7 Easy Baking Soda Recipe Ideas for Everyday Use
These seven everyday recipes use baking soda with pantry staples such as flour, buttermilk or yogurt, bananas and oats. Each takes 30 minutes or less of hands-on time: soda farls, yogurt flatbreads, banana oat muffins, skillet cornbread, chewy oatmeal cookies, buttermilk pancakes and an egg-free chocolate cake.
The seven recipes
| Recipe | Total time | Acid that activates the soda |
|---|---|---|
| Soda farls (griddle bread) | 25 min | Buttermilk |
| Yogurt flatbreads | 25 min | Yogurt |
| Banana oat muffins | 30 min | Banana, brown sugar, yogurt |
| Skillet cornbread | 35 min | Buttermilk |
| Chewy oatmeal cookies | 25 min | Brown sugar |
| Buttermilk pancakes | 20 min | Buttermilk |
| Wacky chocolate cake | 45 min | Vinegar |
1. Soda farls
These Northern Irish griddle breads are cooked in a dry frying pan, so you need no oven. Mix 250 g plain flour, ½ tsp baking soda and ½ tsp salt. Stir in about 200–220 ml buttermilk to make a soft dough. Pat it into a 20 cm round about 1.5 cm thick, and cut it into quarters. Cook in a dry pan over medium-low heat for 6–8 minutes per side, until risen and they sound hollow. Split and eat warm with butter.
2. Yogurt flatbreads
Mix 250 g plain flour, ½ tsp baking soda and ½ tsp salt, then add 250 g plain yogurt. Knead for 1 minute until smooth, cover and rest for 10 minutes. Divide into 6 balls and roll each one thin. Cook in a very hot dry pan for 1–2 minutes per side, until puffed and spotted brown. Brush with garlic butter if you like.
3. Banana oat muffins (makes 10)
Mash 2 very ripe bananas. Whisk in 1 egg, 80 ml oil, 100 g brown sugar and 60 g yogurt. In another bowl, combine 150 g plain flour, 50 g oats, ¾ tsp baking soda, ¼ tsp salt and 1 tsp cinnamon. Fold the wet and dry mixtures together until just combined. Spoon into lined muffin cups and bake at 190°C / 375°F for 18–20 minutes.
4. Skillet cornbread
Put a 25 cm cast-iron pan with 1 tbsp butter in the oven while it heats to 220°C / 425°F. Mix 150 g cornmeal, 125 g plain flour, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda and ½ tsp salt. Whisk 2 eggs with 300 ml buttermilk and 60 g melted butter, then stir into the dry ingredients. Pour into the hot pan (it should sizzle) and bake for 20–25 minutes.
5. Chewy oatmeal cookies (makes 16)
Whisk 115 g melted butter with 100 g brown sugar, 50 g white sugar, 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla. Stir in 125 g plain flour, ½ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp cinnamon and ¼ tsp salt, then 120 g rolled oats and 75 g raisins. Scoop tablespoon-sized balls onto lined trays, and bake at 180°C / 350°F for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are golden but the centres still look soft.
6. Buttermilk pancakes
The classic weekend breakfast. Full recipe and tips are in our guide to fluffy pancakes with baking soda.
7. Wacky chocolate cake
An egg-free, dairy-free cake that rises with baking soda and vinegar. Recipe in our baking soda and vinegar guide.
Measure the baking soda with a level spoon, whisk it into the flour so there are no lumps, and cook soon after the wet ingredients go in. If something tastes soapy, there was too much soda for the amount of acid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Stir 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar into 240 ml (1 cup) of milk and leave it for 5 minutes. That gives the baking soda the acid it needs.
Soda farls or yogurt flatbreads. Each needs just four ingredients and a frying pan.