After a long absence from this hobby, I'm gathering my supplies and getting back into it. I hit the Hobby Lobby sale yesterday, thanks to whoever posted that notice somewhere in the forums. Then I went to the supermarket. Got a good deal on sugar and cake mix and such...but when did extracts go through the roof? The store only had Durkee brand, which I know nothing about. And it was ridiculously expensive. Nearly $5 for a 1 ounce bottle of almond extract! I nearly died. Vanilla was just as expensive. And they didn't even HAVE lemon. I think I need to find another supermarket! Do you all buy your flavorings at the supermarket or from a cake/confectionary supplier. If the latter...can you recommend something good and reasonably priced?

TIA

I buy my vanilla from a speciatly store, and it is expensive. You must get the good stuff, it makes a huge difference.

I always use the Wilton brands. Clear Vanilla, butter, and Almond flavorings. They are a little expensive, but you can get them 50% off right now at Hobby lobby, and Michaels most always has a 40% off coupon too.

I get vanilla at Costco and I usually get my other extracts with a 40 or 50% off coupon. i do the same with meringue powder.

I am SO wanting to try the vanilla recipe here and make my own. I just never remember to get the vodka--it's not one of those things that is normally on my shopping list. lol!

Lisa

I too think you gotta use good vanilla & extracts they taste much better. I am lucky enough to have my brother bring me vanilla from Mexico when he goes there on business several times a year - it is very inexpensive but tastes really really good.

I use the wilton brand also. I did get some vanilla from Mexico on vacation last year and you talk about good and cheap too. If I run out of the wilton vanilla I use the mccormick brand they sell at Walmart--it really just depends on what you are putting it in!!

I noticed that too. Extracts are kind of outrageously priced. My husband recently knocked my lemon out of my spice cabinet and it shattered and sprayed lemon alchohol everywhere... The first thing I thought of was, 5.00 wasted.

i stocked up at hobby lobby with the 50%off sale this week. i bought ever last bottle they had of the butter and almond!!! you cant beat $1.00 per bottle!!!! especially since before the sale i kept running out and having to run to the store and pick up a bottle....in an emergency i went to grocery store, and man that was expensive!!!

i'd go back to hobby lobby soon if i were you!!

melody

Brandy isn't cheap no matter what brand I've seen out there, so I just use whatever. Yep, do it the same way. (I guess)

The way I do it, is cut the vanilla pod, scrape the beans and put everything in the bottle. If there's anything else to it, I haven't seen or done it. I just do what sounded right to me. Every once in a while I'll take the bottle from the pantry and give it a shake, to get the beans floating again, and not settling too much on the bottom.

Thanks Cakeman!!! That "recipe" sounds about right. I'm going to give the brandy a try.

Lisa

I did go to Walmart yesterday and stocked up on McCormick flavorings. That was much better - about half the price of the other store's! I also picked up some Wilton clear vanilla. I had never tried that before, fearful of a chemical taste. I'll try it in something today, and if I like it I may go over to Hobby Lobby and grab whatever they've got left, if any.

I'm about to decide against wasting flavoring on MMF anymore. I peeled the stuff off the cake before I ate my slice last night, and my daughter (who is young and goes to lots of weddings) says nobody eats the fondant off a wedding cake anyway. Maybe she's just been to weddings with bad cakes???