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Cheap alternatives at the grocery store?

post #1 of 42
2/16/12 at 11:04am
Thread Starter 
I am trying to find ways to reduce the price of my cakes. I usually only use brand names i.e. Land o Lakes, C & H, etc. are there any generics that you have found that really are just as good as the brand? I don't want to make the cake taste bad to save a few dollars but if it will taste the same and save money that would be awesome!
Tara
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post #2 of 42
2/16/12 at 12:00pm
Butter, flour and granulated sugar are all fine as generics. Margarine is not, except that Walmart's margarine is suitable for baking. Powdered sugar is definitely not the same in generic as it is in the name brands.
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post #3 of 42
2/16/12 at 12:24pm
I like Imperial for baking and I use Aldi powdered sugar ALL THE TIME. It's fine.
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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post #4 of 42
2/16/12 at 12:46pm
I have used aldi powdered sugar with no problems. There are some who g on and on about the most expensive items being top notch and so forth, I find that my cakes/products have excellent taste and yes there are some products where the best brands do produce the best results but not across the board. I sweated profusely the other day since I had to use an imitation vanilla extract I really don't liike to use this because of the ingredients but went ahead (the cake was for us at home) The cake s texture and taste was perfect.
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post #5 of 42
2/16/12 at 12:54pm
Imitation vanilla is made by soaking alcohol in wood with vanillin, then it is extracted and chemically treated to taste like vanilla. Yep, thus I will stick to vanilla extract from now on since I love my family, lol.
Everytime I use gelatin my stomach turns. Once I found out what was inside jello I was never able to eat it again. I use gelatin, knox, to make my some of my fondants and gumpaste recipes. I was a vegetarian and this is how i found out about my previous beloved jello, lol.
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post #6 of 42
2/16/12 at 5:22pm
Imitation vanilla can also be made with dried beaver castor sacs, located next to the anal gland. It is listed as a "natural flavoring". Most companies will deny using it and don't anymore, but to be sure, one would have to contact the company and get a list of the natural flavorings.
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post #7 of 42
2/16/12 at 5:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by leah_s

I like Imperial for baking and I use Aldi powdered sugar ALL THE TIME. It's fine.



We have a Kroger chain here called Fred Meyer and I use their powdered sugar with no issues. It's "powdered sugar and cornstarch" for the ingredients, just like C&H.
Started my business legally February 2012! Commercial kitchen and all!
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Started my business legally February 2012! Commercial kitchen and all!
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post #8 of 42
2/16/12 at 5:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by scp1127

Imitation vanilla can also be made with dried beaver castor sacs, located next to the anal gland. It is listed as a "natural flavoring". Most companies will deny using it and don't anymore, but to be sure, one would have to contact the company and get a list of the natural flavorings.



That's disgusting... the things we don't know what we are eating... I only use real vanilla anyways.
Started my business legally February 2012! Commercial kitchen and all!
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Started my business legally February 2012! Commercial kitchen and all!
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post #9 of 42
2/16/12 at 5:45pm
Leah,

I've never known of you to steer people wrong and would LOVE to switch to ALDI powdered sugar! I'll try it on your recommendation! You turned me on to SPS and my life has never been the same!
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Legal, licensed, and insured since May 2011!
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post #10 of 42
2/16/12 at 7:48pm
The smell of clear vanilla is absolutely nauseating to me. I will never use it.

I have used the Wal Mart brand powdered sugar with no issues. I also use their brand of granulated sugar as well.

Butter is hit or miss for me. I have tried a couple of store brands but always go back to the name brands. I haven't tried Costco's butter but it's a good price and a lot of people say it works and tastes great. In my experience Kirkland brand food items have actually been quite good. We have been buying the Kirkland brand Greek yogurt and it tastes great. At Easter I will be baking a huge amount of cupcakes for a charity event and we are planning on buying the butter from Costco. We'll see how that goes!

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The Dude abides.

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post #11 of 42
2/16/12 at 8:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bridgette1129

Quote:
Originally Posted by leah_s

I like Imperial for baking and I use Aldi powdered sugar ALL THE TIME. It's fine.



We have a Kroger chain here called Fred Meyer and I use their powdered sugar with no issues. It's "powdered sugar and cornstarch" for the ingredients, just like C&H.



If it doesn't say CANE sugar then it's not the same. C&H is pure cane sugar and others that don't specify often use beet sugar.
A closed mouth gathers no feet.
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.
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post #12 of 42
2/16/12 at 8:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BizCoCos

I was a vegetarian and this is how i found out about my previous beloved jello, lol.


Just about all cane sugar is processed using the charred bones of animals as a decolorizing agent, many vegans (and some vegetarians) prefer beet sugar for this reason.
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My experimental blog: The Bakery Business Perspective
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post #13 of 42
2/16/12 at 8:20pm
I go to Sams and buy the big loaf of Philadelphia Cream Cheese. It provides eight 8 ounce servings and at their current price of $2.50 per 8 ounce block, I find the $7 total for the loaf just fine. I also purchase the McCormick's real vanilla extract there. Comes in a very large bottle for almost the same price as the small one at the regular grocery store.
A closed mouth gathers no feet.
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.
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post #14 of 42
2/16/12 at 10:31pm
Milk, butter, eggs, flour, powdered sugar, and vanilla from Aldi all work fine for me. The only difference I have found in Aldi brand butter and Land o Lakes is that the name brand is lighter in color. I used to use Aldi shortening but it's lighter now and doesn't work as well for me. Instead I buy a big can (bigger than normal size) of Crisco from Walmart for 10 bucks.
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post #15 of 42
2/17/12 at 5:30am
I use store brands of flour, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, butter and eggs and have only has a problem with Aldi brand - they seem inconsistant. I only use Crisco shortening. `I have found the color or texture is often off in store brand shortening.
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