vanilla

Homemade Vanilla with Small Batch Rum

A while ago my good friend Emma saw a variety pack of vanilla beans at a terrific price. Given that neither of us were professional (or even pretend) bakers any longer, we didn't have need for giant amounts of vanilla beans, but the price was good and we decided that splitting 4 dozen beans was worth it for a measley $12. Sure, some of the beans were lower grade, but some weren't - and in the end they turned out to be a terrific deal.

• Add new comment
• Read more

Vanilla Sugar Cookies

The vanilla sugar cookie recipe from Cookies and Brownies is a cookie standard – and heavy on the vanilla flavor. This is a fun, flexible cookie that cuts well, maintains its shape, and is great to decorate with all sorts of things.

Because of its delicate nature, it is essential to use a good-quality vanilla and to handle the cookies with care so they don’t toughen up. Roll the dough between sheets of parchment or wax paper so you don’t add flour to the dough while rolling.

A few notes about this recipe:

• Add new comment
• Read more

German Chocolate Cake

This is one of those classic 50s housewifey cakes. Layered to the point of being dangerous, sweet enough to put anyone in a diabetic coma, and using ingredients we might dismiss as being too 'manufactured.'

• Add new comment
• Read more

Orange Vanilla Marshmallows

Homemade marshmallows seemed so Martha, but it was hard to consider myself a well-rounded baker and cook without a little more candy-making under my belt. Right in the middle of a pastry program a few years ago, I had to leave school for work reasons - and they weren't even good work reasons. I missed the quarter that included sugar work, some of the most intimidating work in the pastry kitchen, and I've been slow to get back to my studies (all of which I do at home now).

• Add new comment
• Read more