For a really long time, I thought vanilla extract was the same regardless of what you spent on it, and I would just go for the cheapest stuff in the store (which still wasn’t all that cheap!). I learned as a young adult that vanilla from Mexico was some of the best in the world, and after purchasing some on a trip there, I had to admit that there was a substantial difference in the quality of my final product when using the “real” stuff versus the junk I’d been using my entire life. But the problem with getting vanilla from Mexico was just that…you had to go to Mexico to buy it! Needless to say, I’ve been out of that stuff for a few years, and just assumed that high quality vanilla was out of reach for me.
And then I slapped myself for being so silly. In this day and age, you are not limited to what you can physically purchase in a store (duh!), and furthermore, I don’t think American bakers are content to have inferior products when the overall difference in quality is so obvious. There had to be a company out there that sold in the United States AND that created only the finest quality vanilla.
Yes, of course there is. It’s called Nielsen-Massey, and if you start doing research online about vanilla, you will see that this company sets the standard. I had the opportunity to try a type of vanilla product I’d never before heard of, and that’s because Nielsen-Massey has the proprietary rights to it. It’s called Madagascar Pure Vanilla Powder, and it is a VERY cool thing for a baking enthusiast to have in her pantry. It can be sprinkled on something as a topping (we’ve used it on french toast and it was TO DIE FOR!), or you can also add it to baking mixes that might be sensitive to color, and adding that dark vanilla extract might detract from the look you are trying to achieve. Clever, no?
Nielsen-Massey also has an extensive collection of other vanilla products, sure to make any at-home cook drool. Since I’m not too knowledgeable about all the different types of vanilla, I really appreciate that the company has a page dedicated to which type of vanilla to use for various purposes. That eliminates the guess work to ensure that you get the product that best meets your needs.
I also had the opportunity to review the cookbook A Century of Flavor, which celebrates 100 years of Nielsen-Massey as a company and gives you the most tantalizing recipe ideas using their products (from sweet to savory!). You can check out some of their recipes directly from their site, including this Crisp Vanilla Butter Cookie that I will be making, and then devouring, in the next week or so.
Buy it!: While Nielsen-Massey doesn’t offer an online store, they can help you find a local retailer, as well as mail order and internet ordering options from retailers. Bad vanilla doesn’t have to happen to you anymore! Get the good stuff, and taste the difference. You’ll never go back to the grocery store junk, I promise!
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win the Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder! Woo hoo!
Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.
Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
bets says
Tried there Vanilla Paste and love it for making ice cream.
Allyson Bossie says
Thank you so much, I look forward to baking some cookies!
Claudia N says
I would love to try the
Pure Lemon Extract
Chris N says
I would love to try the vanilla sugar. I am pretty sure it would be divine on my scones.
ezmerelda at mail dot com
Sand says
I would love to try the Pure Chocolate Extract.
mary gardner says
i would like to try the pure chocolate extract
marygardner49 at aol dot com
meme says
I would also like to try their Almond extract
Kat Emerick says
I would like to try the Pure Chocolate Extract.
kat_emerick@yahoo.com
Debra F says
I would love to try their Mexican Pure Vanilla
Diane Baum says
Pure Lemon Extract
Ed Nemmers says
When baking, I would like to try the Pure Chocolate Extract!
Heidi Y says
Orange blossoms are my favorite flower, and I saw that they have orange blossom water for sale on their site!! I really want to try that 😀 😀
sue14625 says
i had no idea there is vanilla powder -only thought it came in liquid and beans
dddiva says
Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste is something I’ve not worked with yet but would love to .
Desiree Dunbar says
I would love the vanilla
Sarah says
The pure lemon extract looks good.
renee walters says
I would absolutely love to win this and try the vanilla! I love everything vanilla! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
Renee Walters
bored2quickly@hotmail.com
Emma Peel says
Pure Chocolate Extract
emmaspeel(at)gmail.com
Brittney House says
i’d like to try vanilla
Christine says
like to try the Pure Chocolate Extract
Ambre W. says
Their Organic Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans look great!
Pauline says
Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste – (emscout9 at Hotmail dot com)
vicki lorenz says
Vanilla sugar for me please!
shawna says
I would like the vanilla sugar
Sara says
I want to try the pure chocolate extract!
sarasarasweet@aol.com
Corey Olomon says
I would like to try the Pure Chocolate Extract.
Colleen says
I would love to try their fresh vanilla beans.
Marguerite says
I’d love to try their Orange Blossom water!
-Marguerite
Mandy Kauffman says
I’d also love to try the Pure Almond Extract!
Jessica Peeling says
Pure Lemon Extract sounds good! jessicapeeling@yahoo.com
Meghan Page says
the orange blossom water
Rebekah {honeyandcheese} says
The vanilla powder sounds incredible. On french toast?! Yum! The orange and chocolate extracts also look good. So does everything else on their site, actually! 🙂
Claire says
i wanna try the pure choco. extract
Rochelle says
I want to try the Pure Chocolate Extract. Thanks!
ACMommy3 says
I’d love to try this vanilla or the vanilla bean paste or the coffee extract…well, really anything would be awesome to try since I love to bake! 🙂
john hutchens says
would love to try the rose water
Sammi says
Madagascar Bourbon vanilla sounds great
Jason says
The Pure Coffee Extract sounds awesome! But, all the stuff on there sounds awesome
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
Tina J says
“I have been wanting to try the vanilla for a long time!
Ambrielle says
I would love to try thi I have never used a vanilla powder before! I use vanilla every day in something or another!
Amanda Hoffman says
Pure Chocolate Extract
Kendra Gillilan says
vanilla powder looks great
Toni Allen says
i would love to try this vanilla
tmarie56@hotmail.com
Pat B says
I’d love to try their Rose Water and Orange Blossom Water
Vicki Wurgler says
Pure Lemon Extract
Kate says
This is the only vanilla brand I will use, discovered them while living in England and fell in love! I love their Vanilla paste. Would love to try some of their other flavorings though, like the orange.
Heather Lovell says
I would like to try the Whole Vanilla Beans.
Daiva says
Pure Almond Extract
Elizabeth says
I would like to try the Vanilla paste or the Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla.
Jessica King says
I would also like to try their Pure Peppermint Extract!
sindy says
I would like to try the Spicy Mexican Vanilla!
Tari Lawson says
I would like to try the Tahitian Pure Vanilla.
Marilyn R. says
i love the Organic Vanilla Extract
Tiffany@Lattes&Life says
I’m a bit of a vanilla snob, but I’ll admit I haven’t tried Nielsen Massey. I’m intrigued by their vanilla paste. Seems like a nice way to keep the yummy part of vanilla beans without them going bad before you can use them!
Monique Rizzo says
Peppermint sounds good.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
Chelsea says
I’d like to try the Mexican vanilla.
Claire says
I want to try the Pure Lemon Extract.
bev says
MY sis has tried the peppermint and loves it she said she would not buy
any other brand.
bev says
My husband likes vanilla almost as much as I do the madagascar bourbon
pure vanilla sounds like we’ll use less to get great flavor.
bev says
I love the vanilla I put vanilla in a lot of things I use it in my coffee,
cookies,shakes,home made ice creame,I add a little to my frostings
too.
Tracy says
I’d like to try Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar!
Emily N. says
Pure Lemon Extract
Cassie M Dow says
Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla or the pure peppermint
ShellieAndBrutus says
I’d really like to try the Mexican Pure Vanilla.
Stacey L says
I would love to try the vanilla
Katharine says
I most want to try the Nielsen-Massey Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanillla Extract but the Coffee Extract sounds interesting as well
sharon says
would love to try the madagascar bourbon vanilla…
MEG Calabrese says
I love almond extract, so I would want to try that.
kng says
I want to try the Pure Almond Extract!!
Martha says
I am very intrigued now and would love to try this Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder. It sounds wonderful!
connors26 at att.net
Sunnie says
I love to bake! I just made my own homemade vanilla this year, its still sitting in th edark so I dont know how it tastes! I want to try the vanilla paste, these are cool products that I have never seen before.
Julie says
would love to try the coffee extract for a cake I am making next month:)
Kat Emerick says
I would like to try the Nielsen-Massey Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanillla Extract .
kat_emerick@yahoo.com
renee says
I would love to try their Pure Chocolate Extract.
Kristie says
I’d like to try the Pure Almond Extract.
Cynthia Conley says
I’d love to try their Organic Vanilla Extract
susanlanai says
I’d love to try the vanilla because I’ve read so many wonderful reviews.
Tamara Sz says
The pure coffee extract looks super interesting!
Allyson Bossie says
I want to try the coffee extract…sounds delish!
debbie says
I would like to try their rose water.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Darcy B says
I’ve always wanted to try the Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla
valerie mabrey says
Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla yummy
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Janal says
Love love love the vanilla paste! Can’t wait to try the powder!!!
Mary Alice Gibbons says
I would LOVE to try their Coffee Extract! Can you imagine how much you could bump up flavors in your baking with just a hint of this?
Alanna says
I MUST try this vanilla powder. If you’ve seen my blog, you know I LOVE all things vanilla!!!
Wendy O. says
The Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar sounds like a great addition to the sugar cookies I make! 🙂