Baking with Bitters

Bitters & Flavor Extracts

When a recipe calls for a flavor extract such as vanilla or almond extract, you can easily substitute bitters in a 1:1 ratio to provide more complexity and a robust flavor profile. Below are some examples of this technique.

A bottle of bitters and baking ingredients

Vanilla Extract

Cherry Bark Vanilla BittersRoot Beer Bitters

Almond Extract

Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters

Maple Extract

Cherry Bark Vanilla BittersRoot Beer Bitters

Ginger Extract

Jamaican No. 1 BittersJamaican No. 2 Bitters

Anise Extract

Cherry Bark Vanilla BittersJamaican No. 1 Bitters

Citrus Extract

Orange BittersJamaican No. 2 Bitters

Coffee Extract

Chipotle Cacao Bitters

Bitters as Added Flavor

Another way to use cocktail bitters in baking is to riff on classics like a bartender might do when mixing cocktails. Simply add bitters to a tried and true recipe to accentuate, enhance, or contrast existing flavors. When using 1-2 tsp of bitters, you should not have to adjust the recipe in any way. Below are some ideas for adding bitters to your favorite baked goods.

Bitters
woodsy

Cherry Bark Vanilla

Use in Biscotti, Gingerbread, Buttercream Frosting, Baklava, Tsoureki

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Bitters
bright

Orange

Use in Orange Crinkle Cookies, Pound Cake, Choco Orange Brownies, Orange Cranberry Bread Pudding, Poppy Seed Muffin

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Bitters
aromatic

Bolivar

Mixed Berry Scones, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Banana Bread, Blueberry Muffins, Coffee Cake

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Bitters
all-purpose

Trinity

Fruitcake, Bourbon Soaked Cake, Candied Nuts, Bourbon Banana Bread, Cheesecake

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Bitters
zesty

Jamaican No.2

Lemon Bars, Chai Flavored Cakes, Grapefruit Olive Oil Cake, Bruleed Grapefruit Rhubarb Pie, Blueberry Pie

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Bitters
earthy

Root Beer

Panna Cotta, Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies, Almond Croissants, Pizzelles, Angel Food Cake

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Bitters
smoky

Blackstrap

Snickerdoodles, Gingerbread, Old Fashioned Molasses Cake, Cookie Cream Pies, Carrot Cake

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Bitters
robust

Jamaican No.1

Spiced Apple Muffins, Black Pepper Pound Cake, Apple Crisp, Spiced Strawberry Shortcake, Bundt Cake

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Bitters
spicy

Chipotle Cacao

Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Chocolate Cookie

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Bitters & Ground Spices

When a recipe calls for a ground spice like cinnamon, cardamom, or cloves, you can easily substitute cocktail bitters in a 1:1 ratio. This method provides a more nuanced flavor, instead of a singularly focused intense flavor. Below are some bitters varieties and spices that work well in this context.

Three bitters bottles on a pile of spices

Cinnamon

Blackstrap BittersBolivar BittersCherry Bark Vanilla Bitters

Nutmeg

Blackstrap Bitters

Allspice

Jamaican No. 1 BittersJamaican No. 2 Bitters

Cardamom

Blackstrap BittersOrange Bitters

Star Anise

Jamaican No. 1 BittersCherry Bark Vanilla Bitters

Dried Ginger

Jamaican No. 1 BittersJamaican No. 2 Bitters
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