10 Best Vanilla Extract Substitutes and How to Make Vanilla Extract at Home

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If you’ve ever reached into your pantry for vanilla extract mid way through a recipe only to find you’ve run out, I have 10 easy vanilla extract substitutes and a simple way you can make your own at home!

Mmm… vanilla. You can find this delicious flavor in all kinds of desserts and baked goods, but also in breakfast treats like pancakes, waffles, milkshakes, french toast and in savory recipes too! I even add it to my oatmeal!

I usually buy pure vanilla extract from the store, but sometimes when I’m baking or cooking I’ll end up reaching into my cabinet to discover I’m all out of vanilla! Luckily, there are tons of options for super easy vanilla extract substitutes that you likely will have on hand if you find yourself in a baking dilemma without any vanilla extract!

Additionally, you can always make vanilla extract at home, because it’s super simple!

All you need is 8 vanilla beans and Vodka. It is easy to make, but just takes a little patience because it has to sit for at least 1 month to infuse.

So the next time you run out of vanilla, try one of these 10 easy vanilla extract substitutes – and in the meantime start making your own homemade vanilla extract so you always have some on hand in the future!

What Is Vanilla Extract?

Vanilla extract is made by soaking whole vanilla bean pods in alcohol (typically vodka). The rich flavor of the extract comes from the seeds within the pods – they contain a component called vanillin, which is where all the flavor comes from! It has an intense, sweet, aromatic flavor and is a common ingredient used in baking.

Do Vanilla Extract Substitutes Really Work?

Absolutely! If you don’t have vanilla extract, the good news is, depending on what you’re making a variety of different substitutes could be a good option. You may need to substitute for vanilla extract because you’re looking for an alcohol free option, or you’ve simply run out. Either way, this guide will help you find the perfect vanilla extract substitute for all of your cooking and baking needs.

10 Easy Vanilla Extract Substitute Options

All of these options can be great vanilla extract substitutes – so I recommend using whatever you have on hand. Keep in mind you won’t always be able to use equal amounts of the replacement as you would vanilla extract depending on the recipe and which of these options you choose.

1. Vanilla Paste or Fresh Vanilla Bean Pods

This might be the best vanilla extract substitute you can use, if you have vanilla beans on hand, since it has the exact same flavor as vanilla extract and won’t change the intended flavor of your recipe. If you’re using vanilla bean paste, you can use it as a 1:1 vanilla substitute. If you’re using fresh vanilla bean, use the seeds from half of a vanilla bean for each teaspoon of vanilla extract a recipe calls for.

2. Vanilla Powder

Vanilla powder has a stronger more pronounced flavor than vanilla extract. It is made from grinding up vanilla beans into a fine powder. In terms of the amount of vanilla powder to use, use half as much as the recipe calls. If a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, use 1/2 a teaspoon of vanilla powder. Vanilla powder might be the second best substitute for vanilla extract since it comes from vanilla beans.

3. Pure Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is a great substitute for vanilla extract. You can use an equal amount of maple syrup as you would vanilla (1:1 replacement). Since maple syrup has a sweet flavor and vanilla extract does not, you may want to slightly reduce the sugar in your recipe to balance the sweetness. You can also try maple extract which will have a much smaller amount of sugar than maple syrup.

4. Honey

You can use honey the same way you’d use maple syrup in place of the vanilla extract in a recipe. You’d use it as a 1:1 replacement for the amount of vanilla extract a recipe calls for!

Honey similarly to maple syrup can also be a good substitute for vanilla extract. You can sub 1:1 in a baking recipe. Since honey is sweet you will want to reduce the sugar to balance the sweetness.

5. Rum, Brandy, Bourbon or Vanilla Liqueur

Rum, brandy, and bourbon all make a great excellent vanilla extract replacement because they have a slightly sweet aftertaste. When making your own vanilla extract you soak the vanilla beans with vodka, so having an alcohol substitute works well in baking recipes. You can use a 1:1 substitute.

Additionally, since alcohol doesn’t really go bad, you could just keep some vanilla-flavored liqueur in your liquor cabinet since vanilla flavored liqueur has a similar flavor profile to vanilla extract in baking recipes! You can also use it as a 1:1 substitute.

6. Almond Extract

If you have almond extract on hand, this can be a great alternative to real vanilla extract. It adds a nice flavor to baking recipes but will provide a slight nutty flavor rather than vanilla flavor to your sweet recipes. I think it gives a really nice depth of flavor. 

7. Vanilla Essence

Vanilla essence is made from synthetic vanilla (artificial vanilla) instead of the natural vanilla bean that vanilla extract is made from. Therefore, the vanilla taste is not as pronounced. If you use vanilla essence you will need to use twice as much essence. If a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon vanilla extract use 2 teaspoons of vanilla essence in place of vanilla extract.

8. Vanilla Flavored Plant Based Milk

It might surprise you to learn that plant based milk with vanilla flavoring makes an excellent vanilla extract alternative! Unsweetened vanilla almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk all work well to replace vanilla extract. You can substitute it in a 1:1 ratio (so if a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, use 1 tsp of milk as a substitute).

I haven’t tried making baked goods with vanilla milk (like regular milk infused with vanilla syrup), but I’d imagine that would work as well. But, if you’re making a milkshake or smoothie that calls for vanilla extract, you can use vanilla milk or even vanilla ice cream instead!

9. Instant Coffee or Espresso Powder

This vanilla substitute works the best in chocolate recipes as it brings out the flavor of the chocolate even more! It would also work in savory dishes. You can just add a pinch – you don’t need to do a 1:1 substitute. A little goes a long way!

10. Other Spices or Citrus Zest

If vanilla is isn’t the main ingredient in the recipe (like in a pecan pie, chocolate cake, or other baked good vs. something like vanilla ice cream or vanilla pound cake), you can easily substitute warm spices or citrus zest for to add depth of flavor. Try sweet spices like cinnamon, cardamom, or nutmeg. Pumpkin pie spice would probably also work. Alternatively, add some lemon, lime or orange zest! You don’t need a lot here – try a pinch or two and that should be enough.

Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe

This is a super easy, step by step process for how to make vanilla extract at home! You just need two ingredients, both of which can be easily found at your local grocery store: vanilla beans and plain vodka!

Step 1: Split the vanilla pods in half lengthwise.

Step 2: Place the vanilla beans in a jar and cover with alcohol, making sure they are completely submerged.

Step 3: Cover the jar and give it a shake.

Step 4: Infuse for at least one month (2 months is great for a stronger flavor) in a cool dark place, shaking it from time to time.

Step 5: Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth when you are ready to pour it into bottles.

FAQs

Tips for Making Homemade Vanilla Extract

• Let the beans infuse for at least one month. For best results and an even stronger flavor, wait a few months. Vanilla extract is like wine – the flavor improves with age.
• There’s no need to use top-shelf alcohol. An inexpensive 80% proof will work fine.
• Store vanilla extract in a cool, dark place.
• Feel free to infuse your vanilla with any other flavor extracts you like! Some of our favorites include: peppermint extract, orange extract, lemon extract, and almond extract.
• As for what type of whole vanilla beans to use — pretty much any type works! You can even blend different varieties of beans to get a more complex flavor.
• Use your vanilla extract in a variety of recipes – not just for baking! Vanilla is a great ingredient to mix into cocktails, to use in grill marinades, to add to savory sauces (BBQ sauce, tomato sauce, etc), to add to coffee or even smoothies!

More Recipes That Use Vanilla Extract!

• Healthier Red Velvet Cupcakes
• Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
• Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Vegan Vanilla Pudding
• Ginger Snap Cookies

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