My Favorite Trader Joe’s Deal Is Back, and It’s a Must-Have for the Holidays

If I can count on one thing each December, it’s just how much flour, sugar and butter I’ll go through. I’m a pretty devoted cookie baker—I’ll make a batch for everybody and everything, whether it’s a small tin for a sweet thank you gift or a few batches for a holiday potluck.

Outside of cookies, I’ll fly through plenty of baking essentials making fun desserts for family, a festive sweet Christmas breakfast and even fun lattes or hot chocolate recipes for a holiday movie night. All that to say: my baking budget gets pretty generous this time of year.

One item I’m always about to run out of is vanilla extract. I use it in just about everything, from bread pudding to whipped cream to classic sugar cookies, and it always adds that gently sweet flavor that makes every dish a little more cozy. But replacing that extract with Trader Joe’s Organic Vanilla Bean Paste makes everything especially fun and festive.

The TJ’s paste can be used measure for measure in place of vanilla extract in any recipe, and it packs in a big punch of flavor. I burned through one of the 2-ounce jars during Thanksgiving week alone, adding it to a rich, autumnal apple bread pudding, a big batch of fluffy whipped cream, and a rich and tangy batch of cheese danishes, among other treats. In simple recipes like whipped cream, the texture of the paste also adds a rustic touch, bringing pretty black flecks to the creamy white topping. 

I picked up two jars when I finally laid eyes on this super-limited holiday TJ’s find, and you should too, especially if you’re a baker. While any recipe that calls for vanilla extract will be delicious if you make it as-is, a recipe that really highlights vanilla flavor will be even better if you use a paste. Sugar cookies, pound cakes, custards and meringues will all benefit from the extra bump of aromatics and flavor.

While I love the flavor and look that this vanilla bean paste brings to all my favorite holiday sweet treats, the true appeal of this find is its price point. After all, you could scoop up vanilla bean paste at any well-stocked grocery store or even online—but you’ll be hard pressed to find a better deal. Each 2-ounce jar of TJ’s organic vanilla bean paste will cost you $4.99. But Nielsen-Massey, the distributor of a popular, high-quality pure vanilla bean paste, sells a 4-ounce jar on Amazon for $18.95.

One of the best deals on the Nielsen-Massey paste can be found at Sam’s Club—you can get an 8-ounce bottle there for $23.98—but even that deal doesn’t match the Trader Joe’s price. Even lower priced brands, like Vanilla Bean Kings, just don’t offer the same kind of deal. So while picking up paste instead of extract may be a tad more expensive, getting the paste at TJ’s is an easy way to save a little cash.

Whether you’re the designated baker of the family or just feel like splurging on a fun ingredient you’ll turn to during the holidays, this $5 find is a great way to bring festive flavor to all your sweets this December. But be quick about your next shopping trip—this seasonal product is sure to fly off shelves. 

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