Hey, Reader!

I spent the better part of the last couple weeks finishing up my testing on popular vanilla bean pastes, and I was really surprised by the results!

Overall, I liked most of the vanilla bean pastes I tried. Most of them had a nice, strong vanilla flavor. There was only one brand I don't recommend (and unfortunately, it's probably the easiest one to find in grocery stores...).

Read all about my findings on my website, or watch my short summary on YouTube below:

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This video has done really well on TikTok, and I've already gotten quite a few requests to review more brands of vanilla bean paste! So if I missed your vanilla bean paste, please reply to this email with the brand of vanilla bean paste you use! I'd love to include it in a round two later this summer :)

My Favorite Recipes with Vanilla Bean Paste

These vanilla French macarons are one of the most popular recipes on my blog, and they're a perfect use for vanilla bean paste. Feeling French?

This is where vanilla bean paste truly shines! I use a full Tablespoon in this French vanilla ice cream recipe for a great base for your favorite mix-ins. It's ice cream time

Lightly sweetened with a hint of vanilla, this is the best vanilla whipped cream you'll ever make—promise! Plop some on pie

I use vanilla extract in the cake, but vanilla bean paste works wonders in the cream cheese frosting on these red velvet cupcakes! I love cream cheese frosting!

I just used this vanilla pie crust recipe with vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla extract to make my husband's favorite cherry pie, and I loved the visible speckles with every slice. Add some oomph to your pie crust

Behind the Scenes

For our fifth wedding anniversary last month, Austin and I went on a road trip to Bryce, Zion, and Grand Canyon National Parks!

• We did a big loop of Bryce Canyon and ended with a hike up Wall Street. This tall pine was growing in between the rock walls!
• The hole in the rock is called Angel's Window at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (and yes, we walked over it!)
• We spent one day in the heart of Zion and then got away from the Memorial Day weekend crowds the next day at Kolob Canyons (in the northeastern part of the park). The Taylor Creek Trail ended at a huge natural amphitheater (don't I look so small in the picture?!). You had to cross over a small creek about 50 times to get there, and it was absolutely gorgeous in the early morning light.

May your bottles of vanilla extract and vanilla bean paste never run out ;)

Happy baking!
Alyssa

P.S. If you've made any of my recipes, it would mean the world if you left a starred rating with a short review on the recipe! It goes a long way to let others know it's a tried and trusted recipe 💛