Here it is, the golden ratio that will change your baking life: For every one cup of all-purpose flour, add 1½ teaspoons of baking powder and ¼ teaspoon of salt. That’s it. Really. I promise you don’t need a PhD in chemistry for this—just a spoon and a whisk.
Now, why does this work? The baking powder is your little bubble-maker, giving your cakes and muffins that glorious rise. The salt doesn’t just sit there looking pretty; it balances the flavor and keeps your baked goods from tasting flat. Together, they’re a dynamic duo straight out of a superhero comic.