Aluminum-free Baking Powder–grain free, corn free, AIP

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.

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!

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.)