Let’s start off by briefly explaining what Vanilla Extract is. The FDA (Food and Drink Association) state that for vanilla extract to be labelled pure, it needs to contain 35% alcohol.
We manufacture several different strengths of Vanilla Extract, and like anything else, the better the vanilla, the higher the price. The process to grow and harvest vanilla is extremely labour-intensive. As the volume of vanilla used in manufacturing increases, so does the price.
We know that certain ingredients such as flour, sugar butter, eggs and vanilla in its various forms are essential for baking, but why? Vanilla extract is a key ingredient in baking, whether it’s the star flavour in a recipe such as vanilla ice cream or a supporting flavour in a delicious crumbly shortbread biscuit.
Bonilla Vanilla Extract
Almost every baker’s store cupboard has vanilla in it, which is an essential ingredient for many recipes – and if it doesn’t then it most definitely should. We can help with that 😊. if you need to stock up, our Bonilla Vanilla Intense Extract or Vanilla Bean Paste is available for next-day delivery from Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/3HfneBf. Recipes benefit from its deep, rich flavour, which is difficult to replace with any other product.
For example, Vanilla extract gives cookies a delicious flavour and makes them smell divine. Vanilla extract contains a compound called vanillin. Vanillin is the primary compound found in vanilla, which gives us the familiar taste and smell that we all associate with Vanilla. Our extracts have up to 3 x more Vanillin than competitor brands which means 3 x More flavour.
Vanilla extract and how important is it for the baking process
The primary purpose of vanilla extract is to add flavour to baked goods. Lacking it, baked goods tend to have a bland and boring taste. Vanilla extract can also contribute moisture to create a soft and fluffy texture.
Vanilla extract can be added at any time during the baking process, but it is typically added near the end. Adding vanilla extract at the end of the baking process can make the flavour of the vanilla more pronounced.
In some recipes, pure vanilla extract adds the subtle and delicious flavour of vanilla that is easy to taste. It also enhances the flavour of other ingredients in more complex recipes. In a chocolate cake, you don’t taste the vanilla but without it, the cake would not be as flavoursome, and it would lack depth.
Vanilla substitutions don’t work in our opinion – not that we’re biased 😊. Artificial vanilla flavours tend to have a chemical taste that is definitely not appropriate for high-quality, all-natural baking. It would be a shame to ruin all that hard if your bake doesn’t taste great when you eat it!!!
Vanilla is like salt in some ways, your baked goods can taste flat without it. Chocolate is especially enhanced by the addition of vanilla. Many chocolate producers add vanilla to their finished products, purely to give a more rounded feel on the palette.
There are many types of vanilla which are grown in different countries, and all have slightly different flavours. We use Madagascar vanilla which has a deep, rich flavour and is our favourite.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this, any questions please get in touch info@bonilla-vanilla.com.
If you are interested to learn more about our wholesale range of Vanilla products, check out our shop at Vanilla Etc.
Natalie
FAQs
The primary purpose of vanilla extract is to add flavour to baked goods. Lacking it, baked goods tend to have a bland and boring taste. Vanilla extract can also contribute moisture to create a soft and fluffy texture.
What does vanilla extract do for baking? ›
The role of vanilla in sweet baked goods is like the role of salt on the savory side: it enhances all the other flavors in the recipe. Without it, cookies and cakes tend to taste flat and bland.
What's the difference between pure vanilla extract and baking vanilla extract? ›
Vanilla Extract: What's the Difference? Vanilla flavoring uses artificial ingredients and additives like synthetic vanillin, corn syrup, and lignin, an ingredient typically extracted from wood pulp. By contrast, pure vanilla extract uses only two ingredients: real vanilla beans and alcohol.
Why is vanilla extract in every recipe? ›
There are many unofficial 'rules' in baking. Like the fact that vanilla extract belongs in every single recipe. That little brown bottle adds complexity and helps the sugar taste more caramelly-sweet and the butter taste richer.
What vanilla extract do professional bakers use? ›
The Best Vanilla Extract for Baking According to Pro Bakers. The vanilla extract that pro bakers are using in everything from cakes and pie fillings to cookies? Nielsen Massey Pure Vanilla Extract. Redd-McIntosh says, “I use Nielsen-Massey in everything, and I mean everything!
What happens if you don't use vanilla extract in baking? ›
If you don't have any on hand, you can almost always omit the vanilla without impacting the final texture of your baked goods; although the rich flavor extract—or any form of vanilla—brings will certainly be altered. Just remember one thing: flavor comes first.
Does adding vanilla extract make a difference? ›
Ways to use vanilla extract
You might not be able to taste the small amount of vanilla when it's added to cakes, muffins, and cookies, but it enhances the other flavors by bringing out the sweetness of the sugar or reducing the eggy flavor for recipes containing raw eggs.
Which vanilla is better for baking? ›
Best for Baking: Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract. Best for Using Raw: Singing Dog Pure Vanilla Extract. Best with Beans: Heilala Alcohol-Free Pure Vanilla with Seeds. Best for Beginners: Watkins Organic Pure Vanilla Extract.
Does vanilla extract go bad? ›
What is the shelf life of my vanilla extract? When stored properly, vanilla extract will keep indefinitely, but using it within five years will allow for best flavor and aroma. Do not refrigerate or freeze, even after opening.
Why is Mexican vanilla so good? ›
Mexican Pure Vanilla Extract is made from premium, hand-selected beans cultivated in Mexico, the original birthplace of the vanilla plant. Our proprietary cold extraction process gently draws out and preserves the vanilla's more than 300 flavor compounds, resulting in one of the world's most exceptional vanillas.
Vanilla extract offers many health benefits. Vanillin is known to have both antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as being neuroprotective, antifungal, antibacterial, boost antibiotics, and helpful for wound healing.
Should I add sugar to my homemade vanilla extract? ›
Sugar is added as a stabilizer or to make alcohol smell and taste milder. I think that being in control of how much sugar you add to your desserts is important, so skipping sweeteners in vanilla extract is one more reason to make your own at home.
What happens if you put a lot of vanilla extract? ›
Vanilla extract is safe in the small quantities used for cooking or baking. However, consuming it in large amounts can lead to unusually uncomfortable alcohol intoxication symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and dizziness due to the high alcohol content in vanilla extract, which can be as much as 35% to 40%.
Is McCormick's vanilla flavor real? ›
McCormick Culinary Pure Vanilla Extract is derives its rich, subtle flavor from the finest quality imported premium vanilla beans. Whether you are preparing specialty beverages or beautiful baked goods, the extracts you use will influence customers' experience with your food.
What is the best vanilla in the world? ›
Although it is not native to the country, vanilla produced in Madagascar is considered the gold standard. Vanilla grown outside of its native Mexico must be pollinated completely by hand during a five- to six-hour window of blooming. Once pollinated, beans take about three to four months to mature.
What vanilla extract do chefs use? ›
Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract is made from premium, hand-selected beans cultivated in Tahiti, and is a favorite of pastry chefs around the world. Because Tahitian vanilla is very susceptible to heat, Nielsen-Massey's proprietary cold extraction process is the ideal way to preserve its unique flavor compounds.
What happens if you put vanilla extract in the oven? ›
For this hack, simply heat your oven to 300 degrees, add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract to an oven-safe bowl or cup, and pop it in the oven for an hour or so. The result? A home that smells like fresh-baked goods, with no trace of those previous odors.
What to do if you forgot to add vanilla extract? ›
If you have forgotten to add vanilla extract; you can always make a vanilla flavored glaze and brush it over the cake while the cake is still warm. Give the cake repeat brushings over the following 24 hours to build up a good layer of flavour.
Should you add vanilla extract before or after cooking? ›
If you are making a recipe like this Chocolate Hot Cakes with Brown Rice you'll want to add the vanilla in while you are mixing the butter and sugar together along with the other wet ingredients. For desserts such as custard or this Horchata Ice Cream, add the extract towards the end of the cooking process.
How does vanilla extract enhance flavor? ›
In other words, our brains believe we are tasting something sweet because vanilla's characterizing aromatics are perceived by our brains as sweet. This is why vanilla is often used in reduced sugar and protein powder applications to not only enhance sweet taste, but disguise bitter ingredients and off-notes, too.
