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Can too much vanilla extract harm you?

Ingestion of vanilla extract is treated similarly to alcohol intoxication and can cause alcohol poisoning. The ethanol will cause central nervous system depression, which may lead to breathing difficulties. Intoxication can cause pupil dilation, flushed skin, digestion issues, and hypothermia.

Is a tablespoon of vanilla extract a lot?

This cake/cookie recipe calls for a tablespoon of vanilla extract. Isn’t that a lot? Usually it’s just one teaspoon. In the past few decades, pastry chefs have begun using a lot of vanilla extract in recipes.

How much vanilla extract can you drink?

The federal organization also requires that all extracts, including artificial extracts, contain a minimum of 35 percent alcohol. This means that for most vanilla extracts, four to five ounces should be enough to get a person drunk.

How much vanilla extract should you use?

How to Use: Add 1 to a few teaspoons of vanilla extract to your favorite sweet batters and custards before baking. While vanilla extract works in almost every recipe, it’s most ideal for cakes, brownies and cookies.

Is it safe to get drunk off vanilla extract?

The National Poison Control Center posted a warning on its website about the dangers of drinking vanilla extract, which contains the same type of alcohol found in beer, wine and hard liquor. Children who drink it could be at risk of alcohol poisoning, officials warn.

Do you have to be 21 to buy vanilla extract?

Vanilla extract has the same potency as a bottle of liquor, and it can be purchased by anyone of any age.

Is pure vanilla extract good for you?

Using vanilla as a sugar substitute also can reduce high blood glucose levels and help you lead a more heart-healthy lifestyle. The alcohol in vanilla extract can numb some toothache pain, while its antioxidants may provide healing effects.

Why do alcoholics drink vanilla extract?

Mouthwash and vanilla extract could be held behind the counter at shops because alcoholics are using them to get drunk. Two household essentials could be stocked behind the counter in the near future, to prevent drinkers using them to get intoxicated.

Is it safe to drink vanilla extract in coffee?

Vanilla has also been proven to relieve stomach aches and digestive issues, reduce joint pain, and relieve stress. Serve: Add a few drops of pure extract to your cup or pot of coffee. You can also add a vanilla bean to your coffee grounds so the flavor infuses before you brew.

Why is vanilla extract alcoholic?

Queen Vanilla extracts are made by combining pure vanilla beans with a mixture of alcohol (sugar cane-derived ethanol) and water. This allows the flavour compounds from the pure vanilla bean to infuse into the alcohol/water mixture, which then forms the pure vanilla extract.

Is pure vanilla the same as vanilla extract?

Vanilla Extract: What’s the Difference? Vanilla flavoring uses artificial ingredients and additives like synthetic vanillin, corn syrup, and lignin, an ingredient typically extracted from wood pulp. By contrast, pure vanilla extract uses only two ingredients: real vanilla beans and alcohol.

Is vanilla extract made with vodka?

80 proof Alcohol: Vanilla extract is most commonly made from vodka, but you can use bourbon, brandy, or rum instead. I usually use vodka, but the one bottle of bourbon vanilla I made 7 months ago is DIVINE. No need to splurge on expensive alcohol.

What does vanilla extract do?

The role of vanilla in sweet baked goods is like the role of salt on the savory side: it enhances all the other flavors in the recipe. Without it, cookies and cakes tend to taste flat and bland. Forget to add the vanilla once, and you’ll probably never do it again!

Is vanilla extract healthy?

Using vanilla as a sugar substitute also can reduce high blood glucose levels and help you lead a more heart-healthy lifestyle. The alcohol in vanilla extract can numb some toothache pain, while its antioxidants may provide healing effects.

Is it safe to drink vanilla extract in coffee?

Vanilla has also been proven to relieve stomach aches and digestive issues, reduce joint pain, and relieve stress. Serve: Add a few drops of pure extract to your cup or pot of coffee. You can also add a vanilla bean to your coffee grounds so the flavor infuses before you brew.


Putting Too Much Vanilla Extract In My Drink By Accident #Shorts
Putting Too Much Vanilla Extract In My Drink By Accident #Shorts


How Much Vanilla Extract Is Too Much? (Answered) – Miss Vickie

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How Much Vanilla Extract Is Too Much? (Answered) - Miss Vickie
How Much Vanilla Extract Is Too Much? (Answered) – Miss Vickie

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Kids Are Getting Drunk Off Vanilla Extract And Here’s What Parents Need to Know Kids Activities Blog

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Kids Are Getting Drunk Off Vanilla Extract

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Vanilla: Where it Comes From and How to Use It

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From vanilla beans to vanilla extracts our guide to vanilla gets you in the know on one of the world’s most expensive seasonings

Where Does Vanilla Come From

What Makes Vanilla Taste and Smell So Distinctive

The Reason Real Vanilla Is Expensive

Major Varieties of Vanilla Bean

What Are Vanilla Beans

How to Buy and Use Vanilla Beans

Best Recipes for Whole Vanilla Beans

Don’t Throw Away the Vanilla Hull!

What Is Vanilla Bean Paste

A Vanilla Extract Primer

The Scoop on Imitation Vanilla

Which Vanilla Extract to Buy

Is Homemade Vanilla Worth It

More Fun Vanilla Faqs!

Excited About Vanilla Make These Recipes!

Vanilla: Where it Comes From and How to Use It
Vanilla: Where it Comes From and How to Use It

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How to Use Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Beans and Vanilla Paste | Cooking School | Food Network

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Vanilla Extract

McCormick All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract

Vanilla Beans

Great Value Organic Vanilla Bean

Vanilla Bean Paste

Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Bean Paste

A Note About Conversion

Other Vanilla Flavoring Products

Must-Try Vanilla Recipes

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How to Use Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Beans and Vanilla Paste | Cooking School | Food Network
How to Use Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Beans and Vanilla Paste | Cooking School | Food Network

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What happens if you add too much vanilla extract?

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Drinking Vanilla Extract: A “Too Much of a Good Thing” DWI

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Added Too Much Vanilla? Here Are Some Fixes – SPICEography

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How Much Vanilla Extract Is Too Much? (Answered)

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When cooking certain recipes, you will notice vanilla extract which is a very common ingredient used for adding flavor. This is a solution made by using vanilla pods in a solution of water and ethanol.

While only a small quantity of the product is required, you will notice that most baking items require this. These include cakes, brownies, cookies, and even cupcakes. If you enjoy making puddings, custards, and ice creams then these also require vanilla extract.

Although, as mentioned above, the quantity required for this ingredient can be quite important. If you accidentally use too much of this product then this can ruin your entire dish. Considering this, it is essential that you under how much vanilla is too much for your dish. Luckily, this can be done by understanding how much of the product is required in a single serving.

Similarly, we have had a lot of users ask questions about how they are supposed to know the quantity of vanilla extract that they should add to a recipe. If you are also someone who is wondering the same thing, then be sure to keep on reading!

How Much Vanilla Extract Is Too Much?

Before you understand how much vanilla extract is too much, it is essential that you know why using a lot of it can be dangerous. Vanilla extracts can contain about 35% alcohol depending on what brand you decide to purchase it from. Considering this, it is essential that you only use the quantity required by your dish when making them. Even 4 to 5 ounces of vanilla extract can make you drunk.

However, there are tons of other conditions that you have to keep in mind as well that can prevent this. These include the weight of a person, gender, and tolerance to alcohol. Keeping the information provided above in mind, you should note that drinking too much vanilla extract can not only make you drunk but can also be quite unhealthy.

Most baking recipes will require one teaspoon or a tablespoon of vanilla extract per dish. This might vary slightly depending on the serving size but if you are following a recipe then there should be no problems. Finally, one last thing to note is that using too much vanilla extract can also ruin the liquid to solid ratio of your dishes. This is important when baking as the dough might not rise properly.

However, if you have no problems with a vanilla extract containing alcohol then you can only use an extra spoon of it. This will only give your dish a stronger vanilla flavor and the consistency will be fine as long as you keep a check over it. When it comes to most bakeries and chefs, you will notice that they only use small quantities that will give their dish a vanilla flavor. There is no need to use more vanilla extract than that as it will just waste the product.

Can You Substitute Vanilla Extract?

In case you are thinking to substitute vanilla extract, you’d be surprised to know that there are definitely a number of things that you can substitute the ingredient with.

Some common things that you can safely use as an alternative when it comes to substituting are vanilla paste, vanilla sugar, almond extract, honey, and even maple syrup.

Though you should keep in mind that each one of these can only be used when you are in absolute need of an alternative. The quantity of these items may also vary depending on the recipe inside which you are planning to put it.

One last thing to note is that the taste might slightly vary as maple syrup or honey doesn’t really taste similar to a vanilla extract.

The Bottom Line:

How much vanilla extract is too much? This is a very common question that most beginners have when they start using the ingredient for the first time. Through the article, we have managed to explain everything that you will need to know in order to learn all about adding the extract in your recipe!

Kids Are Getting Drunk Off Vanilla Extract And Here’s What Parents Need to Know

Updated: This article has been updated in April 2020 due to the increase in search (over 1000%) on this topic seen this month as we are stuck at home and out of school. Unfortunately drinking vanilla extract for a buzz is a trend that is causing families issues with underage drinking and intoxication.

When I first learned of this problem, my initial question was…Can you get drunk off of vanilla extract?

The answer for parents is a big YES. The days are over when we only had to worry about under age drinking from kids getting their hands on alcohol from an unlocked cabinet or from obtaining it through a friend because they are going to the pantry and getting vanilla extract drunk.

Kids Are Getting Drunk Off Vanilla Extract

Yes, you read that right, they are drinking vanilla extract and are getting drunk.

The craziest part – it’s legal and it’s likely something you have right in your kitchen cupboard. It is one of the appeals of this readily available alcohol.

Unfortunately, kids are coming up with new ways to get a “buzz” and this is just one way they are doing it.

How does it work exactly?

Apparently, kids are going to the grocery store and heading down the baking isle to buy a small bottle of bourbon vanilla extract.

Seems harmless enough, right?

Last year there were many news stories about students sneaking into school with this undercover alcohol. The issue is that the kids are then mixing this bottle of vanilla extract into something such as coffee, drinking it, and then heading to school where they are buzzed.

Now kids are drinking it at home because it is accessible and might be easier to sneak because it isn’t in a locked alcohol closet.

How Much Alcohol is in Vanilla?

Pure vanilla extract is 70 proof and is just a little less than a bottle of vodka. The FDA standards require pure vanilla extract contain a minimum of 35% alcohol.

Getting intoxicated on vanilla is as easy as with any other liquor.

How Much Vanilla Extract Does it Take to Get Drunk?

Because the alcohol level is about the same as most hard alcohol, a couple of shots would do the trick. Obviously tolerance to alcohol and body weight are going to be different for different teens.

While this started at a high school in Atlanta, GA we all know how these types of things spread like wildfire especially once they make their way to social media and parents have to know.

Parents have to know of this new way kids are getting buzzed. They also should know that it could mean a trip to the emergency room.

In one case in Georgia, a student at Grady High School ended up drunk and had to go to the emergency room.

Why is Vanilla Extract Dangerous?

Chris Thomas, a drug counselor with the Wayne County Mental Health Department, told The Wayne Times that drinking vanilla extract is similar to drinking a strong vanilla flavored cough medicine.

Ingestion of vanilla extract is treated similarly to alcohol intoxication and can cause alcohol poisoning. The ethanol will cause central nervous system depression, which may lead to breathing difficulties. Intoxication can cause pupil dilation, flushed skin, digestion issues, and hypothermia.

Drinking Peppermint Extract or Lemon Extract

If you think vanilla extract is harmful, you should know that pure peppermint extract contains 89% alcohol and pure lemon extract is 83%. Both these extracts can cause intoxication.

It’s best that you talk to your teens and inform them that this is dangerous and is not worth being peer pressured into trying.

Does Drinking Vanilla Extract Cause a Hangover?

Because it has the same amount of alcohol as hard liquor like run or vodka, yes…hangovers happen.

What Can be Done to Prevent Getting Drunk on Vanilla Extract

It may also be wise to lock up the vanilla extract in your home for the time being. I am sure kids will come up with some other way to try to get buzzed but in the meantime, we can try to nip this in the bud.

Is Drinking Pure Vanilla Extract More Expensive?

Since vanilla is triple the price of most alcohol, it is often out of reach for most teen’s budget. But be aware it is much more accessible which is the appeal.

Resources for Parents from Kids Activities Blog

With everyone stuck at home during the pandemic, we have been working day and night to create and curate some amazing resources to help.

Vanilla: Where it Comes From and How to Use It

We add vanilla to sweets and baked goods without even thinking about it. Sugar cookies, yellow cake, and ice cream would not be the same without that all-important teaspoon of aromatic brown extract.

But its usefulness is not limited to dessert. Vanilla has its own character, and it serves as a valuable flavor lifter. It can soften sharp flavors and invigorate earthy ones.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes vanilla so special, or how you can get the most from the vanilla you buy, we have answers for you! A few facts here may shock you (seriously) but don’t fret: It’s all G-rated, and after reading this, you’ll never think of vanilla as tame again!

Where Does Vanilla Come From?

Vanilla begins its life as the seed pod of the climbing orchid, one of the three edible vanilla orchid species. Vanilla orchids are native to Mexico; the Aztecs developed the lengthy process of curing and drying that transforms the smooth, blasé green seed pods into perfumed, shriveled black “beans” (not being legumes, vanilla beans are technically a fruit).

Veracruz is the heart of Mexico’s vanilla industry today. But that industry is tiny—the majority of world production now is in Madagascar, the massive island nation off Africa’s southeast coast.

Elise Bauer

What Makes Vanilla Taste and Smell So Distinctive?

The chemical compound vanillin is chiefly responsible for vanilla’s personality; there’s simply nothing else like it. Vanillin can be produced by artificial means, but when you buy imitation vanilla extract, that’s all you get: vanillin. Therefore, imitation vanilla extract can smell and taste one-dimensional.

But natural vanilla contains over 250 other compounds that contribute to its flavor and aroma. At harvest time, vanilla beans are smooth and green, with none of their trademark aroma, because there’s no vanillin in them yet!

The Reason Real Vanilla Is Expensive

In short, labor. It takes a lot of time to cultivate and process vanilla, and it’s not the sort of crop that takes to industrial planting. Vanilla thrives best on small farms in a narrow band in the tropics. A newly planted vine won’t even produce a flower until three years have passed. Vanilla orchids bloom for less than a day, and to ensure a good yield, the flowers are pollinated by hand. Curing and drying the beans takes six to nine months.

Unstable climates in Madagascar—political and natural—led to record-high prices in 2017 and 2018. Combined with rising global demand for vanilla in processed foods, vanilla farmers and producers were put in a tricky spot.

Vanilla beans grown in Madagascar often have a little tattoo on them, like how ranchers brand cattle. It’s pricked in while the bean is still green to make a subtle pattern of pock marks on the cured bean. This is to deter vanilla bean thieves. That’s how valuable and time-consuming vanilla farming is. Can you think of another food plant that gets branded?

Until we have tropical forest biodomes orbiting in space, there’s simply not enough real vanilla to meet the global demand for it. The majority of vanilla-flavored processed foods we eat are made with imitation vanilla. The ice cream and beverage industries are two big users. Even the black specks in many mass-market vanilla ice creams (my grandfather used to call them “fly specks”) are synthetic.

Emma Christensen

Major Varieties of Vanilla Bean

Bourbon Vanilla: This, the more common of the two species of commercially grown vanilla, has nothing to do with the bourbon you drink. Bourbon vanilla was named after Ile de Bourbon (now Reunion Island), off the coast of Madagascar. Today, all vanilla grown in Madagascar is Bourbon. It has a classic vanilla aroma, with tobacco and woody notes.

This, the more common of the two species of commercially grown vanilla, has nothing to do with the bourbon you drink. Bourbon vanilla was named after Ile de Bourbon (now Reunion Island), off the coast of Madagascar. Today, all vanilla grown in Madagascar is Bourbon. It has a classic vanilla aroma, with tobacco and woody notes. Tahitian Vanilla: The less-common species, Tahitian vanilla, originated from Mexican stock. It was crossbred in the 1700s to become its own species and then planted in Tahiti beginning in 1789. You’re unlikely to see Tahitian vanilla beans unless you’re ordering from a specialty retailer. They are plumper and softer than Bourbon vanilla beans, and they don’t have as many seeds. Their aroma is slightly floral, and they work very well in fruit dishes (I love them with quince).

The less-common species, Tahitian vanilla, originated from Mexican stock. It was crossbred in the 1700s to become its own species and then planted in Tahiti beginning in 1789. You’re unlikely to see Tahitian vanilla beans unless you’re ordering from a specialty retailer. They are plumper and softer than Bourbon vanilla beans, and they don’t have as many seeds. Their aroma is slightly floral, and they work very well in fruit dishes (I love them with quince). Mexican Vanilla: Until the late 1800s, Mexico had a monopoly on vanilla bean production. Today, Mexico produces some of the world’s rarest and most sought-after vanilla beans. Mexican vanilla extract has a bad rap, because a lot of what we see on the market is synthetic.

If you see Mexican vanilla extract that’s quite cheap, it’s best to avoid it. Pure vanilla extract from Mexico, available through specialty retailers, tends to be more expensive than the run-of-the-mill grocery store vanilla.

Alison Bickel

What Are Vanilla Beans?

Whole vanilla beans are the entire cured and dried seed pod. Vanilla extract makes food sing, but vanilla beans make it really pop. Exquisite and expensive, vanilla beans are not an everyday ingredient for most of us. Do right by them, and they will do right by you.

How to Buy and Use Vanilla Beans

When shopping for vanilla beans, look for ones that are supple, not split or withered. Keep them loosely wrapped in an airtight container and store in a cool, dry spot. They will last indefinitely, but after about a year, their flavor dulls, and they lose pliability. Don’t freeze or refrigerate the beans—it makes them withered and brittle.

You don’t need to use the whole bean at once. If a recipe calls for half a bean, cut it in half crosswise, then split the bean half lengthwise. This keeps your unused half from drying out.

Best Recipes for Whole Vanilla Beans

Vanilla beans communicate their flavor best in recipes that have a lot of moisture—think ice creams, custards, puddings, jams and jellies, frostings, syrups, and sauces. Recipes with a lot of flour, like cookies and cakes, tend to mute vanilla beans. If vanilla beans were 50 cents a pop, this wouldn’t be a big deal, but since you’re likely paying up to $15 per bean, you probably want to get the most bang for your buck.

Try vanilla bean in these recipes!

French vanilla ice cream, rich and custardy, is made with real vanilla beans.

These double vanilla cupcakes have vanilla beans in the batter and the frosting.

Don’t Throw Away the Vanilla Hull!

A lot of chef-y recipes call for scraping the seeds from a vanilla bean pod, then discarding the hull. This is a waste! The hulls have a ton of flavor—more than the seeds, in fact. You can save those hulls for steeping in liquid to infuse vanilla bean’s mystique in future recipes.

I’m so bonkers over vanilla beans, I even save spent hulls. I rinse them off, let them air-dry, then stockpile them until I have enough to pulverize in my spice grinder. These ground, spent vanilla beans are not nearly as potent as new ones, but they are a fantastic addition to all sorts of things when you want subtle vanilla bean flavor: preserves, sauces, chocolate chip cookies. I even put a quarter teaspoon in chili or ragouts to round them out a little!

Alison Bickel

What Is Vanilla Bean Paste?

You may have seen jars of vanilla bean paste, which promises the flavor of vanilla beans in an easy-to-measure paste. Inside the jar is a gelatinous brown goo made of vanilla bean seeds and ground pods in a thickener vehicle like gum tragacanth or xantham gum.

I’m a big fan of vanilla bean paste. It delivers nearly the same potency of a freshly halved and scraped pod. The label of the jar should offer substitution amounts, which will vary depending on the paste’s concentration.

Alison Bickel

A Vanilla Extract Primer

Early American baking recipes often didn’t call for vanilla extract. Why? They didn’t have it! Vanilla extract only became a household staple in the late 1800s, when improvements in vanilla orchid pollination made vanilla much more affordable.

Now we add it to everything … but what is vanilla extract? Let’s look at each variety.

1. Pure Vanilla Extract

The FDA has very specific definitions for vanilla extract: a minimum of 13.35 ounces of vanilla beans per gallon of liquid containing a minimum of 35% alcohol to 65% water.

Producers macerate or percolate chopped vanilla beans in water and alcohol. The beans can be all from one region, or a proprietary blend. Caramel color, sugar, and/or corn syrup are sometimes added, though it does not have to say so on the label. Some companies don’t add any sugar, and some add up to 30 percent.

Many spice and extract companies offer different vanilla extract blends: a cookie vanilla and an all-purpose vanilla. It’s completely fine to be a one-extract household, but it you’re curious, compare a few different blends or brands. A vanilla extract problem is less of a problem than a shoe problem. Vanilla takes up less space; it smells better, and it keeps for ages. You’ll work your way through it eventually.

2. Imitation Vanilla Extract

Vanillin, the main flavor and aroma compound in vanilla, was first synthesized in 1874 by two German chemists who isolated it from pine bark.

Vanillin can be made from a number of sources, and most imitation vanilla today is derived from lignin (an organic polymer found in wood and bark) or creosote. Real vanilla gets its flavor from dozens and dozens of organic components. Imitation vanilla? Just one, and that’s vanillin. Thus, imitation vanilla can come across as one-dimensional.

3. Clear Vanilla Flavoring

Pure vanilla extract is brown, so any clear vanilla extract is imitation, and should say so on the label. Cake decorators use it to keep frostings and fillings as white as possible. Interestingly enough, clear vanilla flavor is just imitation vanilla with no caramel color or dyes.

Cindy Rahe

The Scoop on Imitation Vanilla

Here’s the news that will break your heart: Tasted side-by-side, there’s surprisingly little difference in recipes made with imitation vanilla extract versus the real stuff.

If you don’t believe me, try it yourself. Make a batch of sugar cookie dough, and divide it in two. Flavor half with imitation vanilla extract, the other with real vanilla extract. After baking, if you can tell the difference in a blind taste test, I’ll pay you $100.

Well, maybe I’ll just pay you $1, because there is a difference. Imitation vanilla has that telltale “cheap vanilla ice cream” taste. Not awful, but not fully enticing. The less flour in a recipe, the more apparent it is. You can get away with imitation vanilla more in cake or cookies than pudding or ice cream.

Which Vanilla Extract to Buy?

It’s up to you. If you want to save some money, get the fake stuff. Unless you make a loud announcement before handing out your baking, no one will know the difference.

I buy pure vanilla extract, because I know some of my money is supporting tiny farms in developing countries. A lot of those growers are women. Real vanilla is a luxury you can—and should—feel good about. Think about the story and history summed up in every bottle! It’s amazing.

Alison Conklin

Is Homemade Vanilla Worth It?

Homemade vanilla is a fun project, but it will never measure up to the commercially produced extract. Given current vanilla bean prices, it can be more expensive to buy the ingredients than to just get a giant bottle of decent extract.

Makers of high-quality commercial vanilla extract use higher proportions of beans to liquid, employ time-tested proprietary extraction methods, and have access to the best beans in the industry, because they have buying power. So, in my opinion, commercial vanilla extract is a superior ingredient.

I know, I’m such a party pooper! If you do want to make your own vanilla extract, you’ll have the immensely pleasurable experience of handling the beans and enjoying their fragrance. It’s very much about the process, and there’s something to be said for that.

Curious? We have very clear instructions for making your own extract here.

More Fun Vanilla Faqs!

I’m out of vanilla! Can I make this (cake/cookie/frosting/etc.)?

Probably. For centuries, vanilla didn’t appear in desserts, because the Western world didn’t yet know it existed. Sometimes I omit it from recipes on purpose, especially if it’s a deeply chocolate-y recipe or one that’s full of warming spices, so I can focus on those ingredients. That said, the plainer the recipe, the more you’ll notice the missing vanilla.

This cake/cookie recipe calls for a tablespoon of vanilla extract. Isn’t that a lot? Usually it’s just one teaspoon.

In the past few decades, pastry chefs have begun using a lot of vanilla extract in recipes. It gives them a noticeable depth. Give that tablespoon of extract a shot! We think you’ll love the results.

My mom told me you can measure vanilla extract using the bottle’s cap—one capful is a teaspoon.

Wow, do we have the same mom?! This is a very adorable myth, but not all caps are created equal. When accuracy counts, get your measuring spoons.

I read that imitation vanilla is made from beaver’s anal glands and coal.

Some imitation vanilla is made from vanillin derived from coal tar. Sounds creepy, right? But it won’t make you sick. In scientific terms, the source of molecules is irrelevant; once the molecules have been isolated, the vanillin should be quite pure. But if this makes you steamed, there’s a solution: Buy real vanilla.

No vanilla whatsoever is made from any part of beavers. There truly is a flavoring compound made from beaver gland secretions, but it’s not vanillin, and therefore not used in imitation vanilla. If it were, it would probably be even more expensive than real vanilla. If there’s one thing harder to get than orchid seed pods, it’s beaver secretions.

Is vanilla an aphrodisiac?

Some studies have said yes. Why not try a recipe below and see for yourself?

Excited About Vanilla? Make These Recipes!

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