Vanilla
The Best Vanilla Extract Substitute Is Probably Hiding in Your Kitchen
Lookin' at you, cake batter.
Photo by Julia Gartland
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12 Comments
Joseph N.
December 2, 2020
To me, the problem is the alcohol. For health reasons, can't drink any alcoholic beverage. Conflicts with medication. What happens to the alcohol in the recipe? Will it affect the person consuming the food? Serious question to consider.
Jenkinsmitzi
November 27, 2020
I always substitute Amaretto for vanilla. It’s less expensive and really just better
Smaug
November 12, 2020
People might want to check out Stella Parks' article on Serious Eats on the subject of homemade vanilla "extracts" - "Real Talk; DIY Vanilla Extract is a Waste of Time and Money".
Matt
July 28, 2018
The reason bourbon tastes similar, is because it's barrel aged. The alcohol picks up the vanillin compounds from the wood. Bourbon vanilla is something completely different, however, as it comes from the Ile Bourbon (now Réunion).
Ann S.
January 19, 2018
You are aware that most vanilla is made with ethanol or something similar to vodka. Bourbon is not involved - in case you're thinking of bourbon vanilla, that's named for the region it was from, not for the alcohol.
Cynthia W.
January 19, 2018
I make my vanilla with Jim Beam...about 15 bourbon beans and 5 tahitian beans to a 1.75 litre bottle. Perfect melding of extract and alcohol substitution.
Meg
January 19, 2018
I’ve got vanilla extract made from beans and a some 10 year old Mt Gay rum I brought back from Barbados. So good! I have a friend who swears by making her own vanilla with Scotch.
Nikolaos T.
June 19, 2018
You make a good point. I cleaned the measuring spoon with my mouth and it did have a string resemblance to vodka more so than a rum flavor.
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