What is Baking Ammonia?

I recently came across a cookie recipe that called for "baking ammonia".  What is that?

--Peggy

Baking ammonia, or ammonium bicarbonate, was used before the advent of baking soda and baking powder.  It is a chemical leavening agent originally made from the horns of deer.  The chemical formula is NH₄HCO₃.   When heated, baking ammonia breaks down into ammonia (NH₃), water and carbon dioxide.  The carbon dioxide makes cakes and cookies rise, the same way that carbon dioxide given off by other chemical leaveners does.

Because the word 'hart' is an old term for deer, baking ammonia is also known as hartshorn.

Because baking ammonia gives off ammonia gas, it can affect the flavor of the finished product.  For that reason, it is best used for thin products, such as cookies, where the ammonia gas can escape easily, and drier products.  Moist products such as cakes will hold more of the ammonia gas.

Baking ammonia can be purchased at some drug and specialty food stores.  It usually comes as a lump and needs to be ground to a powder before use.  It should be kept in a well sealed container.

Do not confuse baking ammonia with regular, household ammonia used as a cleaner, which is poisonous.

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Comments

[chris hutchinson]

where can I purchase baking ammonia

[Joan Sestrap]

How do you store powdered baking ammonia? Can you freeze it?

[Sarah Anderson]

While going through my great-grandmothers old recipes I found more than one Danish cookie recipe that called for baking ammonia, I was pleased to be able to find your site that explained what it is. Thank you.

[Sara Eyanson]

I was reading a book and one character talked about his favorite "Ammonia Cookies". I was quick to check out recipes with baking ammonia and really appreciated the explanation of what baking ammonia is. I had never heard of such a thing. Thank you!

[Jock Zon]

Today at the grocery store a customer asked the clerk, who is a Greek-American, "Where is the ammonia?" I piped up, "With the cleaning supplies in Aisle 5." The clerk said, "Which kind do you want . . . for cooking or for cleaning." I said, "What? For cooking??? It's poisonous. I'm sure you have this mixed up with something else." I thought maybe she had the wrong word since she is not a native English speaker. Turns out she was right! Thanks for all of this information . . . now I know!