If you want to experiment with Cook's delicious flavors, let this guide you through combining multiple extracts into one dessert.
First things first, there are two ways to combine extracts: mixing and layering. Mixing, for our purposes, will be defined as adding flavors to the same component of a recipe. For example, you can mix vanilla extract with strawberry extract to create a strawberry vanilla frosting. Layering, on the other hand, would be making a vanilla cake and using strawberry extract to make a strawberry frosting. It is always easier to layer than it is to mix. In terms of layering, you can go wild: using one extract for a cake, another for a cake filling, a third for frosting, and a fourth for a topping, or make an ice cream base using one extract and then a swirl component using another flavor, or use one extract for a cookie crust, a second for a cheesecake, and a third for a sour cream topping.
To use the layering technique, I like to think of a classic dessert, like blueberry pancakes, and then reimagine it as a layerable dessert, like a cake. Use each component of the cake to showcase a different flavor.
Mixing requires more finesse. Our line has three general types of extracts and flavors. The first are enhancer flavors, which include vanilla, chocolate, coffee, maple, whiskey, and rum extracts. The second are oil flavors. These flavors are very strong and should be used cautiously and combined carefully. Generally, I only recommend mixing oil-based flavors with one other flavor. Oil-based flavors are orange, lemon, lime, almond, cinnamon, peppermint, spearmint, and cinnamon. Finally, the third category is mild and distinct flavors, including our berry, tropical, hazelnut, root beer, peach, eggnog, and other flavors. You can mix up to three of these flavors with each other and with enhancer flavors. Here are some of my favorite mixes:
Almond with vanilla
Hazelnut with chocolate
Strawberry with vanilla
Chocolate with raspberry
Blueberry with lemon
Cranberry with orange
Rum with vanilla and cinnamon
Chocolate with cinnamon
Vanilla with peppermint
Lemon with lime
Peach with almond and vanilla
Chocolate with vanilla and whiskey
Maple with vanilla and rum
Cinnamon and maple
Coconut and pineapple
Keep in mind that you can also use layering and mixing. If you do this, I recommend only mixing with enhancer flavors and choosing one enhancer flavor to mix with each layer to keep the flavors cohesive. For instance, you can choose vanilla for each layer's enhancer flavor. An example of this would be vanilla with lemon cake filled with a vanilla and blackberry compote and topped with a lemond and blackberry frosting.
The possibilities for mixing and layering extracts are truly endless! It can be a lot of fun to experiment with your favorite flavors! Make sure you tag cooksvanilla on Instragram to share your favorite combinations and delectable creations!
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