I've always used pure and purchased from local grocery but have more cakes upcoming & was thinking it was time to look into a larger quantity purchase. Can I substitute something like the Lorann oil for vanilla in both cake and icing? Does anyone use imitation vanilla-is there an after taste? Where do you find the best price for larger quanities (4oz is largest my store carries)? As always..your comments are greatly appreciated!!

It is possible to find large quantites of pure vanilla online for purchase. Nielssen-Massy pure vanilla extract can be purchased in a 32 fluid oz. bottle for a cost savings.

Sorry, I don't know anything about imitation vanilla or oil.

Good luck!
-j

I've heard Costco and BJs Wholesale Club have big 16 oz vanilla extract, McCormick for less than $10.

I make my own. If you are going to use a lot of it, you should start brewing your own now with vodka and vanilla beans. You can never have it better tasting than that. It will take about 4 months and you'll never need to buy it again.

I agree. Making it is nice. I make my own pretty inexpensively and best taste I've had.

However, if convenience is a major factor, you can get pretty low pricing when you buy in bulk.

Make your own, it's inexpensive and much more delicious.

Make it or buy it-always get pure. The imitation stuff is heinous.

how many beans do you put in a bottle (gallon)?
Where do you get your beans in bulk?
Do you use grade B vanilla means?
Which vanilla is your favorite tasting?

Here's a link to the vanilla extract thread.

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-706027-0.html

I agree with the others - make your own because it is awesomely delicious. Also, I have had bad experiences with LorAnn oils. At first taste, no issue. Shortly after comes the bitter aftertaste.

LorAnn also sells vanilla EXTRACT made the same way as Nielsen-Massey and other brands.

Be careful about the label...but their Tahitian double strength extract is excellent, as is their Madagascar extract, both compared to real beans.

I love my homemade vanilla above all, however, I just realized that I am running dangerously low! I have started a new liter batch but in the meantime (3-4months) I had to purchase Nielson-Massey. I bought a 32oz bottle of Madagascar Vanilla on Amazon for $29 & free shipping, an extremely great price for a lovely product.

I was thrilled when I found Nielsen-Massey at my local market. However, I was not thrilled when I used it. I added double what the recipe called for since I wanted a stronger flavor. I might as well have not used any. I checked the date, smell, etc., but couldn't find anything wrong. Oh, well. The best vanilla flavoring I've found is powdered, from KitchenKrafts. Amazing!

Wow!! Thank you!! Duh-it never crossed my mind to make my own. And thanks for the link to the extracts, apparently I never type in the right wording as I tried that first Luckily, I've got "granny-nanny" duty @ my daughters next week-bigger city & better shopping so will look for vanilla beans there. Thanks again!

I use nothing but McCormick pure vanilla extract.

My understanding is that imitation vanilla is generally just the dominant ester, vanillin. Which makes it, in effect, a caricature of the real stuff.

Likewise, for maple flavor, I use nothing but pure maple syrup, usually Vermont Grade B (it's the most robust of the common grades, and therefore more likely to stand up to cooking heat, and to other strong flavorings, like the pure sweetness of powdered sugar).

If McCormick offered a pure strawberry extract, I'd use it as well, instead of their imitation. But most of the strawberry flavoring in my strawberry marble cake and strawberry frosting comes from the strawberry jam in both.

Vanilla Products USA. Google them. 'Nuff said.