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I ditched vanilla extract for good because of this fancy vanilla bean paste (that's now on sale for $13)

0
AOL.com 

People who love to bake know that what they whip up in the kitchen is only as good as the ingredients they put into it. Reach for baking powder beyond its expiration date or substitute buttermilk for milk and lemon juice, and you're unlikely to end up with a bake that would be on the receiving end of a Paul Hollywood handshake. 

That's why, as a self-identifying person who loves to bake, I feel it's my duty to let other baking lovers know about the somewhat indulgent ingredient I use to punch up all of my go-to desserts. This Heilala's Vanilla Bean Paste. I first learned about it a few years ago, but only took the plunge last year when I needed to replace my trusty vanilla extract — and I don't think I'll be going back. 

In fact, this vanilla paste is recommended by cooks and pastry chefs the world over. It's more flavorful than your run-of-the-mill vanilla extract, and it's much easier to use than fresh vanilla beans — especially for those with limited dexterity, time or patience for that sort of effort. 

One small jar of this thick and syrupy paste contains the equivalent of 12 Madagascar-variety vanilla beans. If you've ever purchased a jar of three vanilla beans at the supermarket for around $20, you know those economics alone make this jar well worth its spot in your baking cupboard. Plus, just one teaspoon of this syrupy paste is equivalent in taste to one vanilla bean. You can use it in any recipe that calls for vanilla essence or extract, substituting it in the same quantities.

Over the holidays, I reach for this vanilla paste for pecan pie, pumpkin pie and New York-style cheesecake. I used one teaspoon of this vanilla paste in my mom's no-Karo-syrup pecan pie recipe (which is secretly just Trisha Yearwood's pecan pie recipe) and one tablespoon in my mom's New York cheesecake recipe. It added a deliciously indulgent hint of vanilla to the otherwise very simple flavors of the pecan pie, and it made my cheesecake taste (and look!) like something from a fancy patisserie. 

At the end of the day, I know $13 is a lot to pay for some vanilla for baking, but I'm convinced this vanilla bean paste is an excellent addition to any home baker's pantry.