Nielsen Massey Vanilla Extract Review

I love baking it centers me.  It’s like yoga for me.  It’s balances me and relieves my stress level tremendously so you can imagine I try to do it as often as possible.  That’s why this year I plan to try to bake at least 52 different cupcake recipes, that doesn’t include baking for family, friends and cakes for all the birthdays for my kids and my hubby.  So I plan on being busy this year baking.  One of the key things you have to have in baking is high quality ingredients.  The more I bake the more I realize that the quality does matter.  It’s like anything else in life if you want to end up with a high quality product you use high quality ingredients.  This became more important to me when I started dipping into cake decorating and baking for others.  I’ve always wanted to try Nielsen Massey products.  I’ve seen it in the store, online and always on the cooking shows.  I think if I want to be the best then I must use the best stuff there is out there.  So I was super excited when I asked and was given the chance to review their Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract.

When I found out I was getting to try this out I was so excited.  I couldn’t wait to share the news with hubby.  I jumped when I got the yes and stalked the mail during the holiday waiting for it to arrive.  Then one day the box arrived and I opened it and immediately felt like I was a better baker just for having it in my kitchen cabinet.  The next step was baking with it and which recipe would be getting this first.  I was pretty surprised that I waited two weeks before baking with it for the first time.  I wanted to use it for something good, something special and I am so glad I waited but I have to say since baking with it I want to use it in everything.  I used it to make White Velvet Cupcakes and it had my house smelling so amazing when I was baking.  What I wish I had was smell-o-vision or better yet taste-o-vision so you can smell how great it smelt and the taste was so heavenly in the cupcakes.

This recipe called for mixing the vanilla in with eggs and some water before adding to the recipe.

These were cupcakes I baked for a birthday party.

putting the cupcakes in the box, some were chocolate and some were vanilla

I’ve already baked at least four times in the past two weeks using this vanilla and I have to say I’m hooked.  I don’t know how I will go back to my regular brand.  Here’s my honest opinion for you even if you are just baking a few times a year get some of this stuff in your pantry and feel like a pro when you are baking.  It’s worth the investment.  You can save it for special occasions that way you don’t feel like you’re spending a lot for vanilla extract.  This really took my cupcakes to another level in taste and quality.  It had vanilla flavor three days later, it didn’t mellow out during baking and the smell was amazing when I was baking.  I am going to try in cookies next.  I’m sure I’ll love it in that as well.

Get Nielsen Massey Vanilla

Buy online at Williams & Sonoma or  Amazon