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I am asking the converse of the question "Why use yeast instead of baking powder?"

For example, can banana bread be made with yeast instead of baking powder? It seems it would rise better, but perhaps people like baking powder because they like banana bread denser or wetter or something?

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  • Seems like the answers to the linked question speak to this question, as well.
    – Cindy
    Apr 9, 2018 at 20:22
  • @Cindy Perhaps. From the chosen answer: "you don't get a crumb with big, airy holes from baking powder or baking soda with an acid." That's what I suspected, but is there more to it than that?
    – Geremia
    Apr 9, 2018 at 20:24
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    It may be worth noting that banana bread is a "quick bread", not a true bread... it's closer to a muffin or cake than any other bread... and part of the definition of a quick bread is that it's chemically leavened.
    – Catija
    Apr 9, 2018 at 20:35
  • Hint: breads made with baking soda are often called quick breads.
    – The Photon
    Apr 10, 2018 at 2:05

3 Answers 3

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The main reasons are speed and convenience. Yeast takes longer (even "instant" yeast) and requires more maintenance: waiting for dough to rise, etc.

But those are the historical reasons for the adoption for baking powder. Since it became common, another reason emerged: that is, it's very difficult if not impossible to get some kinds of texture and crumb that you get with baking powder by using yeast.

Why? As dough sits (necessary for yeast to rise), gluten chains begin to form. The longer the dough sits, the more gluten chains you get. Even with pastry or cake flour, the dough will get tougher over time (though obviously not as much as with all-purpose or bread flour).

So, yes, you can make banana bread with yeast. But by the time your dough has risen, it will have become more "bread-like," with a chewier crumb, rather than the tender "crumbly" texture most people are used to in modern quick breads. That is even more true if you de-gas the dough and let it rise a second time, which is generally necessary (1) to get maximum rise, and (2) to even out the gas bubbles so you don't end up with large holes in the final product.

There are entire genres of "yeasted cake" recipes, which used to be quite common in Europe. Even with a lot of sugar, they are often "bread-like," sort of like sweet brioche. They can have a fine crumb, but they won't have the tenderness of a cake made with baking powder (or a quick bread like banana bread, for that matter, which is really like a cake/muffin).

There are entire genres of modern cakes (and quick breads) that only became possible with the use of baking powder (or at least baking soda with an acid). Before chemical leavening, you were limited in tender cakes to a few genres that depended on whipped eggs or egg whites (e.g., angel food cake), creamed butter/sugar (e.g., pound cake), etc.

Aside from texture, there's also a flavor issue. Generally most people like the added flavor from yeast, but it also can add a "bread-like" or "yeasty" aspect to the flavor, which may not be desirable in some cakes. Modern baker's yeast is better than historical yeasts in this regard. Baking powder can add a different (more "chemical") flavor, but with proper proportions and/or with acid in the batter to ensure a complete reaction, it is often barely noticeable.

EDIT: SgtStens makes a great point in another answer, which I was thinking about in my final paragraph with flavor, but didn't note clearly. High sugar content in doughs/batters will inhibit yeast activity. That's why most traditional yeasted cake recipes end up using a relatively low-sugar batter and then add more sweetness through a glaze, filling, streusel topping, etc. A low-sugar dough can still rise within a reasonable amount of time (a couple hours). On the other hand, high-sugar cake batters generally take a much longer time to rise. (Many recipes require an overnight rise for the yeast to initially develop and multiply.) Depending on the type of yeast and temperature, this can sometimes result in an overly "yeasty" flavor to the final product (though the high-sugar content will cover it up partially).

However, the higher sugar amount can perhaps allow you to obtain a crumb and texture closer to a "normal cake." On the other hand, without adequate gluten support (with lower flour content relatively), it's difficult to obtain a very light cake this way. It's fine to create a product with the texture of pound cake or maybe a quick bread, but for something lighter, you may need to resort to baking powder. One reason in this case is that baking powder can continue to react and produce gas until the gluten structure sets, whereas yeast will die a little earlier in the baking process. Very light cakes often depend on a careful balance between continuous gas production inside the dough and the gradual migration of gas bubbling out the top. The cake has to set while gas production is still going on, or else the gas will bubble out and the cake will fall. If the dough rises too high and then the yeast stop producing gas when they die, the cake could collapse before the structure sets.

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  • Great answer. Then will it be impossible to make biscuits with yeast? You have argued some preparations can only be made with baking powder (high sugar content, too acidic, much faster, crumbliness...). What about the opposite? Any preparation (apart from bread) where yeast is irreplaceable? Any advantage of yeast?
    – skan
    Jun 1, 2020 at 14:48
  • @skan: I'm not sure if by "biscuits" you mean AmE (flaky thick doughy things) or BrE (what Americans call "cookies"). Either way, it's generally possible to make them with yeast, though texture may vary somewhat. The main reasons for using yeast are for textures that require gluten development over time to rise higher, as well as for the distinct flavors that come from yeast.
    – Athanasius
    Jun 16, 2020 at 22:11
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In addition to Athanasius's excellent answer, the other reason to choose chemical over yeast leavening is the composition and proportion of the other ingredients. Yeast is an organism that requires a certain balance in order to reproduce and yield the CO2 that makes dough rise. Banana bread and other quickbreads often have an abundance of sugar. While yeast likes a certain amount of sugar to eat, the yeast also needs a moist environment. Since sugar is hygroscopic, it will absorb the water that the yeast needs, retarding or impeding the leavening process. This is why baked goods with sweet dough require a lot more proofing or hand-holding to get a proper rise and are generally more difficult or finicky to make.

Too much sugar in yeast-leavened baking

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  • I thought too much sugar would make the yeast overpopulate, but you're claiming it will dehydrate the yeast?
    – Geremia
    Apr 10, 2018 at 16:00
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    @Geremia - yes, it will. A little sugar provides additional food for yeast and will increase yeast activity. The amount used in most normal breads is small enough that it actually helps fermentation, and in some cases it can even cause bread dough to rise too quickly. But even higher amounts of sugar will inhibit yeast growth. Even sweet rolls or breads often require longer-than-average fermentation times.
    – Athanasius
    Apr 10, 2018 at 17:14
  • Can we compensate it with a higher hydration? Or maybe we can add the sugar after baking.
    – skan
    Jun 1, 2020 at 14:50
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The primary benefit of baking powder is speed. You don't have to wait hours for dough to rise from yeast. Baking powder causes a chemical reaction that releases gas for leavening.

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  • Quick-acting yeast is fast, though
    – Geremia
    Apr 9, 2018 at 21:53
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    @Geremia "fast" is relative.
    – RonJohn
    Apr 10, 2018 at 1:26
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    @Geremia maybe I make bread wrong but 2-4 hours before going in the oven vs 10 minutes... isn't fast.
    – Catija
    Apr 10, 2018 at 12:12

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