Odd statement about baking soda...

I picked up a copy of Baking 9-1-1 by Sarah Phillips,

and came across a statement that piqued my interest. In her recipe for sugar cookies, she writes "most cookies use baking powder for leavening; I chose to use baking soda. It causes the cookies to spread rather than puff, perfect for a crispy cookie, and have a wonderful buttery flavor you can't get with baking powder."

The ingredients are: unbleached AP flour, baking soda (1/2 tsp), baking powder (1/4 tsp), salt, unsalted butter, sugar, an egg, vanilla extract, and an optional 1/2 tsp lemon extract.

First, what could the acid be? What would interact with the baking soda? If nothing, why add baking soda? Second, it DOES have baking powder, too, so what's she talking about about choosing to use baking soda? I know that some recipes use both, but (a), baking soda is often used to also neutralize an acid, and (b) she seems to imply she was substituting one for the other. OK, maybe that's a nitpick. Third, by saying that baking soda makes the cookies spread rather than puff, doesn't that mean it ISN'T a leavening agent here? And finally, how on earth would baking soda add "a wonderful buttery flavor"???

Reply to
Scott
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In the baking powder.

baking powder A LEAVENER containing a combination of baking soda, an acid (such as CREAM OF TARTAR) and a moisture-absorber (such as cornstarch). When mixed with liquid, baking powder releases carbon dioxide gas bubbles that cause a bread or cake to rise. There are three basic kinds of baking powder. The most common is double-acting, which releases some gas when it becomes wet and the rest when exposed to oven heat. Single-acting tartrate and phosphate baking powders (hard to find in most American markets because of the popularity of double-acting baking powder) release their gases as soon as they're moistened. Because it's perishable, baking powder should be kept in a cool, dry place. Always check the date on the bottom of a baking-powder can before purchasing it. To test if a baking powder still packs a punch, combine 1 teaspoon of it with 1/3 cup hot water. If it bubbles enthusiastically, it's fine.

What would interact with the baking soda?

see above

And cause Fizz.....

baking soda Also known as bicarbonate of soda , baking soda is used as a LEAVENER in baked goods. When combined with an acid ingredient such as buttermilk, yogurt or molasses, baking soda produces carbon dioxide gas bubbles, thereby causing a dough or batter to rise. Because it reacts immediately when moistened, it should always be mixed with the other dry ingredients before adding any liquid; the resulting batter should be placed in the oven immediately. At one time, baking soda was used in the cooking water of green vegetables to preserve their color. That practice was discontinued, however, when it was discovered that baking soda destroys the vitamin C content of vegetables. © Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc. 1995 based on THE FOOD LOVER'S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler

and (b) she seems to imply she was substituting

Don't know.other than the possibel added sodium.

Dimitri

Reply to
Dimitri

The baking soda will reduce the pH, and may marginally strengthen the gluten and increase browning. I can't see how it CAUSES spreading. I see spreading being a function of the melting profile of the fat and the oven temperature. It may allow spreading because without an acid, it does nothing. In other words, it is passive and the spreading has been erroneously attributed to it. It' like saying that drinking alcohol at a bar makes people appear sexy and attractive, while drinking water makes them appear ordinary and dull.

Reply to
Vox Humana

Scott wrote: picked up a copy of Baking 9-1-1 by Sarah Phillips,

Baking soda in the absence of any acid salt will make the cookie dough slightly alkaline. Now alkaline conditions will alsoto promote Maillard's reaction promoting the formation of flavors.

If baking soda is heated:

2NaHCO3 ( heat) = Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2, it does not need any acid to release the gas which can contribute some leavening action.

It is added primarily to generate CO2 but it has other effect on the cookie dough also. Baking soda is used alone in some cookie formulation but in my experience is not the best leavening salt; I prefer ammonium bicarbonate instead as it can produce more gases per molecule of the salt NH4HCO3 ( heat) = NH3 +CO2 + H2O Therefore for every molecule of ammonium bicarbonate it releases three molecule of leavening gases; ammonia, carbon dioxide, and steam . Where as two molecules of baking soda as shown above will only release a molecule each of carbon dioxide and steam.. Therefore in per molecule basis ( NaHCO3)its not efficient. Besides the sodium ion has a tightening effect on the protein due ionic bonding with the amino acids in the protein molecule which can confer some stabilizing effect . Now if the thesis is cookie spread, the reason for that is the cookie dough alkalinity which will tend to loosen the gluten structure but not much exhibited by baking soda actually. The pH of the ammonium bicarbonate leavened cookie is slightly higher and so promote more dough relaxation allowing it to spread better resulting in flatter cookie with wider diameter than the ones leavened with baking soda. As the ammonia does not form a tigher ionic bond than the sodium oon the cookie texture is more loose and so tends to spreads more. The only advantage of baking soda against bicarbonate of ammonia ( baking ammonia) is that it does not leave any ammoniacal smell to the cookie. But I don't see that the spread factor( the ratio of the cookie diameter to its height is significant with baking soda and that can be influenced also by the amount of fat present in the recipe as well as the nature of the flour used.

That is self explanatory, baking soda alone does not leaven the cookie dough efficiently but needs a boost from the baking powder. Besides it needs a higher temperature for the baking soda to evolve the needed carbon dioxide so if used alone and baked at moderate baking temperature you will not get what you expect in terms of leavening performance.. In addition the reaction of baking powder once its hydrated allow for the formation of some gas cells which are expanded by the released steam and CO2 from the oven heat release of baking soda and from residual amount of baking soda in the baking powder

I would say that her selection is opinionated based upon her limited experience in chemical leavening application .. If she happened to be well experienced and more knowledgeable with the chemistry of leavening agents she should not say that! I

You are right, baking soda is used in baking with acidulant for the efficient release of the carbon dioxide

Her employment of two CO2 generating agents is due to the fact that with a slightly alkaline dough due to the formation of sodium carbonate will promote the cookie to brown faster resulting in a nice cookie color if baked at just moderate temperatures. If she is only employing baking powder it will appear to be pale colored as the slightly acidic dough does not promote the cookie crust to brown . Besides the crumb color will be not pale colored as well for the same reason.

I have already stated above the reasons for spreading . but its presence will add a bit more of CO2 to added baking powder.

It is self explanatory,s the uses butter here which when it heated volatilizes the aroma components , and is the main source of butter flavor. But it does not hold if you use a bland tasting fat in the dough and I had confirmed thate extensively in the past. Butter flavor can arise if you use substances that contains it such as added butter flavor, the use of some margarines and surely of pure butter and anhydrous milk fat. Even the use of full cream milk and buttermilk seems to generate the buttery aroma also in cookies. I have used baking soda /baking powder tandem in the past to leaven some cookies containing vegetable shortening and I get a different smell , artificial and unappetizing more soapy in character. These is due to minimal fat breakdown resulting in the release of fatty acids which will combine with the sodium ion to forms soapy tasting cookie

Reply to
chembake

I don't know about you, but I found that to be true. YMMV hic Pan Ohco

Reply to
Pan Ohco

Drinking alcohol makes *me* more sexy and attractive. It also makes me ten feet tall and bulletproof.

Bob

Reply to
Bob Terwilliger

Yeah! OK! Yep! Mmmm! Yeah! Umm! Ah ha!!

Reply to
Jen

Hi Jen,

I am pleased to know that the 'baking powder chemistry'was your 'intellectual frreplay' that led you to a state of orgasm< grin>.

Reply to
chembake

Oh yeah! It was good!!

Jen

Reply to
Jen

Reply to
chembake

But the acid in the baking powder SHOULD be just enough to react to the baking soda contained in the BAKING POWDER. There shouldn't be enough left over to react with the additional baking soda. Baking powder should net neutral, the two components canceling each other out.

Just defining the basics of baking soda and baking powder doesn't add any new information to the question--the definitions were implied already.

That's why I said "ALSO neutralize..." (emphasis added). If baking powder is being added for leavening purposes, baking soda is sometimes added to smooth the taste of the recipe by neutralizing excess acid.

Reply to
Scott

If you look at the original toll house recipe there is no powder at all, all you need is soda.

Dimitri

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened 3/4 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs 2 cups (12-ounce package) NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels 1 cup chopped nuts
Reply to
Dimitri

Butter is acidic.

Buttermaking involves converting cream, an emulsion of butterfat-in-serum, into butter, an emulsion of serum in butterfat. The cream has about 40% butterfat and finished butter has about 80%. Ingredients include water, curd and salt. Raw milk pH levels are between 6.5 and 6.8. Measuring the pH detects the presence of lactic acid that can lower the pH and affect the flavor. Sometimes depressed pH in milk or cream can be corrected by neutralizing with sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide. The raw milk is then separated into cream and skim milk and the cream is pasteurized. The cream must cool before churning. A byproduct of churning is buttermilk, which is drained before the water and salt are mixed in. The butter is then packaged. The final pH value should be near 5 for maximum flavor.

Dimitri

Reply to
Dimitri

OOOOHHHHHHHHH! Can't wait.

Jen

Reply to
Jen

As is the brown sugar.

Reply to
Vox Humana

Butter is acidic. Buttermaking involves converting cream, an emulsion of butterfat-in-serum, into butter, an emulsion of serum in butterfat. The cream has about 40% butterfat and finished butter has about 80%. Ingredients include water, curd and salt. Raw milk pH levels are between 6.5 and 6.8. Measuring the pH detects the presence of lactic acid that can lower the pH and affect the flavor. Sometimes depressed pH in milk or cream can be corrected by neutralizing with sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide. The raw milk is then separated into cream and skim milk and the cream is pasteurized. The cream must cool before churning. A byproduct of churning is buttermilk, which is drained before the water and salt are mixed in. The butter is then packaged. The final pH value should be near 5 for maximum flavor. Dimitri As is the brown sugar.

....IMO the very slight acidity of butter and brown sugar has nothing to do with the addition of baking soda aside from the baking powder

Besides flour solids had a buffer> > >I picked up a copy of Baking 9-1-1 by Sarah Phillips,

Reply to
Roy

But the Tollhouse recipe has brown sugar, which is acidic. The recipe I posted used regular sugar.

Reply to
Scott

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