Sonoma Syrup Co Organic Pure Vanilla Bean Extract "Crush", 8 oz

I am a serious home baker and this extract is my go-to. Perfect flavor and no alcohol taste.

It adds a very natural flavor. Really enhances anything I add it too, almond, cherry or peach… It is quite concentrated but doesn’t become overpowering like artificial essences tend to be. Would buy again for sure.

After baking with this twice so far I can honestly say this is hands down the Vanilla I have ever used!!! The flavor profile is amazing!

Due to the extremely spiking vanilla costs of recent years, the place I used to buy my vanilla has become prohibitively expensive. So I've been searching around and trying various extracts to use in my baking. Most unfortunately have been simultaneously overpriced and weak, leaving me with an empty wallet and little vanilla flavor. I'm happy to report that I might have found my new go-to. This is certainly not the cheapest vanilla I can get my hands on, but so far it's definitely the best. Wonderfully full and complex vanilla aroma -- floral and sweet. And great flavor that really comes through even in baked goods. I've used this so far in a variety of cookies, cakes, and muffins, and I've been impressed every time. Very happy with the purchase and absolutely will buy again.

Secretly I always wanted to be a pastry chef. The problem was that while my baked goods tasted fantastic, my cats could have done a better on presentation. Despite my ugly baked goods, I still love to bake. Enter this product. Admittedly, for a non-professional baker like myself, almost $40 for 8 ounces of vanilla seems crazy at first. However, since using this blend of Madagascar Bourbon, Tahitian Vanilla with Vanilla Bean seeds, I will never go back to "regular" vanilla again. In the past, I've purchased all of these ingredients separately. Vanilla beans on their own are very pricey. For example, on my favorite spice website, I can purchase good quality Tahitian vanilla beans for $10 each...pretty darn expensive when I need one whole bean or more for a creme brulee recipe. Combining all three ingredients alleviates the need to buy seperate vanillas and beans and lends a fantastic flavor all in one bottle. Overall, for the generous size (8 ounces), its much cheaper than the way I was doing before and lasts much longer. However, since this stuff is on the highest end of the vanilla price spectrum, I use it only when I have a recipe to "showcase" the amazing flavor. So far, this is been outstanding in creme brulee, vanilla chocolate cheesecake, angel food cake, truffles, whipped cream and homeade vanilla bean ice cream. I won't "waste" it in brownies, although a pan of brownies usually looks better than what I turn out, expensive vanilla or not.

I think this is one of the best vanilla extracts I've ever used. The mix is floral, sweet and I frankly really like the vanilla seeds in it. I find it adds much more depth from a standard singular type of vanilla - if that's what you're looking for. I did see the warning "fake" review so I contacted the company. I purchased the "Crush" as a first time buyer as it was recommended in one of Dorie Greenspans' books -- the cookie one I believe. I bought mine in Oct 2018 and too received the black cap. Worried from another review, I contacted the company directly. Below is their response. As with all internet reviews, I recommend reaching out to the source to confirm instead of just trusting me - an internet stranger. "Thank you for reaching out to us directly regarding your concern, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We experienced a temporary packaging change with the Extract bottles last year, and this may have been the case for this Crush bottle you received. The bottle cap is normally white metal, but was for a limited time black plastic. Please feel free to call us with additional questions – we are here to assist and stand by the excellent quality of our product."

So I have to say for years I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect vanilla, sparing no expense to find the most delicious ingredients. I have tried different formations of the Nielsen Massey with a lot of disappointment. The Sonoma Syrups Vanilla Extract Blend is hands down my quintessential baking secret weapon.. Every bite of my chocolate chunk cookies made with this is like all other level epicurean magic. Seriously, the blend of the different beans and the quality of this product is the best. Give it a shot if you’re looking for the best.

Really nice flavoring. Can use maybe alittle less than usual.