Yes, I use it all the time - measures the same as regular extract, but tastes like heaven. If I am making something that I want to actually taste like real vanilla, I use VBP. Would be super yum in sugar cookies. And no, you'd use one or the other, but not both. Extract is more of a flavor enhancer, not really a flavoring to me. Which is why I <3 VBP.
Jen
Thank you so much!
ETA: So if a cookie recipe calls for 3 tsp. of flavoring use the same amount vbp (I understood what you said above, just trying to figure out if the vbp is more potent than the extract where it would be overpowering when using the same amount)?
Vanilla paste is just a concentrate...it's stronger than vanilla extract...it wont change the consistency of the products as much as vanilla extract. I think you can put in 1/2 of what you normally put for extract. I might be wrong but what can extra vanilla do to a recipe? maybe make it more yummy? lol
I put in the exact same amount. But let me clarify - I only use VBP if I want something to actually taste like real vanilla. It's too expensive to just substitute in every recipe. It's concentrated but the good stuff also has no alcohol in it (which I prefer). So if you want a vanilla sugar cookie, then use the full amount. I actually tend to double it in stuff because it's so tasty.
My jar says it the same, spoon for spoon, so I put the same amount in.
As far as no alcohol, that may depend on the brand. My husband is on a medication for a couple of weeks and he can have zero alcohol- and they mean zero. I was at Sur la Table last night so I checked out the VBP that I had purchased there. The ingredient list says it has vanilla extract in it. I picked up the same brand of vanilla extract and yup! there's alcohol in it.
My jar says it the same, spoon for spoon, so I put the same amount in.
As far as no alcohol, that may depend on the brand. My husband is on a medication for a couple of weeks and he can have zero alcohol- and they mean zero. I was at Sur la Table last night so I checked out the VBP that I had purchased there. The ingredient list says it has vanilla extract in it. I picked up the same brand of vanilla extract and yup! there's alcohol in it.
What brand did you get? I only use Nielsen-Massey and there's no alcohol.
I get mine wholesale, but Amazon has it at a decent price, I think it's $10 or so for 4 oz.
Here's what my jar says:
Nielsen-Massey Vanilla, Inc.
Madagascar Bourbon
Pure Vanilla Bean Paste
4 fl. oz.
Ingredients: Sugar, Water, Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Beans, Gum Traganth (a natural thickener).
I was suspicious about the vanilla extract, so when I was at Sur la Table last night, I checked the ingredient list on the Nielsen-Massey vanilla exract. Sure enough, there's alcohol in it. I assume the vanilla extract in the vanilla bean paste comes from the same company.
This is the only vanilla bean paste I've been able to find locally.
So I just had a DUH! moment 
Yeah, you are right, it says vanilla extract, and what does VE have in it? Alcohol! That seriously never occurred to me. 
I can't taste it at all so I just assumed it didn't have any. I bought another paste once, got it home and it just tasted like a thick extract, it did have alcohol listed in the ingredients. Anyway, Neilson Massey is the best, you can't go wrong with it.
Yes, this past week has been interesting avoiding all alcohol. We don't drink very often so we didn't think it would a problem. Anything that has an extract in it is off-limits for now unless he wants to get "violently ill."
Back to the topic: I'm not finding much difference in flavor using the vanilla bean paste than when I use extract. I thought there'd be a big difference, but I can't detect any. I may have to soak my own beans to see if that makes a big enough difference to justify the higher price.
cheatize, I use more than is called for and you can really taste the difference where more vanilla extract can start tasting bad. Sometimes I think it makes things taste sweeter, so I cut the sugar by about a tablespoon in the recipes to counter it.
pmarks0, where did you get it? I buy it by the 6 bottle case, but it's still $10.00 a bottle.
I buy at Flour Confections which happens to be a local cake supply store in Canada. They are on the web as well so you should be able to order online.
http://www.flourconfections.ca/
You can make your own alcohol free VBP
http://www.ehow.com/how_5472053_make-vanilla-paste.html
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