AI'm looking for opinions regarding vanilla bean paste in cake recipes. I want to get away from using cheap artificial vanilla extracts and go to something more potent. Have you used it? How do you use it? Is it worth the price? What brands do you recommend? Thanks! :)
AI use the same conversion as Drea88. I buy my vanilla beans through Vanilla Products USA. You can order through their site or, if you search Amazon, they sell there too and give free shipping. They are a fabulous quality, much cheaper than grocery store beans and fast shipping. Seriously, don't even both with grocery store beans! They are generally dry and costly. With my last batch of beans, I even made homemade vanilla extract. It is wonderful and easy to make!! No more store bought extract here. HTH :grin:
ANever heard of that store. I'm in NW Illinois.
AIf you want really good paste, skip that Niellsen Massey stuff, and head to www.vanillaproducts.usa Pick up some beans while you're there, and start brewing your own extract. You'll never buy extract again, nor spend the money on that other paste, which just has some seeds thrown in for effect. The paste at VPUSA is pure ground pods. No filler or sweeteners.
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If you want really good paste, skip that Niellsen Massey stuff, and head to www.vanillaproducts.usa Pick up some beans while you're there, and start brewing your own extract. You'll never buy extract again, nor spend the money on that other paste, which just has some seeds thrown in for effect. The paste at VPUSA is pure ground pods. No filler or sweeteners.
I'm looking at the site (well, http://www.vanillaproductsusa.com/ which I assume is what you meant?) and I only see beans and extract, not paste. Am I missing it or did they stop carrying it?
Okay...
I checked with them and did some googling... they also have an E-Bay site where they sell it... I emailed them and due to some changes on their website, they only have the paste currently available from their E-Bay store...
Here is the current link to that page: http://www.ebay.com/itm/230688561885?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Hope that helps some people...
I have used vanilla bean paste for a number of years. I started off buying the small bottles which was definitely on the pricey side. Now I buy the 32 oz. bottle from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000W0GQQ/?tag=cakecentral-20
To me it is worth the extra money, and the little brown specks assure people in the 'know' that you used the good stuff.
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If you want really good paste, skip that Niellsen Massey stuff, and head to www.vanillaproducts.usa Pick up some beans while you're there, and start brewing your own extract. You'll never buy extract again, nor spend the money on that other paste, which just has some seeds thrown in for effect. The paste at VPUSA is pure ground pods. No filler or sweeteners.
What is your ratio of pods to vodka (spirits)? I see on their website they mention 1/4 lb of pods and to use vodka, but they don't specify the amount of vodka.
Thank you
AAccording to one of my books about vanilla, 2 pods per 8 ounces of liquor should be enough. I use more, for stronger flavor. Make sure you buy extract beans. Apparently, grade B is for extract. This thread reminded me that I need to order more beans...
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If you want really good paste, skip that Niellsen Massey stuff, and head to www.vanillaproducts.usa Pick up some beans while you're there, and start brewing your own extract. You'll never buy extract again, nor spend the money on that other paste, which just has some seeds thrown in for effect. The paste at VPUSA is pure ground pods. No filler or sweeteners.
What is your ratio of pods to vodka (spirits)? I see on their website they mention 1/4 lb of pods and to use vodka, but they don't specify the amount of vodka.
Thank you
At AZCouture's suggestion, I ordered beans from vanillaproductsusa too... they are great! They provided instructions for making extract. It's 1/4 lb of pods to 1L of vodka. I got creative and made a bunch of different batches... with vodka, dark rum and light rum. I kind of prefer the dark rum extract, has a lovely complex flavour :)
Okay...
I checked with them and did some googling... they also have an E-Bay site where they sell it... I emailed them and due to some changes on their website, they only have the paste currently available from their E-Bay store...
Here is the current link to that page: http://www.ebay.com/itm/230688561885?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Hope that helps some people...
Thanks for the recon! I want to try it but I have cold feet on getting $50 worth. I'm just a hobby baker so that's a LOT of vanilla!
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I so badly want this but they wont ship it to Canada 
Anyone had any luck making vanilla bean paste?
I haven't tried it but I've had this tab open for days:
The ingredients for the linked product say it's just ground vanilla beans and vanilla extract, thought, so this would be a different product.
Anyone know if I can legally ship it to Canada? If so, AAtKT, I'll split it with you!
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I haven't tried it but I've had this tab open for days:
The ingredients for the linked product say it's just ground vanilla beans and vanilla extract, thought, so this would be a different product.
Anyone know if I can legally ship it to Canada? If so, AAtKT, I'll split it with you!
So you are not a multinational conglomorate ?
For the mum type elegantl HB
May an elderly Scottish granny give a little tip?
First buy your vanilla pods?
This is the start of the process for the home baker with just a few (50) recipients.
First the pods..typically about 25..30 are steeped in sugar...unless you need 3/4 for infusing now, in which case you steep the pods in slowly heating milk (cooled for later use
)Save the "wet pods" dry them out and keep in caster sugar.
Scrape pods of seeds, and use for batter OR unsalted...no scratch that... salted butter.. why salt your own? Reserve pods to infuse sugar for a later date. The longer you infuse pods with natural cane sugar the better this stuff will last a long time.
What you have now after a 6 to 8 weeks or better months supersedes anything you can buy and is in no way profitable....but once in our lives I believe we should all taste "the way it should be "
The vanilla flavour is the way it should be.
On another note...its good to know even if you only have to "doctor" something to have an idea of the what the person should be tasting?.
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