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When it comes to baked goods, we all know that taste is king. No one wants a dry, crumbly cookie or a flat, flavorless cake. The good news is that there are a few simple ways to take your baking from bland to bombshell with the help of extracts and flavors. Here's everything you need to know about using these ingredients to take your baking game up a notch.
Extracts 101
Extracts are concentrated forms of a particular flavor that are generally made by steeping the desired ingredient in alcohol or oil. Common extracts include vanilla, almond, lemon, and peppermint. When using extracts, remember that a little goes a long way—generally, you'll only need to use 1/2 teaspoon per cup of flour in your recipe. Any more than that and your baked goods may end up tasting too strongly of the extract flavor.
What are Flavors and Extracts?
Flavors and extracts are concentrated forms of a particular flavor. For example, you can buy vanilla extract, which is a concentrated form of vanilla flavor. Similarly, you can also buy almond extract, which is a concentrated form of almond flavor. These extracts are usually made by taking the essence or oil from the fruit, nut, or spice, and then suspending it in alcohol.
How to Use Flavors and Extracts
Using flavors and extracts is a great way to add extra flavor to your dishes without changing the overall taste too much. For example, if you're making a chocolate cake but you want it to taste more like fudge, you could add a few drops of chocolate extract. Or if you're making a vanilla cake but you want it to have more of an almond flavor, you could add some almond extract.
Flavoring Your Baked Goods
In addition to extracts, there are also flavorings available in powder or liquid form that can be used to add an extra boost of flavor to your baked goods. Flavorings are usually made from fruit or spices and can be added directly to the batter or dough before baking. Common flavorings include cinnamon, pumpkin spice, chocolate, and almond. As with extracts, it's important not to go overboard when using flavorings—start with 1/4 teaspoon per cup of flour and increase from there until you've achieved the desired flavor.
Baking is all about creating delicious treats that tantalize the taste buds. By using extracts and flavors judiciously, you can take your baked goods from good to great. Just remember not to go overboard—a little bit of extract or flavoring goes a long way! With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to becoming a master baker in no time.
Shop extracts and flavors today at DolceFoglia.com