I usually put extra vanilla beans in the extract I buy, then they swell up a bit. I can cut them in half and squeeze out the insides from the cut end like it's coming out of a tube.
Have y'all seen the vanilla bean paste that they're selling now?
Vanilla Paste
Vanilla Bean Paste, Madagascar Bourbon Island Vanilla Bean Paste
Vanilla bean paste is a convenient, easy-to-use replacement for whole vanilla beans. Whole vanilla beans will dry out and become hard to use over time, while this vanilla bean paste will last indefinitely.
Since you can see the vanilla bean seeds, it adds a gourmet appearance, in addition to delicious flavor. Add this paste to homemade ice creams, custards, creme brulee, cakes, icings, etc. One tablespoon of vanilla bean paste is equal to one whole vanilla bean. Each four ounce jar contains 12 tablespoons of paste. Vanilla beans cost around $3 each (you do the math!).
Ingredients: sugar, water, vanilla extract, vanilla beans, gum tragacanth (a natural thickener).
Our pastry chef customers give this product a big thumbs up!
I have been making my vanilla extract this way for a few years, it is wonderful!!!!!!!!
You don't even have to use great vodka, even the cheap stuff will do and still be fantastic. I can make a pint of vanilla for under $10, and it lasts me a better part of a year.
I encourage anyone who bakes to try it. I get my beans at World Market, it is like $2.99 for 2 beans, they are nice and fresh and leathery. Penzys is another great place for beans. I think that it makes a big difference in my buttercreams. I use a tall vinegar/oil bottle that holds 2 cups of vodka, I got one with a little plastic cover for the spout, makes it really easy to dispense and it looks great on the counter!
Have y'all seen the vanilla bean paste that they're selling now?
Vanilla Paste
Vanilla Bean Paste, Madagascar Bourbon Island Vanilla Bean Paste
Vanilla bean paste is a convenient, easy-to-use replacement for whole vanilla beans. Whole vanilla beans will dry out and become hard to use over time, while this vanilla bean paste will last indefinitely.
Since you can see the vanilla bean seeds, it adds a gourmet appearance, in addition to delicious flavor. Add this paste to homemade ice creams, custards, creme brulee, cakes, icings, etc. One tablespoon of vanilla bean paste is equal to one whole vanilla bean. Each four ounce jar contains 12 tablespoons of paste. Vanilla beans cost around $3 each (you do the math!).
Ingredients: sugar, water, vanilla extract, vanilla beans, gum tragacanth (a natural thickener).
Our pastry chef customers give this product a big thumbs up!
This is the brand of vanilla extract I use. Just got a 32 oz. bottle from Surfas... that should keep me for a week or two.
I've bought the liquid vanilla extract from Williams Sonoma years back. It was about $9.00 back then for their largest bottle. Now it's what, about $25.00? Too expensive for me!!
And yes, I have made vanilla sugar on occasion.
But I think I'll try making the homemade vanilla just to see what it's like!! Could be cheaper than buying it in the supermarkets. Theirs, and yes that's the store brand, costs almost a whopping $12.00 now for a 4-oz bottle!!
But still, I wouldn't settle for less than pure vanilla extract! You'll notice it in your cakes and other deserts, and that immitation vanilla extract is just an inferior product. It won't work like the real stuff will!!
Try making vanilla ice cream with the vanilla beans' seeds. Scrumpious!!!
I've bought the liquid vanilla extract from Williams Sonoma years back. It was about $9.00 back then for their largest bottle. Now it's what, about $25.00? Too expensive for me!!
And yes, I have made vanilla sugar on occasion.
But I think I'll try making the homemade vanilla just to see what it's like!! Could be cheaper than buying it in the supermarkets. Theirs, and yes that's the store brand, costs almost a whopping $12.00 now for a 4-oz bottle!!
But still, I wouldn't settle for less than pure vanilla extract! You'll notice it in your cakes and other deserts, and that immitation vanilla extract is just an inferior product. It won't work like the real stuff will!!
Try making vanilla ice cream with the vanilla beans' seeds. Scrumpious!!!
If you don't have a local source for good beans, as I mentioned before Penzys has pretty good prices. Often in the grocery store you will only find a jar with two little shriveled up beans, if they rattle in the jar, they are too old, if they are supple and leathery they are still fresh. I prefer the easy to find Madagascar Vanilla beans to the Mexican beans, but they are both great.
This stuff will be as good if not better than the Nielsen Massey vanilla, which is the best.
Linear Mode
