Natural Vanilla (2024)

FAQs

What if I don't have enough vanilla extract? ›

What are substitutes for vanilla extract? There are various substitutes people can use for vanilla extract, but some may be better suited to certain recipes than others. These include vanilla paste, maple syrup, and honey. Vanilla extract is a popular flavoring ingredient in many desserts and baked goods.

Beans, paste, extract—they all describe vanilla. As a general rule, if a recipe calls for vanilla beans, a teaspoon of either vanilla paste or vanilla extract can work as a great substitute. Alternately, you can use the seeds scraped from half a vanilla bean in place of a teaspoon of extract.

While vanilla extract is commonly used in baking and cooking, it contains a high alcohol content that can have adverse effects on your health if consumed in large quantities. Excessive consumption of vanilla extract can lead to alcohol poisoning, causing symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and even seizures.

The crop must be cured and dried, and so from beginning to end (growth to export) the process takes a solid year. "Vanilla is the most labor-intensive crop in the world which is why it's only second in price to saffron," explains "Vanilla Queen" Patricia Rain, culinary historian, and owner of The Vanilla Company.

A Note About Conversion. If you need to swap one vanilla flavoring for another, we've found that 1/2 vanilla bean is the same as 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste.

If you have forgotten to add vanilla extract; you can always make a vanilla flavored glaze and brush it over the cake while the cake is still warm. Give the cake repeat brushings over the following 24 hours to build up a good layer of flavour.

You can substitute vanilla powder for vanilla extract (or vice versa) in any recipe. Use a 1:1 ratio when making this substitution. If a recipe calls for one teaspoon of vanilla extract, just use one teaspoon of powder. Easy!

If you don't have any on hand, you can almost always omit the vanilla without impacting the final texture of your baked goods; although the rich flavor extract—or any form of vanilla—brings will certainly be altered. Just remember one thing: flavor comes first.

If a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, you can swap in 2 teaspoons of imitation vanilla or vanilla flavoring to get a similar flavor. So, no matter what extract you haveon hand, it should be easy to get that warm, vanilla flavor you love in your baked and non–baked treats!

The amount of alcohol in pure vanilla extract varies by brand. Some contain as much as 35% alcohol by volume (ABV), which is equivalent to 70-proof vodka. However, a teaspoon of that vanilla extract has very little alcohol, somewhere closer to 1%.

What are the disadvantages of eating vanilla extract? ›

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Vanilla is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts commonly found in foods. However, some people are allergic to vanilla. It might also cause headache and sleep problems (insomnia), especially for people who manufacture vanilla extract.

McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract: Ingredients

alcohol (35%), and corn syrup.

Making magic with Madagascar vanilla, sweetened cream, and flecks of vanilla beans.

What is the shelf life of my vanilla extract? When stored properly, vanilla extract will keep indefinitely, but using it within five years will allow for best flavor and aroma. Do not refrigerate or freeze, even after opening.

The answer is really up to you! While we love good-quality pure vanilla, in my opinion, the right choice mostly depends on what you're making. If you're making a dessert like pudding, custard, candy, or even a delicate cake, where the flavor of vanilla will stand out, go for the pricier pure vanilla extract.

My go-to substitute for vanilla extract is maple syrup. It has the same sweet aroma, and it does a pretty good job of mimicking vanilla's mellow flavor. Use the same amount of maple syrup as you would vanilla, and you'll barely notice the difference. (This is why vanilla is so expensive.)

Vanilla extract and how important is it for the baking process. The primary purpose of vanilla extract is to add flavour to baked goods. Lacking it, baked goods tend to have a bland and boring taste. Vanilla extract can also contribute moisture to create a soft and fluffy texture.

It largely has to do with the environment needed to grow natural vanilla, a flavoring extracted from the seed pods of a variety of orchid that grows only in tropical climates. Originally from Mexico, the vanilla orchid is very difficult to cultivate artificially because of the ways in which it needs to be pollinated.

Vanilla coffee syrup – Use as a 1:1 substitute for vanilla extract. Vanilla coffee creamer – Use as a 1:1 substitute or double the amount of coffee creamer as extract. Spices, espresso powder – Feel free to think outside of the box and go with a completely different flavor than vanilla.