Gelatin serves as a crucial texturizer and stabilizer in baked goods. It helps in forming a tender crumb, retaining moisture, and ensuring that the baked items maintain their shape, whether it's a fluffy cake or a chewy cookie.
Moisture Locking: Gelatin has the ability to trap water molecules, which prevents baked goods from drying out. This is especially beneficial for products like cakes and pastries, as it keeps them soft and fresh for a longer period, reducing waste and improving the overall eating experience.
Texture Enhancement:
Cakes: It contributes to a light and airy texture, making each bite more enjoyable.
Cookies: Adds a pleasant chewiness, enhancing the flavor and mouthfeel.
Pastries: Helps in creating flaky layers, giving pastries their characteristic texture.
Shape Retention: In items such as meringues and cream-filled pastries, gelatin ensures that they hold their shape well during baking and storage, maintaining their visual appeal.
Cakes & Cupcakes: Gelatin can be used to stabilize fillings (like fruit compotes or cream cheese) and improve the overall moisture content, resulting in a more delicious and moist product.
Cookies & Biscuits: It adds a chewy texture to cookies, such as in oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip cookies, and helps in binding ingredients in gluten-free recipes, ensuring a cohesive dough.
Pastries & Pies: In puff pastries, gelatin aids in creating layers, and in pie crusts, it can enhance the crispness, making the pastry more enjoyable to eat.