What is the purpose of vanilla in baking?

Question

I want to bake cookies, but I don't have vanilla. Can I continue baking without it?

Answer 1

All the vanilla (extract, I'm assuming is what it called for) does is add flavor. You can continue baking, and it won't change anything other than making the cookie slightly less sweet.

Answer 2

to give some types of baked goods flavor. It wont make that big of a difference....depends on the cookies. Try using something else, however, not using Vanilla will not hurt the cookies from rising, only flavor. Vanilla is not sweet. It is quite bitter and needs sugar to sweeten it.

Answer 3

The vanilla is for flavoring. If you are making a surgar cookie, you could use any flavoring - almond, lemon, cherry - that you have. But you probably want to use some type of flavoring.

Answer 4

well ! the purpose is flavor and that is it, it might change the consistency of the dough or batter but I don't think that the amount is significant enough to do so. So I say go ahead with out it or substitute it for something that you like better: almond, orange, hazelnut, mandarin, mint, butter scotch extract.

Answer 5

For flavor, as long as it is the pure extract. But yes, you can do without it, or use some other extract like almond, or try adding cinnamon, lemon or orange zest, etc.

Answer 6

Vanilla is just a flavoring, you don't need it, it is a flavoring like lemon or coconut or peanut butter. You definatley don't have to have it in cookies. Save me one............

Answer 7

It helps with the flavor.

Answer 8

yeah...it makes it sweeeet. u can use mashed banana.