My Favorite Baking Staple Is Only Sold at Sam’s Club (and It’s a Bargain)

When it comes to baked goods, it is physically impossible for me to leave out vanilla. Even if a recipe doesn’t call for it, I find myself reaching for extract or paste to give my sweet treat a little extra oomph. If a recipe does call for vanilla, sometimes I double it. I love the stuff, and I just can’t help myself.

In addition to baked goods, I routinely add vanilla to my coffee and tea. Who needs a pricey vanilla latte from the coffee shop down the street when I can make my own special drink at home?

Since I use vanilla (a typically pricey ingredient) with abandon, I was excited to discover Magnolia Star Baking Supply at Sam’s Club.

Why I Love Magnola Star’s Vanilla Bean Paste

The small Nashville-based producer makes vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste, almond extract, and lemon extract. I can find the vanilla and vanilla bean paste at my local Sam’s Club, and the other products appear here and there (they’re all available on the website). I’ve also heard that cocoa powder is on the way.

My hands-down favorite is the vanilla bean paste. With beautiful little flecks of real vanilla and an intoxicating aroma, it’s a big bottle (eight ounces) and lasts a long time. It also comes in the perfect packaging: a squeeze bottle. This makes it much easier to measure out small amounts in recipes without making a mess or wasting precious vanilla. It also means you can easily add vanilla to treats in the blink of an eye. 

Your coffee or chai needs a little elevating? Squeeze in some vanilla. Your morning toaster waffle feeling a little ho-hum? Squeeze on some vanilla. Want to turn your plain yogurt into sugar-free vanilla yogurt? You know what to do.

Why This Vanilla Is Such a Good Deal

Another reason I keep this Sam’s Club find stocked is the price. At my local store, it goes for under $13. The cheapest I’ve ever found my favorite gourmet brand, Nielsen-Massey, is $18, and that’s for four ounces. Magnolia Star’s vanilla bean paste is a whopping eight ounces, as all vanilla should be.

Their vanilla extract is also high-quality, and clocks it at under $10 for eight ounces. I’ve heard they’re also working on baking mixes, and I’ll try anything this brand releases since I’ve only had good experiences. If you’re planning on doing some holiday baking, I suggest stocking up at Sam’s Club beforehand.

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