Why Baking Takes Longer (or Shorter!) at High Altitude – and What to Do About It

Baking at high altitude can feel like playing by a different set of rules — because, well... it is. Whether you’re in Evergreen, Colorado like me, or nestled anywhere above 3,000 feet, your favorite recipes might suddenly behave like rebellious teenagers: rising too fast, sinking in the middle, or drying out before they’re done.

So let’s break it down. Why does this happen — and how can you work with the altitude instead of against it?

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🔬 The Science in Simple Terms

At higher elevations:

Air pressure is lower

Liquids evaporate faster

Gases (like the ones from baking soda or powder) expand more quickly

Water boils at a lower temperature

Translation? Your baked goods rise too fast, then collapse, and often dry out before they’re fully baked.

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⏱️ Why Timing Gets Weird

Ever notice some recipes bake faster — while others seem to take longer? That’s the altitude magic at work. Cakes might bake faster on the outside, but still be gooey in the middle. Cookies might spread out too much and brown before they’re done.

It’s not you. It’s physics.

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🛠️ Fix-It Tips

Here are my go-to tweaks to get better results without rewriting the whole recipe:

Decrease baking powder/soda by 1/8 to 1/4 tsp per tsp used

Add 1–2 extra tablespoons of flour

Slightly increase liquid (water, milk, etc.)

Reduce sugar by 1–2 tablespoons per cup

Increase oven temp by 15–25°F — but watch bake times closely!

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🍪 Real-Life Example: Chocolate Chip Cookies

At sea level? Soft and chewy.

At 7,500 feet? Flat and sad.

I tweak by using a touch more flour, a little less sugar, and chilling the dough first. Boom — chewy, thick, and delicious even in thin mountain air.

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🌄 Final Thoughts

Altitude baking can be frustrating, but once you get the hang of a few small changes, it opens up a whole new level of confidence in the kitchen.

And if you’d rather skip the guesswork? That’s exactly why I created Sweet Start Kits — pre-measured, high-altitude-adjusted, and ready for success.

Happy baking, high up!

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