Comments on:

By: randrok

randrok — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:06:31 +0000

The vanilla bean paste the PW uses is: http://www.amazon.com/Nielsen-Massey-Madagascar-Bourbon-Vanilla-Paste/dp/B002HQE11O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1295985907&sr=8-2
These sounds SO good. I love chocolate and my husband loves vanilla so it is a great compromise for us!

By: ninabean

ninabean — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:45:10 +0000

I liked these cupcakes & thought the frosting was just right.

By: rhondalou

rhondalou — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:56:11 +0000

These are really pretty cupcakes. I will say this, the frosting is extremely sweet (maybe almost too sweet). I baked mine for 15 minutes and they turned out very nice.

By: ajspray

ajspray — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:39:42 +0000

I couldn’t find vanilla bean paste – even tried looking at all of our fancy grocery stores… So I used extract instead. The flavor was really good – my friends and I really enjoyed them. I’ll bake them a little less next time – 18 minutes was just a little too long in my oven.

By: Chris/casavon

Chris/casavon — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:40:47 +0000

I just bought vanilla bean paste at Williams Sonoma. It’s excellent but I sometimes substitute good liquid vanilla when I’m out.

By: Teauna

Teauna — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:45:11 +0000

I tried these and they are wonderful! I think they’re more of an ‘adult cupcake’… I love using vanilla bean paste in goodies, especially frosting! People always wonder where those little brown specks come from, and they always ask for the recipe!

By: megn

megn — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:48:53 +0000

what about just scooping out some vanilla beans for the flecked effect? i’ve never worked with real beans or the paste (too expensive!!) and don’t have access to any of the above stores, but i would love to splurge and make these cupcakes for valentine’s day

By: sporkiness

sporkiness — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:10:28 +0000

Also, I’d imagine you could substitute in vanilla extract, if you don’t have vanilla bean paste. It wouldn’t have all those nice pretty flecks, and the flavor might not be as prominent, but it would work.

By: sigh

sigh — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:41:36 +0000

You can also find Vanilla Bean Paste at Whole Foods, Wegmans and Williams Sonoma.

By: ColeyCook

ColeyCook — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:45:35 +0000

I did a quick google search, and it looks like Sur la Table carries vanilla bean paste (http://www.surlatable.com/product/id/129279.do) I’ve never tried it, so I can’t speak for it’s quality, but there’s a lead. Can’t wait to try the cupcakes!