Need Help determing what an ingredient in old recipe is

[jmssk323]

Hi
New to the forum. I just discovered it while I was searching for information about an ingredient. Plan on becoming an active member!

I have an old recipe for creme puff pastry and it calls for an ingredient called "compound" It is in a small collection of old recipes from the 20's.
I originally thought it might be baking powder or soda but htose are identified as such in other recipes from the same collection.

Does anyone have an idea?? maybe a type of butter since the recipe doesnt have butter in it! Maybe a crisco type shortening. I dont see shortening listed elsewhere in the recipes.

Thanks for your help
Mindy

 

[Alix]

Can you post the whole recipe for us so we can help you better?

And Welcome to DC!

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I'm wondering if it is Baking Ammonia, used in making Choux pastry, it's a Traditional/Old-World leavening for low moisture baked goods.

 

[Josie1945]

Welcome to DC.

Josie

 

[CWS4322]

Welcome to DC. I had the same thought as PF (and then wondered, can one still buy that? Some of my grandma's recipes call for it).

 

[Greg Who Cooks]

Can you post the whole recipe for us so we can help you better?

And Welcome to DC!

++

 

[PrincessFiona60]

Welcome to DC. I had the same thought as PF (and then wondered, can one still buy that? Some of my grandma's recipes call for it).

Yep: Baker's Ammonia (Ammonium Carbonate) - 2.7 oz.

My first resource for all things baking...

 

[taxlady]

Welcome to DC. I had the same thought as PF (and then wondered, can one still buy that? Some of my grandma's recipes call for it).

Is that salt of hartshorn? Hjortetakkesalt in Danish? I know a place in Montreal that sells it.

The light, crispness of cookies made with it is delightful, but subtle.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

Is that salt of hartshorn? Hjortetakkesalt in Danish? I know a place in Montreal that sells it.

The light, crispness of cookies made with it is delightful, but subtle.

Yes, that is exactly what it is.

 

[CWS4322]

Yep: Baker's Ammonia (Ammonium Carbonate) - 2.7 oz.

My first resource for all things baking...

Thanks, PF, just what I needed, another on-line shopping link!

 

[taxlady]

Thanks, PF, just what I needed, another on-line shopping link!

Or you could visit me and get some in Montreal.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I knew it was still available, bakeries use it all the time.

 

[taxlady]

Is that salt of hartshorn? Hjortetakkesalt in Danish? I know a place in Montreal that sells it.

The light, crispness of cookies made with it is delightful, but subtle.

I was shopping at a nearby (2.3 km from my home) Greek grocery store (Mourelatos). Quite by accident, I spotted "Ammonium Carbonate" with the spices. w00t! I had read it was used in some Greek cookie recipes.

My other source, which I hadn't gone to yet, is in Montreal and about 24 km away with no parking lot. (Anatol, 6822 Boulevard St-Laurent, Montreal, QC).