Genevieve Dig into any well-stocked home pantry, and you are bound to come up with these two common leaveners: baking powder and baking soda. While they both have the power to make your baked goods rise, the difference between baking soda and baking powder rests in the science behind them. Why You Need Leaveners in Baking... Baking Soda vs Baking Powder: What's the Difference?