Originally Posted by DNSB
My best guess is that the ingredient called for was baker's ammonia (ammonium bicarbonate). When heated, it breaks into ammonia and carbon dioxide acting as a leavening agent. Commonly used before baking soda and baking powder came into common use.
Now if you really want to get worried about what's you are using in baking, try reading 1636: The Chronicles of Dr. Gribbleflotz by Kerryn Offord & Rick Boatright (part of the Ring of Fire series). Hey, they needed a source of ammonia for making the sodium bicarbonate...
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