Reader Query: Is Juice an OK Extract Substitute?

Laurel, a reader and real-life recipe user, is an ex-pat living in Belgium, where it can be difficult to find flavored extracts at the grocery store. She wanted to make my Lime in the Coconut Cookies but wanted to know she could replace the lime extract in the recipe with lime juice:

“I wanted to know if you thought that I could just substitute lime juice for the lime extract or do you think it wouldn't be as strong. Again, me and the extract problem...you know I have issues when it comes to getting my hands on extracts.”

I think it will be fine to replace the extract with juice. There's nothing wrong with improvising a little and using what's either on hand or easily at your fingertips.

The lime extract gives the cookies a real kick of lime flavor and aroma, so to increase the presence of lime in an extract-free cookie, try adding a one tablespoon more each of lime juice and lime zest. That should do the trick!

Comments

[Jonazz]

it's the lime zest that really provides a lot of the subtle flavor in these cookies...I say go for the lime juice/zest and let us how they turn out!