As the weather starts cooling down my mind instantly goes towards baking. I’ve got a list a mile long of what I want to make, what I want to eat and what ingredients I’ll need. My baking and cooking list always includes homemade candies and cookies – so I have to pick up extracts to make them.
I’ve never been a fan of imitation flavors, besides liking more pure ingredients in my recipes, I prefer real flavors. So when Nielsen Massey sent me their Holiday Extract Set to review, I was excited to try their pure extracts.
Nielsen Massey has been making pure extracts since 1907, using the finest ingredients. They are used by home cooks as well as chefs throughout the world and their flavors vary from chocolate to coffee extract.
The pure extracts that were sent were 2 oz bottles – they will last throughout my holiday baking schedule and beyond! I was pleased that all of the extracts smelled and tasted just as they were advertised. That includes the chocolate extract – it doesn’t taste like the fake chocolate flavor you find overused. Pure taste and quality is in each of the 2 oz bottles!
Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Frosting
With all of these fantastic extracts and vanillas I had to bake. How else can you test baking products?
The first thing I thought of making was my peppermint rock candy – but the holidays are still a while off, so I went with something I had been craving – Chocolate Cupcakes!
You can find the basic chocolate cupcake recipe here, remember it is written gluten free but can be made with regular flour. Remember to use the Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract to make the cupcakes!
Now – onto the Frosting! For this I did a basic Vanilla frosting and used the Pure Peppermint Extract instead of the vanilla. Remember not to use too much Peppermint Extract, it can be overwhelming!
Peppermint Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/8 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
Directions
- Combine all ingredients with a mixer on medium until smooth
- Enjoy!
[amd-yrecipe-recipe:84]
Not only did the cupcakes come out delicious, they came out probably better than they should have! They are so delicious it’s hard to not eat them all. The quality in the ingredients really make the difference in the flavor of the final cupcakes.
Nielsen Massey Vanillas is giving one of my readers one of the extracts from the holiday kit. The winner will get to choose one of the following extracts: Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract, Pure Chocolate Extract, Pure Almond Extract or Pure Peppermint Extract!
Enter to win with the form below. The mandatory entry is leaving a comment on this blog post telling me which of the vanillas or the extracts in the holiday set you would like to try! If you do not do this entry – you will not win! So make sure you leave a comment and then enter using the form linked below!Find Nielsen Massey Vanillas Online:
I would love to try the peppermint. I love things with mint in it, so that just sounds Delicious.
I would Love to try the Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
I have been really wanting these and keep looking at them on Amazon. Would love to win them! 🙂
I would love to try and bake with the Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract!
I would like the pure chocolate extract for my pies.
I would like to try the Pure Peppermint Extract. We have tried peppermint extracts – even really pricey ones – but they never taste like the real thing. I would love to see if this one hold up to the real plant
I would like to try the chocolate extract.
I would love the Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract.
Would love to try the Pure Peppermint Extract.
I would love to try and bake with the Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract!
I`d love to try the Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract, sounds yummy!!
I would love to try the orange extract! I already have their vanilla and almond and adore them..
peppermint
I would try the Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract.
I’d like to try the Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract.
I’d love to try the chocolate! But the Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla would probably be my favorite.
I would love to try the peppermint – tis almost the season afterall.
I WOULD TRY THE COFFEE FLAVOR.
oh yes we sure could use this for the breads and cookies coming up–great giveaway again– something food related is always a favorite.we really are in need of just vanilla right now– but I would be happy with just about anything
Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract *swoon* just *swoon*
oh definitely the Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract! thanks for the chance 😉
Pure Peppermint Extract
I think I’d like to try the mint
the pure peppermint extract…we make lots of peppermint flavor xmas treats
Would love to try the chocolate extract 🙂
I would love to try the pure almond extract.
Are you kidding me?! The Pure Chocolate Extract of course!
the madagascar bourbon extract sounds amazing…the mexican pure vanilla extract sounds fun too. i figure i ought to try the vanillas first since they’re the experts. their ‘which vanilla should i use’ is a useful tool.
I would like to try the Almond and Peppermint extracts.
I’d choose the pure almond extract
I want to try them all, especially the Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
The almond extract
I’d love to see what I could do with peppermint, tis the season!
The peppermint because I want to make Christmas playdough for my kids.
I would Love to try the Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
I prefer natural flavorings and would love to try the almond extract for my traditional Scandinavian baked goods.
I would love to try the Almond Extract. Thanks for the giveaway.