What are Compounds?

• Posted on 26 January 2023
• By The Pastry Depot
• 0

Compounds can really take your flavor game to the next level, but they can be intimidating for many home bakers and even some professionals. Fear not! We're here to teach you how you can start incorporating compounds into your favorite sweet creations!

We get asked many questions about the wide range of products we carry at The Pastry Depot. One of the most common inquiries has to be, “What are compounds?” Compounds are a semi-thick, concentrated flavoring agent or paste. Compounds are usually fruity, but they come in a vast range of flavors such as chocolate, coffee, and even pistachio. Compounds are an amazing option for achieving an intense depth of flavor in your product. Compounds are versatile and can be used in a variety of applications, including buttercreams, batters, custards, gelatos, and so much more. When using compounds, you simply add to your products and enjoy!

The Pastry Depot offers two options: Hero compounds and Fabbri Delipaste. They can each be used in similar applications but there are some differentiators. Hero’s compound tends to be more of a smooth, gel-like consistency, whereas Fabbri’s Delipaste has more texture, sometimes containing chopped pieces of the desired flavor product, such as coconut and almond. Delipaste is also developed to be particularly effective when flavoring ice creams and gelatos. The average ratio is 10-15% compound to preparation, but always measure your compound to product ratio and start with less because you can always add more, but you can’t remove it once it has been incorporated.

Whether using Hero or Fabbri brand, compounds are a great option for adding a punch of flavor or elevating a product’s natural flavor. Use banana compound to intensify your banana pudding, lemon compound for a bright and tangy buttercream, or add coffee compound to a gelato base for incredible mocha gelato. From at-home favorite treats to five-star desserts, compounds are your friend when creating flavorful and memorable dishes. The Pastry Depot offers over 20 compound flavors, so the possibilities are almost endless!