Has anyone used this product? If so, how did it enhance the flavor, moisture or texture of your cake? It is avaliable on WWW.EARLENESCAKES.COM.
Also has anyone made and used the Home Brew recipe on this site?
Would like your opinions on these two before the Christmas/Holiday season begins.

Thanks
Sheri

Try sending a pm to ntertaynme (one of the mods here). I know she has talked about using butavan in the past.

Thanks, I will do that.

I use Butavan all of the time. It's a butter vanilla emulsion. Several different companies make versions of it, but Buttervanilla by Magic Line is what is available where I live, so that's what I use. "Butavan" isn't actually produced anymore. The company who made it stopped production earlier this year. If you want a preview of what it tastes like, try the following: For example, if a recipe calls for 1Tablespoon of Butavan, use 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla and 1 1/2 tsp. butter flavoring. This will give a similar taste to your icing, but not as "wow!" as the butavan.

Anyway, I love it! I use Earlene's cream cheese buttercream recipe almost exclusively these days. I just vary it to suit my needs (add cocoa or peanut butter or other flavorings). I always get compliments on it. I haven't tried any of her other recipes, but I've never read any bad reviews on cc about any of her recipes...so you should give it a try if you're curious.

I just ordered some and would like to hear what others say about this product.

fronklowes must have posted about the same time..LOL Sounds like you have been pleased with the product, glad to hear it. I can't wait to try it

Thanks all for your input. Please keep me posted once you receive and try your product.
Sheri

I have the honor of getting the Butavan before it was discontinued. I am not pleased with the smell out of the jar. But the icings that I have used with it has been truely enhansed in the flavor department. Everyone who has tried it states that it is delish. And told me not to change it. I hope her new stuff will be just as good. I was able to get 6 jars of it. Have used one so far.

i love it !!!! i have used both, before whe ran out of the other one....

I use the home brew/kahlua in all my cakes!

OMG--people claw for this stuff in the cakes. Makes chocolate flavor deeper (kahlua flavoring) and the home brew makes other flavors "deeper."

I wouldn't recommend either in a fruit flavored or lighter cake like "champagne" for example--but for everything else--it's GRAVY!

I love Earlene. She's amazing.

HTH,
--Knox--

Thank you all.

I am curious, has anyone used both the Home Brew and Butnilla in their cakes.

Do you us the Home brew only in cakes or can you use it in icing in place of water or milk?

Earlene seems to use both in all of her cakes.

(Sorry for so many questions on this topic, sometimes I can be a little dense.)

I'd SAY you could use it in the icing--never tried that, though!

I do use it in all my cakes, but not in the "fruit" flavored ones, like strawberry, orange, lemon etc. I don't use it in my champagne cake, either.

Common sense rules there, I guess.

But do let us know if you try it in your icing and it works well!

--Knox--

ok, someone fill me in. What is homebrew?


Stephanie

These are Earlene's recipes.


Home Made Kaluaha
  In a large heavy pan measure:
8 C. Water
6 C. Sugar
6 C. Brown Sugar
Bring to a low boil and simmer for 10 Minutes - Cool
Mix in a large bowl:
  13 C. or (4 fifths) Vodka (1.75 Liter bottle = 7 1/4 cups)
1 1/3 C. Instant Coffee Crystals
3 T. vanilla
Stir together and store in bottles or jars for about 2 weeks before using.
Home Brew
Same as above omitting the coffee crystals and increasing the vanilla to 1/4 Cup
Kaluaha - Much Smaller Recipe
This is the original recipe I had for the Kaluaha. As you can see it was much smaller. I just use so much of it that I make it in large quantities
2 C. Water
1 1/2 C. granulated sugar
1 1/2 C. Brown sugar
Simmer for 10 minutes and cool
Mix in another bowl
3 1/4 Cups of Vodka
1/3 C. instant Coffee (not decaffeinated)
1 T. vanilla
Mix the two liquids together and store in bottles (recycled vodka bottles work great) or jars for about 2 weeks before using.
Note : To make the Home Brew simply double the vanilla and omit the coffee.

Is this product only available on Earlene's site?

is this a cake filling or is it used in the cake batter?

As far as I know it is only available on Earlene's site.
It is added to the batter for cakes.

Does anyone know who else carries "butavan" ??? Thanks in advance