What Does Butter Do In Baking?

Butter is a staple ingredient in many desserts. From brownies, cookies, cakes, frostings, pastries, biscuits, and more, butter is key to a delicious dessert. Since so many baked goods call for it, you may have wondered, what does butter do in baking?

Butter works as a fat in baking, while also helping with leavening, structure, flakiness, and moisture. It also provides a decadent flavor that gives desserts their delicious flavor. Since butter is a solid fat, it is often the best option out of any fat products when baking. It creates moist cakes, creamy frostings, flaky pastries, and soft biscuits.

WHAT DOES BUTTER DO IN BAKING?

Butter provides a rich, delicious flavor in baked goods. It is an important ingredient to the overall taste of desserts. In addition, it makes cakes and cookies moist, which enhances the flavor and texture.

FLAVOR

Fats slow down the formation of gluten which creates a tender crumb. When combined with flour, butter creates a barrier between protein and water. This is why bread made with butter, such as brioche and cinnamon rolls, is richer than baguettes and sandwich bread.

DELICATE CRUMB

Since butter is a solid fat, it helps baked goods rise. Creaming butter and sugar incorporates air into the mixture and provides a lift while baking. In addition, butter contains water and when evaporated it creates flaky pastries and pie crusts.

LEAVENING

A BAKING STAPLE Butter is an ingredient that all bakers almost always have on hand. It provides flavor, texture, structure, and in some cases leavening in baking. Depending on the temperature of the butter, it will serve different purposes than what it does in a recipe.

What Does Butter Do In Baking?