Cream of Tartar:
Grams to Cups
By Stefan Ulrich · Last updated
Cream of tartar weighs 150 grams per cup, but you'll always measure it in teaspoons: 1 teaspoon = 3 grams. It's a powdery acid (potassium bitartrate) that plays a crucial role in stabilizing egg whites, activating baking soda, and giving snickerdoodle cookies their distinctive tang.
How much Cream of Tartar weighs at each cup measure.
Convert Cream of Tartar
1 cup = 150 grams
= — grams
= — cups
Quick reference
Measurement Table
| Cups | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 3 g | 0.11 oz |
| 1 tbsp | 9 g | 0.32 oz |
| ⅛ cup | 19 g | 0.67 oz |
| ¼ cup | 38 g | 1.34 oz |
| ⅓ cup | 50 g | 1.76 oz |
| ½ cup | 75 g | 2.65 oz |
| ⅔ cup | 100 g | 3.53 oz |
| ¾ cup | 113 g | 3.99 oz |
| 1 cup | 150 g | 5.29 oz |
| 1¼ cups | 188 g | 6.63 oz |
| 1½ cups | 225 g | 7.94 oz |
| 2 cups | 300 g | 10.58 oz |
| 3 cups | 450 g | 15.87 oz |
About Cream of Tartar
Cream of tartar's most important function is stabilizing whipped egg whites. A pinch (⅛ teaspoon, about 0.4 g) per egg white prevents over-whipping and helps meringue hold its shape during baking. Without it, meringue is more likely to weep, collapse, or develop a grainy texture.
The second major use: combined with baking soda, cream of tartar creates baking powder. The DIY ratio: ½ teaspoon cream of tartar + ¼ teaspoon baking soda = 1 teaspoon single-acting baking powder. This is useful in a pinch but produces single-acting powder (reacts immediately), unlike the double-acting store-bought variety.
Snickerdoodle cookies get their signature tangy flavor from cream of tartar, typically 1–2 teaspoons per batch combined with baking soda. Without cream of tartar, snickerdoodles are just sugar cookies — the tartness is the defining characteristic.
Cream of tartar is also used to prevent sugar crystallization in candy making, caramel, and frostings. A small amount (¼ teaspoon per cup of sugar) keeps syrups smooth and prevents the grainy texture that crystallization causes.
Tips for measuring Cream of Tartar
- 1 tsp = 3 g. ⅛ tsp per egg white for stable meringue.
- DIY baking powder: ½ tsp cream of tartar + ¼ tsp baking soda = 1 tsp baking powder.
- Essential for snickerdoodles — provides the signature tangy flavor.
- Prevents sugar crystallization in candy and caramel.
Common mistakes
- Omitting from meringue — egg whites won't hold as well
- Confusing with cornstarch or baking powder — completely different functions
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many grams in a cup of Cream of Tartar?
- 1 cup of Cream of Tartar weighs 150 grams — the standard used in most American recipes. Use the converter above for any other amount.
- How many grams is 1 tablespoon of Cream of Tartar?
- 1 tablespoon of Cream of Tartar weighs about 9 grams. The full table above lists every common cup fraction.
- What's the most common mistake when measuring Cream of Tartar?
- Omitting from meringue — egg whites won't hold as well. Weighing on a kitchen scale avoids it entirely.
- Does Cream of Tartar need to be levelled in the cup?
- Yes — spoon cream of Tartar in and sweep a straight edge across the top. Scooping or tapping compacts it and changes the weight.