Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste – Baking Basic

Vanilla bean paste has a more concentrated vanilla flavor.  Making your own homemade vanilla bean paste is a simple, easy and effortless process that can save you money and give you the best quality of bean paste for all your baking needs. Add it to your baked good when you want to enhance the flavor of vanilla.

Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste – How to make Vanilla Bean Paste

Madagascar Vanilla Bean Single Grade A Prime Gourmet Bourbon Vanilla Beans (1 Bean)

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Vanilla Beans Tahitian Vanilla by Slofoodgroup Vanilla Tahitensis Premium Quality Vanilla Beans (5 each Tahitian Vanilla Beans)

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Mexican Vanilla Beans 1 Bean by OliveNation

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When should you use vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste or vanilla sugar (Save all three for later)

So far we have made a homemade vanilla extract, homemade vanilla bean paste, and homemade vanilla sugar, so I think it’s worth discussing this. Often we are confused as to when to use these right? The truth is there is more than one way to go with it. You can use them interchangeably and in combination too!

• Vanilla Extract – I use this in almost everything by default. Mostly because it’s what I have most in the house in good quantity. So any recipe that calls for vanilla a splash of vanilla. I must admit I love vanilla so I tend to be very generous with my homemade vanilla.
• Vanilla bean paste – this usually has a more concentrated flavor and as you can see the quantity you get from pulsing these in the food processor is really not much. A little goes a long way with this. So I use this in recipes that need a more concentrated flavor. For example, if I am making a vanilla cake where I want to really bring out the flavor of vanilla (as compared to a chocolate cake) I would use this bean paste. Similarly, if I’m making vanilla pastry cream or vanilla-based desserts like a vanilla bavarian cream as compared to a strawberry Bavarian cream. Does that make sense?
• Vanilla Sugar – I often use vanilla sugar in desserts not as much in my cakes. For example pies, tarts, creme brulee etc. These get a more defined flavor of vanilla in addition to the vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. I am known to use vanilla sugar in savory dishes such as my quiches and sauces just to help balance the acidity in there. Of course I most definitely always make my hot chocolate and drinks that call for sugar with vanilla sugar.

How to make Homemade Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Bean Paste, Vanilla Sugar

Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste – (Save/Pin for later)

Ingredients

• Vanilla Beans – 50 grams (about 8 to 10 beans)
• Water – 50 ml
• Sugar – 100 grams (1/2 cup)
• Corn Syrup – 2 tbsp

Method

• Split each vanilla bean in half down the middle lengthways to open the center seeds
• Scrape the center and roughly chop the beans into small pieces.
• In a heavy based saucepan add water, sugar, corn syrup and chopped vanilla beans
• Cook on medium-low until you get a thick syrup consistency
• Let cool slightly
• Then blend everything in a food processor until you get a smooth paste.
• Strain the paste thru a sieve using a firm spatula to drain as much of the vanilla paste as possible
• Pour into a mason jar, let cool completely before you close it.
• Store in a cool dry place in the pantry for up to a year.
• Use in any recipe that calls for Vanilla Bean Paste.

Substitute – You can use honey or agave syrup – 120 ml (1/2 cup) instead of making a sugar syrup. Then just grind the vanilla beans and honey to a smooth paste. Stain thru a sieve and save in an airtight mason jar for up to a year or more.

My Cheat – Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste

• I use the vanilla beans from my jar of vanilla extract that has been sitting in there for 4 months.
• In 4 months these beans become really soft but still have lots of flavors
• I place about 10 vanilla beans in a food processor with 1/2 cup honey until smooth.
• Strain and use a firm spatula to remove as much of the paste as I can.
• Store in a mason jar – this will last for a year or more.

Have you tried making your own Vanilla Extract yet?

it’s easy and so much more affordable (if you normally buy good quality vanilla extract)

Homemade Vanilla Extract – Baking Basics

A good quality vanilla extract can be expensive but making homemade vanilla extract is a simple, easy and effortless process that can not just you high quality

veenaazmanov.com

Why make vanilla sugar?

Vanilla sugar is great to have on hand for those times when you need to make those vanilla cookies or that vanilla cake that needs a good vanilla flavor without all the added color.

Homemade Vanilla Sugar – Baking Basics

Vanilla sugar can enhance the flavor of vanilla in baked goods, but it can be expensive. Homemade vanilla sugar is a simple, easy and effortless process that

veenaazmanov.com

Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste, How to make a vanilla bean paste.

Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste - Baking Basics

 Vanilla bean paste has a more concentrated vanilla flavor.  Making your own homemade vanilla bean paste is a simple, easy and effortless process that can save you money and give you the best quality of bean paste for all your baking needs. Add it to your baked good when you want to enhance the flavor of vanilla.

Print

Course Desserts

Cuisine French

Keyword Homemade vanilla bean paste

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 120 ml

Calories 291 kcal

Author Veena Azmanov

Ingredients - Choose (Metric or US Customary) below

• 10 beans Vanilla Beans
• 50 ml Water
• 100 grams Sugar
• 2 tbsp Corn Syrup

Metric - US customary

Instructions

1. Split each vanilla bean in half down the middle lengthways to open the center seeds
2. Scrape the center and roughly chop the beans into small pieces.
3. In a heavy based saucepan add water, sugar, corn syrup and chopped vanilla beans
4. Cook on medium-low until you get a thick syrup consistency
5. Let cool slightly
6. Then blend everything in a food processor until you get a smooth paste.
7. Strain the paste thru a sieve using a firm spatula to drain as much of the vanilla paste as possible
8. Pour into a mason jar, let cool completely before you close it.
9. Store in a cool dry place in the pantry for up to a year.
10. Use in any recipe that calls for Vanilla Bean Paste.
11. Substitute - You can use honey or agave syrup - 120 ml (1/2 cup) instead of making a sugar syrup. Then just grind the vanilla beans and honey to a smooth paste. Stain thru a sieve and save in an airtight mason jar for up to a year or more.

My Cheats - Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste

1. I use the vanilla beans from my jar of vanilla extract that has been sitting in there for 4 months.
2. In 4 months these beans become really soft but still have lots of flavors
3. I place about 10 vanilla beans in a food processor with 1/2 cup honey until smooth.
4. Strain and use a firm spatula to remove as much of the paste as I can.
5. Store in a mason jar - this will last for a year or more.

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste - Baking Basics

Amount Per Serving (219 grams)

Calories 291

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 0g 0%

Saturated Fat 0g 0%

Trans Fat 0g

Polyunsaturated Fat 0g

Monounsaturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 40mg 2%

Potassium 0mg 0%

Total Carbohydrates 60g 20%

Dietary Fiber 4.4g 18%

Sugars 36g

Protein 2g 4%

Vitamin A 0%

Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 0%

Iron 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Master the Basic and Dominate the Kitchen

One way to improve your cooking or baking skills is to get a grip on your basic recipes. Often it’s more easy and quicker than you think it is.
Simple things like making homemade caramel or butterscotch take five minutes but are so much better homemade.
Baking the perfect pie or pastry crust from scratch can make a huge difference to your homemade pies and desserts.
Did you know homemade buttermilk or condensed milk take less than 5 minutes as well? Yes!!
Also, see how to make homemade Vanilla Extract and homemade Vanilla Sugar
See some of my Basic Recipes with details or check out my Recipe Index for a list of all my recipes.