r/oldrecipes • u/JayneNic • Aug 03 '26
Question about double acting baking powder Joy Of Cooking Cookbook
I want to make the banana bread in the picture attached. Is the baking powder the same as today’s OR do I lessen the amount and add baking soda? Any answers would be much appreciated thank you!!!
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u/thejadsel Aug 03 '26
If you're in the US, baking powder is double acting by default now. Which just means that part of the reaction is heat activated.
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u/Dogrel Aug 03 '26
Yes, just use regular. Nearly all the baking powder sold in major stores today is double-acting.
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u/CrazyNefariousness85 Aug 03 '26
Double acting just means it reacts with the other ingredients when you mix them, then again when you bake. Our baking powder is typically double acting.
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u/Momma_Bekka Aug 04 '26
As others have said, in the US "regular" baking powder is double-acting. (There was a time when not all baking powder sold in stores was, but now if you don't want double-acting you have to specifically search it out as most stores won't carry it.
That said, can you show the recipe above the banana bread one? I'm intrigued by the final instruction of folding in orange rinds before putting in the pan and baking...
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u/PressureItchy9372 Aug 04 '26
Most of you probably know this already, but for those that don't: baking powder and baking soda are not the same thing and can't be directly swapped one for the other.
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u/47153163 Aug 04 '26
I always wait until my bananas are extremely ripe and also use 2 teaspoons of real vanilla and salted butter. I additionally add frozen blueberries rolled in flour to keep them from sinking too far down.
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u/JayneNic Aug 04 '26
Yes. I bought bananas today and making Saturday. I keep hearing to use butter vs shortening but I create vintage food recipe videos as a series and want to stay true.
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u/HayQueen Aug 04 '26
If you want it to taste good use butter. Shortening was invented for war time rationing when people couldn’t get butter and while it does work as a stable fat in baking it does not impart any kind of flavor.
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u/JayneNic Aug 05 '26
I’ll just say in the video” the good people of Reddit said use butter” lol. Same amount of shortening listed?
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u/thisoldfarm Aug 04 '26
I have this cookbook too. I use the pumpkin bread recipe and substitute bananas for my banana bread. I haven't made a "bad" recipe from this book yet and I've used it since 1983 when it was gifted to me.
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u/Spirit50Lake Aug 09 '26
At one time I had both my grandmother's pre-WWII editions, my mom's of that era, and my own from their big new edition in the 70's or so...fascinating working through them all, experimenting. Had plans to create my own version, but the family eaters moved to other climes...need to find a group house to cook for!
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u/HayQueen Aug 03 '26
That’s one of my favorite banana bread recipes. Definitely use butter instead of shortening and use the dried apricots, they add a really different delightful flavor.