Did you know you can make your own vanilla paste at home with just three simple ingredients? This homemade vanilla paste is rich, aromatic, and perfect for baking. Plus, it lasts for months in the fridge.
I thought making vanilla paste was much more difficult than it actually is. For a while, I was buying very expensive vanilla paste, but now that I’ve learned how to make it, I switch between paste and vanilla extract all the time because I know how to make both and I love them!
Read how to make vanilla extract at home.
This vanilla paste makes a beautiful and delicious housewarming or homemade gift that whoever you give it to will love.
What is Vanilla bean paste?
Vanilla bean paste is a thick, syrupy paste made from real vanilla beans, vanilla extract, and a natural thickener like gum, glycerin or syrup. It has a rich, intense vanilla flavor and contains visible specks of vanilla bean seeds, giving it the same look and taste as using whole vanilla beans.
It’s often used as a substitute for vanilla extract or vanilla beans in baking and cooking, offering the convenience of extract with the flavor depth of real vanilla beans.
One teaspoon of vanilla bean paste is roughly equivalent to one vanilla bean or one teaspoon of vanilla extract.
It’s great for recipes where you want to see the vanilla specks, like custards, ice cream, frostings, or cakes.
Why Make Your Own Vanilla Paste?
Store-bought vanilla paste is delicious, but it’s EXPENSIVE. Making it at home not only will save you money but also ensures you’re using pure, high-quality ingredients with no unnecessary additives. Plus, if you’re a vanilla lover like me, having homemade vanilla paste means your kitchen will smell like a bakery 24/7.
Vanilla Paste Recipe
This recipe makes about 6-8 ounces of vanilla paste.
Ingredients:
- 20 small vanilla beans
- 1/2 cup food grade vegetable glycerin
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Want to save this for later?
Send it to yourself now and try it out when you’re ready!
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Paste
1. Prep Your Vanilla Beans
Take your vanilla beans and chop them into small pieces. Get them small enough to blend easily. If you’ve been making your own vanilla extract, you can even use the beans from that!
2. Blend It All Together
Add the chopped vanilla beans, glycerin, and vanilla extract to a food processor. Blend on high until you get a smooth paste. You don’t want it too thick or too thin, just the perfect spoonable consistency.
3. Transfer the Vanilla Paste to a Mason Jar and Enjoy
Store your vanilla paste in a small airtight jar in the fridge. It should last you around six months!
Notes:
- Use it just like you would vanilla extract, only with way more flavor! Add a teaspoon to cookies, cakes, frostings, or even your morning coffee for a delicious vanilla kick.
- If your paste thickens too much in the fridge, you can stir in a tiny bit more glycerin to loosen it up.
Making your own vanilla paste is super easy and totally worth it. This DIY version is a game-changer. Give it a try and let me know what you make with it!
Homemade Vanilla Paste
Ingredients
- 20 small Vanilla beans
- 1/2 cup glycerin
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Cut up your vanilla beans into small pieces.
- Add the beans, glycerin, and vanilla extract to a food processor. Blend on high until it is a nice paste. You don’t want it to be too thick or too thin.
Notes
- You can use vanilla beans that have been in your vanilla extract or fresh ones.
- It usually will last around 6 months in the fridge.
