Can You Replace Triple Sec For Cointreau In Recipes?

Decorating By FeGe_Cakes Updated 10 May 2007 , 1:47am by KoryAK

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FeGe_Cakes Posted 9 May 2007 , 6:38pm
post #1 of 10

I am not much of a liqueur drinker, but I do have Triple Sec in my pantry for Margaritas. I have heard Triple Sec, Grand Marnier, Cointreau were all orange-flavored liqueurs. Some with higher price tags of course. But does it replace well in recipes? Or is it really worth getting what you pay for?

I want to try the Cointreau Buttercream but would hate to pay the high cost of Grand Marnier or Cointreau if Triple sec does the job.

Thanks

9 replies
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KoryAK Posted 9 May 2007 , 7:03pm
post #2 of 10

If its all orange, in a cooked recipe it won't make a bit of difference. If it is not going to be cooked, you might be able to taste the difference side-by-side - but no, its still not really going to matter.

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JoAnnB Posted 9 May 2007 , 7:36pm
post #3 of 10

Triple sec is not orange. If you want a orange based liquor, you could buy one of those little sample bottles. I would not try Triple sec instead of orange.

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KoryAK Posted 9 May 2007 , 8:01pm
post #4 of 10

I am looking at my bottle right now and it states "natural orange flavor". Smelled it too. Triple Sec is definitely orange.

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FeGe_Cakes Posted 9 May 2007 , 10:47pm
post #5 of 10

Yes Triple Sec in orange flavored. Here is the defintion:

Triple Sec
Triple Sec is an orange flavored liquor. The term Triple Sec means triple dry. While normally, the term 'dry' indicates a lack of sweetness, in this instance it is meaning triple distilled.

In addition to the common brand Triple Secs available, Orange Curaçao, Grand Marnier, and Cointreau are also of this variety.

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FeGe_Cakes Posted 9 May 2007 , 10:49pm
post #6 of 10

Thanks for the replies. I might do a taste test just to see if I can tell the difference. Thanks for the idea of buying the little bottles.

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JoAnnB Posted 9 May 2007 , 10:58pm
post #7 of 10

Maybe it's me, but it never tastes orange when I use it.

Hope you find something that suits you.

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chaptlps Posted 9 May 2007 , 11:10pm
post #8 of 10

Triple sec is a mixer not a liquor on it's own. It has quite a different flavor than what you are looking for. It's what gives margharita's their familiar "kick" as it were. Now gran marnier and countrieu are totally different and CAN stand alone as orange flavoured liquors. I would go the to liqour store and get the "shooter" (those little sample amount bottles that really just are a "shot" hence the name "shooter"). Much less expensive than buying a bottle of gran marnier or cointrieu which can be VERY VERY expensive.
O yeah, and there is NOTHING orange flavored about triple sec. (I was a bartender for five years and made my share of margherita and kamikazees.)Now I'm not sayin that there ISN'T any orange in there it just doesn't TASTE orange.

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FeGe_Cakes Posted 10 May 2007 , 12:22am
post #9 of 10

Thanks Chaptlps for the explanation. I have gone to several liquor stores and they have all told me Triple Sec could be used as an orange flavored liqueur.

I will definitely go buy Cointreau or Grand Marnier.

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KoryAK Posted 10 May 2007 , 1:47am
post #10 of 10

I really, really think that since you are not trying to just drink this straight, just use it in a recipe (which is kind of like the pp saying that it is used as a mixer in drink recipes) that it will be fine. Going to do a taste test right now... well I think straight it actually tastes better than the Grand Marnier. The GM has more of an alcohol flavor, and the triple sec tastes like triaminic - very sweet and orange-y.

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