Baking powder is a leavening agent used in baking. It contains a combination of an acid (like cream of tartar) and a base (like baking soda), along with a moisture-absorbing agent (like cornstarch).
When baking powder is mixed with wet ingredients and heated in the oven, it produces carbon dioxide gas. This gas forms bubbles in the batter, causing it to rise and expand. As a result, the cake becomes soft and spongy because the air pockets created by the gas make the texture light and fluffy. So, baking powder helps the cake rise and gives it that desirable airy quality!
