Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the ratio of vanilla bean paste to extract? ›

If your recipe calls for paste but you only have extract on hand (or vice versa), you can substitute an equal amount of extract for the paste. For example, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract can be substituted for 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste.

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.

Store it: Vanilla paste can be stored for up to 3 years when kept in a cool, dark environment. Do not refrigerate your paste, or the container will form condensation and spoil the vanilla.

It is up to you when you want to discard the old beans and start fresh. I choose to use them 2-4 times, depending on the quality of the beans, how long the extract has been sitting and if I've been careful about making sure the beans stay submerged at all times.

Because vanilla extract contains no physical vanilla, the flavor is slightly lighter and less robust than vanilla paste.

What is the shelf life of your vanilla pastes? Powders? Our Pure Vanilla Bean Pastes and Pure Vanilla Powders will last up to three years.

Vanilla Bean, Extract and Paste Equivalencies

One tablespoon of paste is equal to one gourmet bean. Vanilla bean paste can also replace extract in a recipe with 1 teaspoon (tsp.) = 1 tsp.

If you don't have time to scrape vanilla beans, or you won't use them before they dry out, vanilla bean paste is a great alternative. While it's offered by only a few companies, including Nielsen-Massey and the Spice House, our Test Kitchen pros agree it's worth the search.

Around 80% of the world's supply of natural vanilla comes from the African island, but due to a number of challenges, from devastating storms, the pressures of deforestation, and intensive labor, the dwindling supply of the product makes it very difficult to meet the high demand (via Forbes).

Can vanilla bean paste go bad? ›

Vanilla paste doesn't last quite as long as the extract, but you can still keep it for several years if stored properly.

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.

Use either. 80 proof Alcohol: Vanilla extract is most commonly made from vodka, but you can use bourbon, brandy, or rum instead. I usually use vodka, but the one bottle of bourbon vanilla I made 7 months ago is DIVINE. No need to splurge on expensive alcohol.

There are so many reasons I love making my own vanilla extract but let me highlight a few: Saves money: store-bought vanilla extract can cost up to $4 an ounce! Re-fillable: Once you run out of vanilla, refill the bottle with Vodka and use the beans for another batch (they will last for up to two batches).

Store at room temperature, in a cool, dark place (like the back of a cabinet away from heat sources) for as little as two months, shaking daily for the first week or two. After some time has passed, give the jar a shake once or twice a week, until the alcohol turns a rich brown and smells of fragrant vanilla essence.

I usually use about 4-6 vanilla beans per cup of alcohol. Ideally, to be more precise, it is best use a kitchen scale (this is the scale I use, it's inexpensive and reliable!) and measure . 83 oz /24 grams (many people round up to 1 oz) of beans for every 8 oz/cup of alcohol.

Vanilla extracts, flavors, whole beans, pastes and powders should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature, away from direct heat and sunlight. Refrigeration or freezing will speed up the natural separation of the vanilla essence from the liquid base in extracts.

Vanilla beans have a much stronger flavor than extract, so you don't need to use as much. For example, if your recipe calls for one teaspoon vanilla extract, you can swap it out for 1/3 of a vanilla bean, about a two-inch piece.

To substitute vanilla bean paste you could use equal amounts of vanilla extract or use a whole vanilla bean split with the seeds scraped out in a liquid-based recipe. You could also use Vanilla powder, but this would need to be as per your personal taste.