A method of preparing a baked or fined product from leavened dough, includes a) forming a dough by combining flour, water, a slow reacting leavening system including a leavening acid and a leavening base and optionally one or more other bakery ingredients, the slow reacting leavening system containing (a) a slow reacting leavening acid selected from the group consisting of sodium acid pyrophosphate, calcium acid pyrophosphate, aluminium phosphate, sodium aluminium phosphate, glucono-o-lactone, encapsulated leavening acids and combinations thereof, and/or (b) an encapsulated leavening base; b) shaping the dough; c) proofing the dough at a temperature in the range of 5-45.degree. C. for at least 40 minutes to obtain a proofed dough with a specific volume of at least 1.4 ml/g; and d) baking or frying the proofed dough; wherein prior to the proofed dough is stored under ambient conditions for more than 1 hour.