8 Ways You Can Add Flavourings To Your Pastries And Baked Goods
Are you looking to enhance your baked goods with some new flavours but aren’t sure of the best way to add them? You aren’t alone!
Everyone from novice to expert baker is looking for new ways to enhance the flavour profiles of their pastries and baked goods, creating unique dishes that leave you salivating and longing for more.
Deciding on the best way to add these unique flavours to your baked goods can be tricky, which is why we are here with 8 ways that you can add flavourings to create unique dishes that everyone will love.
Table of Contents
1. Flavouring powder
Flavouring powder is a great way to add flavours to your baked goods and enhance their taste. Flavour powder tends to be water-soluble with high heat stability, making it a fine choice for baked goods.
You will have a wide range of flavours to choose from when you opt for a powder, and a long shelf life that makes them ideal if you don’t bake often. As they last for so long, you can build up a collection of flavours and provide lots of variety in your baking.
You do need to take care when using flavouring powder though, as one slip of the hand and you can add a lot more powder than you realise. You will want to follow the instructions carefully and measure out any powder before it’s added to your items.
2. Liquid concentrates
Liquid concentrates are one of the most popular options and are super easy to use. The liquid flavourings are highly concentrated, so you only need a drop or two to change the flavour profile of your baked goods.
You can find intense flavours including strawberry, orange, lemon, chocolate, and more. Many brands offer a huge range of flavourings for drinks, cooking, and baking, so be sure you pick the right option for your needs.
Liquid concentrates will come with an impressive shelf life and can be used in virtually everything! As they are super concentrated, you will need to take care when adding them to your food to ensure you don’t add too much.
3. Zests and citrus juices
If you want to add something fresh to your baked goods, you can add zests and citrus juices. These are a great way to add zingy flavours and are achieved by adding the outer skin of citrus fruits to your baked goods.
These skins are usually grated or finely chopped, which means you will need fresh citrus fruit to achieve this. For some bakers, this can be wasteful, especially if you are unable to repurpose the juice from these fruits, so consider how you will use the entire fruit before using zests.
You can often purchase citrus juices in the baking aisles of supermarkets, which will come with a longer shelf life and the intensity of the citrus flavour that you want.
4. Nuts and seeds
Nuts and seeds are an excellent way to add a new texture and flavour to your food. Chopped nuts or seeds like sesame seeds, pecans, almonds, or walnuts work well in most baked goods and will add a nutty taste and crunch.
We recommend chopping the nuts quite small to provide a nice, delicate crunch without overwhelming your baked goods.
5. Cocoa and chocolate
Cocoa and chocolate are well used in baking and are ideal if you want to bring some richness to your baked goods. Whether you are baking a cake, cookie, or even bread, you can add some cocoa or chocolate to enhance the flavour. Cocoa is a versatile flavour to add, either as a powder, chocolate chunks, or by melting chocolate into the batter.
When adding chocolate, pay attention to the cocoa percentage, as the higher it is, the richer and more intense the flavour will be.
6. Liquor
Liquor will add flavours to your baked goods and help to keep them moist. The alcohol in liquor (which evaporates during baking) can help bind fat and water in recipes to help provide a balance of flavours, while enhancing them too.
7. Herbs
Herbs like thyme, lavender, rosemary, mint, and basil can also be added to your baked goods, especially if you are making pastries. They can add a new layer of taste to your pastries, working well in pies and tarts too! When you add fresh herbs, they can be placed in a decorative layer at the top of your pastry for a pop of colour or to make a statement too!
8. Spices
Depending on the baked good you are creating, adding spice could help enhance their flavour. Spices are usually used to add warmth to your baked goods, with cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg being some of the most popular spices used.
Typically, spices are used in cookies, bread, and pies, and can be the perfect seasonal addition, especially if you are looking to make ginger biscuits or add some pumpkin spice!
Find your flavourings for baking today
When adding flavourings to your baked goods and pastries, make sure you are choosing the right type and flavour for the item. With Universal Flavourings, you can choose from a huge range of flavours that ensure the perfect palate for any baked good!
Whether you want to add strawberry flavour, some citrus, chocolate, or even vanilla, there is an option for you! Be sure to check out Universal Flavours to find your new liquid flavourings today.