One of the best feelings in the world is when someone takes a bite of one of your tasty treats and can’t help but sigh and say, “This is so good. What’s your secret?” Since I’m a pretty firm believer in sharing the love when it comes to recipes, I’ll spill all of my secrets right here. These are my nine favorite secret ingredients to use in your baked goods, plus a couple recipes to try!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission if you click through and buy something, at no additional cost to you! Learn More.
Espresso Powder
It’s essentially just super finely ground espresso, which can be used in a pinch to make an instant espresso. However, espresso powder also holds the secret to the richest chocolate flavor you’ve ever tasted. It also does well standing on its own, like in these espresso chocolate chip muffins.
Try it paired with:Â Chocolate, vanilla, banana, chai spices, hazelnuts, caramel, and butterscotch.
Cardamom is the missing apple pie spice. For some reason, it’s missing from most pre-mixed blends of the seasoning, but don’t skip on it. This aromatic spice has a flavor that perfectly accentuates orchard fruits, like in this phyllo apple strudel. But its versatility expands so much beyond that.
Try it paired with: Cinnamon, apples, pears, peaches, citrus fruits, cream, and vanilla.
You just can’t beat the nutty and toasty aroma that comes from making brown butter. Plus, it adds an amazing depth to nearly every treat that uses butter anyway. I love how it took my banana bread from a sometimes snack to an essential that I ended up baking weekly last spring!
Try it paired with: Brown sugar, banana, vanilla, nuts, bourbon, cream, rye, and sesame.
The easiest swap on this list, for real. I love adding a dash of almond extract into anything where I am already using vanilla. Or sometimes, you can replace part or all of other extracts for a little extra oomph. It accents unexpected flavors, like the tangy citrus in this mandarin orange tart.
This is the secret you’ve been looking for when it comes to plenty of nutty flavor, but without having to worry about nut allergies. Tahini is essentially toasted sesame seed butter, which means it has no nuts, but the flavor will have you fooled. Try it in these sesame butterscotch rice krispies treats for a super tasty snack.
Try it paired with:Â Caramel, butterscotch, chocolate, and brown butter.
By far, bourbon is my favorite liquor to drink, but it’s also the ingredient I go to first when a baked good needs a little something extra. Many varieties are sweet and syrupy, which makes a perfect addition to your favorite treats, and it can easily replace other liquid ingredients, like in this apple tart with bourbon rye crust.
Try it paired with:Â Apples, cherries, pecans, walnuts, chocolate, vanilla, and rye.
These next three are a little bit less common in baked goods, but I just love the additional depth you get from including a traditionally savory ingredient into a sweet dessert. I wasn’t able to find as many recipes to share for these, but I still recommend experimenting on your own!
Soy Sauce
Similar to miso paste, the fermented sauce that you are familiar with for dipping sushi also provides a well-rounded salty flavor with the depth of earthy umami. Think about what salt does to all your favorite sweets. It really highlights the flavors, like in these soy-sauce caramel filled chocolate cookies.
Try it paired with: Chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, white chocolate, mango, and coconut.
White Miso Paste
This is one that will definitely have your friends and family tilting their heads to the side in wonder, but also reaching for yet another miso peanut butter cup cookie. Miso paste is known for adding a somewhat salty and umami flavor, which can add amazing depth to your sweets.
Try it paired with:Â Peanut butter, almond, chocolate, caramel, blueberry, apple, banana, and shortbread.
Balsamic Vinegar
You may think of balsamic vinegar as the main ingredient in the dressing on a caprese salad, but its sweet and tangy flavor works so well with berries and chocolate in desserts, like these strawberry balsamic tartlets. It’s a versatile ingredient that can be reduced and thickened or mixed as is.
Try it paired with:Â Strawberries, cherries, blueberries, chocolate, cheesecake, and vanilla.
Download exclusive free eBooks and printable, like 5 Steps to a Brilliant Brunch Party, and Banana Bread Quick Twists. Plus view recipes not shared anywhere else, and get a free monthly newsletter with additional bonus content.
Join the Community
For more brunch recipes, hosting tips, and baking ideas, join our exclusive group on facebook, in Home Brunch Club. Share recipes, themes, tips, and more. Plus get access to exclusive recipes, guides, and videos from Slumber & Scones. I can't wait to see you there!
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Thanks for sharing, most of these are not things you would expect to be in baking, I have seen more over the years been used 🙂