Pure Vanilla: Irresistible Recipes and Essential Techniques

This is a great cookbook to explore the world of vanilla. I have made the Big soft frosted sugar cookies, and they lived up to their name, a lovely forward vanilla flavor in a soft, tender cookie with a just right sweet vanilla frosting. I have also made the Heirloom vanilla sugar cookies. These are the perfect balance of crispy and slightly sanding texture but with tenderness to them, again the vanilla shines through with out being overwhelming. These would be great with a vanilla bean glaze on top as well. My family loved these. My next two recipes I plan on trying are the Vanilla bean bread pudding and the Twinkie Bundt Cake I can't wait, based on the first two recipe I tried and the recipes for these two I am very confident that they will both be excellent and turn out as expected. This cookbook gives very clear, easy to follow directions and what I have made so far has turned out exactly as the recipe said it would. This book is good for both the novice baker and the experienced.

I love the photos and upbeat feel of the book. MANY original, fantastic recipes! My only wish is that she would have developed recipes that did not have corn syrup or corn-syrup-containing ingredients (ie. marshmallow cream). I'm taking care to make true gourmet vanilla extract, and I want it to shine in quality recipes made with healthy ingredients. Most of the recipes don't list corn syrup, fortunately, and I think I'll be able to substitute with a healthier liquid sweetener, perhaps agave nectar. But all in all, a very original book, and one I appreciate having in my cookbook collection! ✨🤎😀🤎✨

That would be me. Perhaps there was some childhood trauma involving chocolate, but I am a die hard vanilla lover. I recommend this book to any cook out there who has not experienced the deliciousness of all things vanilla. The recipes are to die for! The only reason this wonderful book is missing the 5th star is because it is lacking my favorite kind of vanilla recipe - a simple pudding. Let's face it. Making vanilla pudding from scratch is heavenly AND I am the only one in the household who eats it! Haha! A dessert just for me!

I bought this book expressly for the Twinkie cake that other reviewers raved about (plus I love vanilla). We baked the Twinkie cake tonight, and it is amazing. If every other recipe in the book is a flop, I won't care because that one is superb. I won't go near a real Twinkie because they're awful, but this cake is marshmallowey, vanilla goodness and it wasn't at all difficult to make. Buy this book, you will be glad you did!Edit - I have made the Big Mama cheesecake about 20 times, the vanilla pie, and the cookies - all are fantastic. I have made the twinkie cake 5-6 times, and every time I serve it, I am asked for the recipe. I still love this book!

I became acquainted with this book at my sister's house. When I got home I immediately ordered a copy for myself and my daughter who lives in Maine. Who would have thought that a book about Vanilla would be a page turner? Well, this one is. Once you start reading, it is hard to put down. The book is well written, well illustrated and loaded with interesting information about Vanilla and its uses. After an introduction to Vanilla you will find great recipes, from breakfast foods to drinks. The author also provides an excellent resource guide to where you can buy Vanilla beans, extract, paste, powder and more. Buy the book, you will not be dissapointed.

Pure Vanilla is truly a cookbook most will want in their collection. I have this fine book on my shelf. It has many offerings to tempt the cook into trying so many different recipes just for the joy of cooking. It even tells the difference between the many kinds of vanilla available on the market from the standard ones on the shelf your mother used, to use to the more pricey offerings.The pictures are wonderful. I don't know many who wouldn't want this book for themselves or as a gift to their favorite cooking companion. Nothing beats the great food that is made from scratch in my opinion. I'm sure it won't disappoint in any way. It's worth the money...truly.

I love that this cookbook celebrates vanilla, which usually takes a backseat to chocolate in baking books. Everything I've made so far from this book has been FANTASTIC. I especially love the Salted Vanilla Chip Oatmeal Cookies. I also really like the extra recipes and tips for making things like Homemade Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Sugar, and Vanilla-Infused Liquors.The recipes are clear and well-written and easy to follow. Not every recipe is pictured, but there were enough photos to keep me happy. This book definitely gave me a new appreciation for vanilla and inspired me to use it more in my kitchen!

As someone else commented, lots of white chocolate used in many of the recipes; disappointing in that I don't like white chocolate, personal choice I get it. But on top of that, many of the recipes had store bought items in - cherry pie filling; marshmallow fluff; etc. If I wanted store bought I wouldn't be purchasing a cookbook. I love vanilla and I bake almost every day, but I found very few recipes I was excited about when I read through the contents.

Lots of nice photographs. None of the ingredients are that hard to find, so its a good book for any cook.

Tiene muchas recetas, bastantes fotografías (aunque menos de las que me gustaría), es un libro muy completo para los amantes de la vainilla, recetas muy variadas, desde cupcakes hasta caramelos o marshmallows.

The recipes I have made from this book turn out wonderfully. Full of well balanced flavour. A pleasure to be inspired by this book.

The photos are pure decadence and so are the recipes. But there is much more to this book. I really loved reading about and learning more about vanilla. Not only did I learn about the history in a succinct and interesting way but I also learned about proper (and easy) techniques for using vanilla.I was truly amazed at how versatile vanilla is and have been trying some of these unique recipes (all with positive results so far). I also love that Sever provides sources for some of the various types of vanilla (yes, there are several different types with different characteristics) so I could order some. And I will never buy the fake vanilla in the stores ever again: nice aromatic vanilla beans and vanilla paste are amazing. But Sever also discusses the different extracts and offers suggestions for types of recipes certain vanillas are ideally suited for.Her book is much better organized than my summary. If you enjoy making things in the kitchen, you’ll love this book for showing you new ways to use vanilla.I'm going to order one or two more of these books and use them as hostess gifts.