When to use vanilla paste instead of vanilla extractĪfter learning more about vanilla bean paste and vanilla extract, you may be asking yourself – is vanilla bean paste better than vanilla extract? The short answer is that it depends on what recipe you’re baking. If you are looking to add the gourmet appearance of vanilla bean seeds to your desserts without adding time and expense to your bake, vanilla bean paste is just what you’re looking for. Whole vanilla beans can also be used to create this effect, but they require more preparation time and can be more expensive. This bit of visual flair adds a level of elegance and gourmet feel to classic treats like crème brûlée, pastry cream, or French vanilla ice cream. Craving those creamy vanilla bean specks? Use vanilla bean paste.

It is best to use vanilla bean paste when you really want vanilla to be the star of the recipe. Our vanilla bean pastes are made using our high-quality vanilla extracts but include real vanilla seeds as well as a natural thickener to change the consistency. No matter which origin you choose, this liquid form of vanilla makes it easy to measure and add the classic flavor and aroma of vanilla to cakes, cookies, cocktails, smoothies, ice creams and more. Tahitian vanilla has fruity and flowery attributes. Mexican vanilla is known for its creamy and sweet notes, along with a hint of spice. For instance, vanilla from Madagascar has a creamy, sweet flavor. As a result, our vanilla extracts have a rich, full-bodied flavor that complements a wide variety of dishes, savory and sweet alike.Īs with wine, chocolate and coffee, the vanilla from each country we source from has its own distinctive flavor profile and characteristics due to the different climates, soils, curing methods and species of vanilla used.

We use a proprietary process to protect all the flavors, combining cane alcohol and vanilla beans in a slow, cold extraction process that preserves all of the complex flavor compounds found in the vanilla beans. Our pure vanilla extracts are crafted from hand-selected, high-quality vanilla beans grown all around the world. Whether you’ve never heard of vanilla paste or even if you’ve baked with it a few times, we are here to help break down the key differences so you can become a vanilla guru, just like us! However, there are some essential differences between vanilla extract and paste that every baker should learn so you can get the most out of every dessert you whip up. We introduced our Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste over 30 years ago and since then, it has become one of our customers’ favorite products.ĭon’t get us wrong – pure vanilla extract still deserves a prominent spot in every baker’s pantry due to the rich, complex flavor it holds, as well its flavor-enhancing properties. Chefs and home bakers alike have come to love the convenience of vanilla bean paste over scraping whole vanilla beans when flavoring cakes, cookies, ice creams and many other dishes. Vanilla bean paste is a viscous, sweet ingredient that combines the best qualities of pure vanilla extract and vanilla pods. Recently, a new form of vanilla has taken the baking world by storm, and for good reason. When to Use Vanilla Bean Paste and Pure Vanilla Extractįor many bakers, the joy of creating recipes from scratch is finding the best ingredients and including them in treats made for friends and loved ones.

Substitute for vanilla extract