[Flaming Conservative]

Maybe someone here who has worked for a small bakery can tell me what ingredient they use in cookies and even brownies that gives them all a certain unique taste. Big commercial bakeries or grocery store bakeries don’t use it. Whatever it is, you can smell it when you walk into a local type bakery. (Or an I just nuts?)

[central_va]

They use better ingredients. You pay for that.

[Aliska]

No, I never worked at a bakery. Could it be cardamom? Love almond paste products but probably not that. Maybe some other ingredient. The big ones have to use preservatives, and they affect the taste. Many I taste a little heat like cayenne or a preservative, or it's just my tongue, don't know what it could be.

No, you are not nuts.