Choosing between baking soda and baking powder is one of those small decisions that quietly determines whether a recipe turns out light, tender, and evenly risen, or flat, dense, and oddly bitter.

Mix up this baking essential — or a good substitute — in minutes. Stacey Ballis is a novelist, cookbook author, and food writer with 20 years of experience. She has authored a cookbook called "Big ...

Plus, how to tell if your baking powder is still good to use. Whether you're one of those people who only bakes for special ...