Baking at 5,000 feet
At 5,000 ft (1,524 m): reduce each tsp of baking powder by about ⅛–¼ tsp, use 1 tbsp less sugar per cup, add 3 tbsp liquid per cup, add 2 tbsp flour per cup, and bake 15–25 °F hotter. Water boils at about 202 °F.
Sea-level recipe
Adjusted for 5,000 ft (5,000 ft band), cakes
| Change | Sea level | At your elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Baking powder | 2 tsp | 1⅝ tsp |
| Baking soda | ½ tsp | ⅜ tsp |
| Sugar | 1½ cup | −1½ tbsp |
| Liquid | 1 cup | +3 tbsp |
| Flour | 2¼ cup | +4½ tbsp |
| Oven | 350 °F | 375 °F |
| Bake time | 30 min | ≈ 23 min |
Starting points, not guarantees. Make one batch, note what happened, then fine-tune. Start checking doneness at the shorter time.
What changes at 5,000 feet
Air pressure here is about 83% of sea level. Leavening gases expand further, moisture evaporates faster and water boils around 202 °F, so cakes rise and sink, cookies spread and bakes dry out unless the recipe is rebalanced.
By bake
Other elevations
Questions bakers ask
How do I adjust a recipe for 5,000 feet?
Reduce each teaspoon of baking powder or soda by about ⅛–¼ tsp, use about 1 tbsp less sugar per cup, add about 3 tbsp liquid per cup, add 2 tbsp flour per cup, and bake 15–25 °F hotter for 5–8 minutes less per 30 minutes.
What temperature does water boil at 5,000 feet?
About 202 °F (94 °C), roughly 1 °F lower for every 500 feet of elevation.
Do I need to adjust yeast bread at 5,000 feet?
Yes, lightly: use about 25% less yeast, expect faster rises and add a little water if the dough feels stiff.