Pure Vanilla ─ Irresistible Recipes and Essential Techniques

Who says vanilla isn’t sexy? Harvested from the pods of beautiful and exotic orchids, vanilla is a delicious flavor enjoyed by people all over the world. Pure Vanilla celebrates its unique taste with a stunning array of recipes, from cakes and cookies to custards and creams. Indulge in Glazed Vanilla Bean Doughnuts, Vanilla Cloud Cake, and Vanilla Bean Meringue Kisses and Sea Salt Caramels. Cozy up with a bowl of Warm Vanilla Rice Pudding or a steaming mug of Malted White Hot Chocolate. Spread Golden Pear Vanilla Jam on your breakfast pastries or serve up a bowl of the world’s most popular ice cream flavor—all made from scratch

With a complete history of vanilla from orchid to extract, Pure Vanilla provides the origins and tasting notes for all of today’s varieties—plus 80 recipes and dozens of photographs. Also included are recipes for Homemade Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Sugar, and Vanilla-Infused Liquors. So step aside, chocolate! It’s time for Pure Vanilla.

SHAUNA SEVER is the author of Marshmallow Madness! She writes the popular dessert blog Piece of Cake and is a host and reporter for food-related television. Her work has been published in Daily Candy, Huffington Post Food, Food52, Working Mother, and O magazine. She also runs Bake Sale Bakery, a dessert catering business in San Francisco, where she lives with her husband and daughter.

LEIGH BEISCH is an award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in such magazines as Sunset, Martha Stewart Weddings, Health, and Delicious Living as well as a photo edition of The Joy of Cooking, Williams-Sonoma Cooking with Kids and The Ghirardelli Chocolate Cookbook.