Vanilla Extract is mostly used in baked recipes such as cakes, cookies, muffins, pancakes, waffles, etc. When it comes to savory dishes, it works like a pinch of salt in savory dishes/recipes, not all savory recipe goes well with Vanilla. If you are cooking any of these recipes and you run out of Vanilla Extract, you can use Vanilla Extract substitutes in place of the original ingredient.
Before choosing any substitute, you have to know about Vanilla Extract so that you can choose the best substitute for your recipe wisely.
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What is Vanilla Extract?
Vanilla Extract is made by soaking Vanilla Beans in a mixture of water and ethyl alcohol. The signature Vanilla flavor is extracted from a molecule known as Vanillin found in Vanilla Beans. Vanilla has a bitter taste with a distinctive flavor. You can use it for your baked recipes/dishes. It has so many health benefits too. Here are some health benefits of Vanilla Extract we have listed below.
Health Benefits of Vanilla Extract:
- Vanilla is rich in Vanillin Compound.
- It may benefit brain health.
- Vanilla has some anti-inflammatory properties.
- It’s a good antioxidant agent.
- Vanilla May help reduce added sugar intake in beverages and other food.
What can I Substitute for Vanilla Extract?
Cooking is all about discovering new things. There are so many ways to fix cooking issues. If you are cooking something with Vanilla Extract, but you run out of it or don’t have it in your kitchen, you can use its substitutes. We have listed lots of substitutes for Vanilla Extract right here. Not all substitutes work well in your recipe so it’s better to know about the substitutes before using them in your recipe. You can read them and choose wisely so that your recipe will be completed without being ruined.
1. Vanilla Beans:
Vanilla Beans are the closest alternative to Vanilla Extract because it is prepared by soaking the Vanilla Beans in alcohol and water. You need to slice the bean in half and scrape out the seeds using a knife, fork, or any other sharp object. You can either reuse the Vanilla Bean pod or you can throw it. One whole Vanilla Bean Pod seed can replace the 1 tablespoon (15 ml.) of Vanilla Extract in a recipe/dish.
2. Flavored Extracts:
There are other flavored extracts that you can use in your recipe. The most common extract that people use in their baking recipes is Almond Extract. You can easily replace Vanilla Extract with Almond Extract in a ratio of 1:1. Using other extracts such as orange, peppermint, and coffee in place of Vanilla Extract may also provide a good flavor in your baked recipe.
You have to remember that using other flavored extracts in your recipe may alter the taste of your final recipe/dish. So, you should use fewer amounts of other flavored extracts so that they’ll not be too overpowering.
3. Maple Syrup:
Maple Syrup is sweet in flavor. Using Maple Syrup as a substitute for Vanilla Extract may increase the calorie content of your whole recipe. So, using it in small amounts would be good for you if you are calorie-conscious. You may not see many differences using its few tablespoons or less, this swap would not make such differences, but in large amounts, it could be more notable. Only 1 tablespoon of Maple Syrup is enough to replace 1 tablespoon of Vanilla Extract.
4. Almond Extract:
Almond Extract has a strong and nutty taste with a slight sweetness. Using Almond Extract in cakes and cookies recipes is a good option to choose. You should take half amount of Almond Extract in place of Vanilla Extract so that the nutty flavor is not overdone. It may also make your recipe bitter because of its high nutty flavor.
5. Vanilla Powder:
Vanilla Powder is a great Vanilla Extract replacement because the extract has alcohol that carries an aroma. The high heat of the baking process evaporates the bitter flavor as well as the alcohol contains in it. You can use Vanilla Powder in the same quantity of Vanilla Extract in a recipe.
6. Honey:
Honey is not similar to Vanilla Extract, but you can still swap it for Vanilla Extract. Honey is milder than Vanilla Extract and provides flavor to the dish/recipe. It’s a natural sweetener so you have to reduce the quantity of honey in a recipe. You can’t use any honey directly. The type of honey matters here. You can go for more flavorful varieties like manuka if it’s not available in the market you should take a minimally processed variety of Honey.
7. Herbs and Spices:
People use Vanilla Extract to add flavor to a dish. You can add lavender for floral depth in oatmeal or yogurt. You can also add chai spice to your cake and cookies recipe. If you use Vanilla in your savory dishes/recipe, you can use cinnamon and cloves to compensate for the flavor of Vanilla. That’s how herbs and spices can replace Vanilla in some recipes.
8. Vanilla Essence:
Vanilla Essence is made from synthetic compounds. There is no real Vanilla added to it but gives a similar fragrance and flavor. Vanilla Extract has a stronger flavor than Vanilla Essence. It doesn’t mean it will not help you to give the same flavor to Vanilla Extract. The result of this synthetic Vanilla Essence is usually thinner, lighter in color, and less complex flavor than the real Vanilla flavor.
9. Vanilla Syrup:
Vanilla Syrup is made with some sugar, water, and a bit of Vanilla Extract. It’s a great Vanilla Extract alternative you can use in your recipe. It works pretty well with pancakes, waffles, French toast, blondies, or oatmeal cookies. If you are cooking any of these recipes, you can use Vanilla Syrup instead of Vanilla Extract without any doubt.
10. Vanilla Flavored Milk:
Vanilla Flavored Milk is a good sub for Vanilla Extract in a baking recipe. It doesn’t matter which milk you are choosing, it can be coconut, almond, or soy milk. You can also try to make it at home using a vanilla pod. Vanilla Flavored Milk you bought from the store may be sweet and beneficial for sweet dishes/recipes. You may have some annoying experiences when using flavored milk with meat and savory dishes/recipes. In that case, you should use unsweetened flavored milk.
11. Bourbon or Rum:
Do you know that Bourbon or Rum has actual vanilla in its content list? Generally, Vodka is used to make extracts using Vanilla Beans that are soaked in ethanol to extract its enticing flavor and aroma that we love to pour into our recipe. You can swap Vanilla Extract with brandy, bourbon, or rum makes it a great replacement.
12. Vanilla Sugar:
If you are cooking a baked recipe that needs sugar as well as Vanilla Essence, then using Vanilla Sugar instead of Vanilla Essence will be a great choice. You have to take the 3 times of Vanilla Sugar to replace Vanilla Extract.
13. Vanilla Tea:
Vanilla Tea is brewed with vanilla beans. It provides the Vanilla flavor to your dish/recipe. The flavor might not be too strong, but in absence of Vanilla Extract, you can easily use Vanilla Tea instead. Not all recipes can be replaced with Vanilla Extract with Vanilla tea. The strong tea flavor may not work well with some ingredients. This substitute is not for those who are making baked goods such as cakes, cookies, etc.
14. Vanilla Ice Cream:
If you are making a frozen dessert, then using Vanilla Ice cream instead of Vanilla Extract will be worth it. You can use frozen milk, doesn’t matter the type. You can choose almond, soy, oat, coconut, or any other milk substitute for ice cream. The Cream and Vanilla add richness to the dish.
15. Citrus Zest:
When you run out of the main ingredient such as Vanilla Extract, you can use Citrus Zest in place of it. You can make your own Citrus Zest at home by peeling any citrus fruit such as Lemon, Lime, Orange, etc. The quantity you should take to replace Vanilla Extract should be the same. For more explanation, if you use 1 tablespoon of Vanilla Extract, you can swap it with 1 tablespoon of Citrus Zest.
FAQ:-
What is in Imitation Vanilla?
Imitation Vanilla is made from synthetic Vanillin which gives the exact same flavor and aroma as the Vanilla Extract. Vanillin is present in vanilla beans naturally which gives a distinctive flavor.
Can you use Imitation Vanilla in place of Vanilla Extract?
Yes, you can use Imitation Vanilla in place of Vanilla Extract in a recipe. It doesn't have the smooth flavor of pure Vanilla Extract and is the best to use in strong and spiced food.
How much alcohol is in a teaspoon of Vanilla Extract?
One teaspoon of Vanilla Extract contains 1.73 milliliters (0.058 ounces) of ethyl alcohol. Vanilla extract contains not less than 35% ethyl alcohol. In other words, 35% of any amount of vanilla extract is ethyl alcohol.
Now, you know the best Vanilla Extract Substitute. You can choose according to what you have in the kitchen or you can also buy from amazon. Please! comment down below your questions, and let us know how much informative is this article for you. 🙂
