Exploring European Ingredients in American Bakeries – Baudry’s Approach

What makes a French pastry taste truly French? It’s not just the recipe — it’s the ingredients. From rich cultured butter to soft French wheat flour, the details matter. At Baudry Bakery, a proudly small-batch European bakery in Cincinnati, we honor classic French baking traditions by using authentic European ingredients wherever possible.

Let’s explore how our choice of ingredients brings a true taste of France to every croissant, cookie, and tart we bake.

Why European Ingredients Make a Difference

French pastries aren’t just about how they’re made — they’re about what they’re made of. Ingredients in Europe are often less processed, richer in flavor, and designed for craft baking rather than mass production.

Here’s how they impact taste and texture:

1. Butter – The Foundation of French Baking

French pastries begin with butter. Lots of it.

Most American butter has around 80% fat, but European-style butter (like the kind we use at Baudry) has 82–85% butterfat, giving it a richer taste and better performance in laminated doughs like croissants and puff pastry.

At Baudry, we use:

Imported French or European-style cultured butter
No margarine, shortening, or low-fat substitutes
Butter as the main flavor, not just an ingredient

This high-fat butter is what gives our croissants and sablés their signature flakiness and golden finish.

2. Flour – Soft Texture, Subtle Flavor

French flour is generally lower in protein than American all-purpose flour. This results in more delicate, melt-in-your-mouth textures, especially in cookies and cakes.

For certain recipes, Baudry uses:

French-style pastry flour
Unbleached, unbromated American flour blended with softer wheat
Specialty flours for shortbreads and tea cakes

The difference is subtle but noticeable. Our madeleines, sablés, and tart shells all benefit from the soft texture this flour provides.

3. Chocolate – Deep, Not Just Sweet

At Baudry, we don’t use “chocolate chips” — we use real chocolate with high cocoa content, often sourced from France, Belgium, or Switzerland.

Found in:

Chocolate ganache for éclairs
Chocolate sablés
Pain au chocolat (chocolate croissants)

This gives our pastries a deeper, smoother chocolate taste, with less sugar and more cocoa flavor.

4. Vanilla – Pure and Aromatic

Instead of vanilla flavoring or extract, Baudry uses real vanilla beans or vanilla bean paste from Madagascar or Tahiti. It’s more expensive, but it adds warmth, richness, and tiny specks that say, “This was made with care.”

Used in:

Pastry cream
Vanilla sablés
Custards and fillings

Blending French Tradition with Local Ingredients

While we love our imported ingredients, Baudry is proud to be part of the Cincinnati local food community. We also work with:

Local dairy for milk and cream
Ohio-grown seasonal fruits (for tarts)
Cincinnati farmers’ markets for herbs and fresh produce

By combining authentic French ingredients with fresh local products, we create a bakery experience that’s both traditional and regionally rooted.

Why This Matters to You

As a customer, choosing a bakery that prioritizes ingredient quality means you get:

Better taste
More natural, clean-label products
No artificial flavors or additives
A connection to both European craftsmanship and local agriculture

Customers tell us:

“I can taste the butter.”
“This reminds me of Paris.”
“Even the simple cookies have so much flavor.”

Where to Taste Baudry’s French Ingredients in Cincinnati

You can try our French-style pastries made with European ingredients at:

Hyde Park Farmers’ Market (Sunday mornings)
Montgomery Farmers’ Market (Saturday mornings)
Special events and café pop-ups
Occasional online orders at baudrybakery.com

We rotate pastries weekly, but you’ll almost always find croissants, sablés, tartlets, and seasonal éclairs — all made using the ingredients mentioned above.

Final Thoughts

At Baudry Bakery, we believe the little things matter. That’s why we go the extra mile to bring European baking ingredients into our Cincinnati kitchen. From French butter to high-quality chocolate, these small choices make a big difference in taste, texture, and experience.

If you’re craving true French flavor made with purpose and passion, visit baudrybakery.com or find us at a local market near you. One bite, and you’ll know — this isn’t just a pastry. It’s a journey.