscuits? If you can forward me a few recipes that you are hoping to duplicate, that would help! We used Bisquick all the time when I was small…. impossible pies were one of my favorites! We even had a small paperback Bisquick cookbook!
Bisquick has a gluten-free baking mix now, with lots of recipes on their website. I’m 99% sure it is corn free, it’s a mix of rice flour & potato starch I think.
I just looked it up. It has no corn, but has aluminum. Yuck! It also has no fat in it so you need to use it differently than original Bisquick.
I am going to work up a whole grain (as much as possible) alternative that is aluminum and corn free. Stay tuned!
Have you ever heard of a way to make healthy soda? I am practically addicted to Diet Coke, and while I’ve cut down a lot, I still would rather find a healthier alternative (besides water). 🙂
Yes, I have some ideas for you, actually! One I will share with you now is that we use stevia (other sweeteners will work as well, but that is what I use) with added lemon juice to make homemade lemonade. I will try to post on it soon! Take care!
great idea, you can buy the plant in the garden section and brew the leaves, that takes processing out of the picture. And for the question of soda, I take soda water and squish a frozen strawberry in it and sometimes a little local honey to sweeten it. It does fizz up a little at first so just put a little or selzer in it with the honey and mix it then add the rest of the selzer water
Lori, I love the idea for soda. I still have to get my “alternative” posted. Could you clarify what you are talking about regarding the plant? I couldn’t quite figure it out. Thanks!
Hi Adrienne, I’m thinking that maybe she was referring to the Stevia plant – a really sweet way to grow your own; ) Deb
Deb,
I’m not sure what she meant. Apparently you can brew the leaves of citrus plant. I never knew that! But there aren’t any citrus trees around here :-).
OR, can you make a tea from citrus leaves? Maybe that’s what Lori meant – home-brewed lemonade?
No local citrus? How about this… the next time you find an orange or lemon at the bottom of the fruit bin that’s a little past due, just check for some nice fat seeds. That’s what I did with one of Grandma’s grapefruit 40+ years ago. (As a matter of fact, she’s out on the deck right now and it’s almost time to bring her back in for the winter; ) If you need more details, just drop me an email.
Wow – neat! I’m very intrigued. But I live in Michigan. We might have to talk :-).
You’re in Michigan and I’m in Ontario, so you might be farther north, or you might not; )
Either way, I like to share: )
sparkling water mixed 1:1 with real juice, still a lot of natural sugar in the juice, but much better than soda
You can make your own homemade lacto-fermented sodas! If you google it, you’ll find various recipes using water kefir, whey, or a “ginger bug” to make your own healthy, probiotic sodas. 🙂 You do need to use sugary sweeteners in order to feed the bacteria; I don’t think something like stevia will work.
I make sarsaparilla soda with yeast. With the recipe I can add any flavor and it takes about 1-2 weeks to get it to perfection.
Yep, avoiding corn, my life for the last four years with a daughter that is allergic to corn, right from birth. It was an exteme process of trial and error to find out what she was reacting to in my milk. B/c I have avoided corn for so long I can no longer tolerate it either. Basically, everything is from scratch for our family of six. I will have to try this out. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, I understand how hard it is. All is from scratch here as well. We are OK eating corn now (though for myself, not too much) so aside from the occasional bag of tortilla chips, we purchase NOTHING processed. I have found that if I rotate it into my diet every three to four days I do alright with it, especially if it is organic. You might wish to try that. Did you see my recipes for popcorn and homemade toppings? Hope that other recipes on my site will be helpful for you!