One of the most versatile ingredients in baking, vanilla extract is essential for the flavor of any dessert. Vanilla extract is made from water-soluble alcohol, vanilla beans, and pure vegetable glycerin. The extract comes in two different varieties: double-strength and regular strength. Double-strength extract has twice as much vanilla bean content as regular extract.
Double-strength or Regular Strength?
Vanilla Extract always should be labeled to indicate the type of product it is because it can make a big impact on what you are making. I prefer to bake with double-strength vanilla extract, so this is the kind I buy. The benefit of double-strength extracts are that they produce a more intense and flavorful baked treat.
If you don’t have double-strength, regular strength works well too. Regular strength is just as delicious – it just doesn’t have as much vanilla flavor. You also can use this kind for cooking and for flavoring sauces, smoothies and other foods. This is the kind I grew up using and get a nostalgic kick from using regular strength! Nowadays, you can use either in recipes!
TIP: When baking with vanilla extract always refrigerate it after you open it. It has a shelf life of about one year.
Vanilla Extract Ingredients
Just like all extracts, vanilla extract contain twice as much vanilla flavor compared to unsweetened vanilla (which is basically just pure vanilla extract in water). Most recipes will call for anywhere from 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. The amount you use will depend on the recipe, your personal taste and how potent you want the final product to be.
Vanilla Extract is made up of water-soluble alcohol containing 35% alcohol and pure vegetable glycerin. Water-soluble alcohol can vary in type – some products are made with corn-derived alcohol and some are made with grapes-derived alcohols.
To make vanilla extract, vanilla beans are steeped in water-soluble alcohol and pure vegetable glycerin and then placed into a wooden barrel. The barrel is then sealed, stacked on top of each other and stored for at least six months.
Vanilla Extract also contains natural vanillin (vanilla’s main flavor compound) which is an organic aromatic compound that is produced from lignin found in wood pulp. It has been used as an artificial flavor since the mid 1800s but it wasn’t until the 1940s that scientists developed a method of synthesizing vanillin from eugenol.
Vanilla Extract Nutrition Information
Vanilla extracts are high in calories because they’re composed of sucrose. One teaspoon of pure extract has 48 calories, 3 grams of sugar and 8 grams of carbs. The sweetness from the sucrose is masked by the alcohol content, so a tsp. will be very sweet in flavor but not so much that you can’t use it without diluting it with other sugars or liquids. Keep this in mind when using vanilla extract for cooking because you could end up adding too much sugar to your dish and need to adjust for more natural sweetness.
TIP: PROTEIN RATING: This ‘vanilla extract’ is a very concentrated form of pure vanilla flavor. It contains 35% alcohol and has a high glycerin content (8g) but it’s not meant to be used as protein in shakes. Protein is more beneficial when it comes from foods like, egg whites, whey protein, fish and organic dairy products from grass fed cows.
Choosing Vanilla Beans
Organic vanilla beans are the best choice for vanilla extract because they contain less sugar and more natural flavor. Some varieties contain less than 1% sugar whereas one bean can contain up to 40% sugar – a lot of sugar for little flavor! When looking for vanilla beans, look for fresh pods that are plump and in good condition. The beans inside the pod should be pliable and shiny. Whole vanilla beans can last up to four years when stored properly.
As mentioned above, the vanilla bean is pure edible. After cooking or baking with the pods you can rinse them off, soak them in rum and let them dry for a fun party treat! You can also add them to a jar of sugar for an instant flavor boost.
TIP: When using vanilla beans avoid cutting too deeply as it will expose more of its internal fat (which is where the seeds are) – this will make your final product taste oily/greasy and decrease the potency of flavor.
Which brands of vanilla extract are gluten-free?
If you’re looking for gluten-free vanilla extract, I would recommend a brand that’s made with alcohol and extracts. The alcohol will help to preserve the flavor, while the vanilla beans help to enhance it. Be sure to use pure extract – no vanilla flavoring or essence added. Look for no sugar or artificial flavors – even though you can use a small amount of sweetener to adjust the flavor.
TIP: If you are making a gourmet recipe and don’t have pure extract on hand look for flavored alcohols like bourbon, whiskey and cognac – these all contain flavorings that enhance your recipes without being synthetic. You could also use vanilla bean paste (like the kind used in pancakes).
Vanilla Extract Substitutes
If you prefer to not use real vanilla beans, there are some alternative products that contain similar flavors. Many of these substitutes can be used as a flavoring in place of vanilla extract in baking recipes. Since these products contain less sugar, they may need to be used in conjunction with other natural sweeteners for the recipe to come out tasting like it does with vanilla extract.
VANILLA-SWEET: This is made from pure vanilla extract, pure fruit juice and pure water – this is non-alcoholic and not very flavorful. You can add more water or juice to increase your concentration if you need to. It can also be used as a flavoring in cooking and baking recipes.
VANILLA-almond: Made from pure almond extract and pure vanilla extract, it’s not as potent in flavor as the traditional vanilla extract but will add a nice almond flavor boost.
VANILLA-CREAM: This contains two kinds of sugar – maltose and sucrose, it also contains milk fat which gives it a rich and creamy texture. This is great in a recipe, can be used as a substitute for vanilla extract in baking recipes.
VANILLA-FLAVOR: This contains maltodextrin and sugar, it also has synthetic vanillin. It’s designed for use in recipes that call for vanilla extract. You will get stronger or weaker intensity depending on how much is added to your recipe – and this product doesn’t have the same natural flavor as real extract.
Vanilla Essence: If you’re looking for “vanilla flavor” this may be what you’re looking for. It has a very vanilla taste, but no actual vanilla bean required and it can be used as a flavoring in cooking and baking recipes.
Are there additives in vanilla extract?
Vanilla extracts are gluten-free because they contain alcohol and natural vanilla beans. You will want to avoid alcohol, artificial flavors or any other ingredients that might not be considered “food” ingredients like: vegetable or animal byproducts, sugars, oils/fats, etc. Vanilla extract is processed so this may still be a problem even if it says ‘natural’.
Is vanilla extract safe for celiacs?
Vanilla extract is safe for celiacs because it contains only 2.5% alcohol and it is not made with any sweeteners like other extracts. You will want to avoid vanilla extracts that contain any kinds of sweeteners. Vanilla extract is gluten-free.
Is vanilla extract safe for diabetics?
While we aim to be as accurate as possible, HealthStatus does not warrant that this information is complete or accurate and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment. Always check with your doctor before taking a new medication, especially when dealing with medications you are unfamiliar with or have not been advised of potential interactions.
Does vanilla extract help diabetics?
Vanilla extract does not contain glucose, so it will not cause a blood sugar spike in diabetics. This should be used in conjunction with other sweeteners so that the overall blood sugar level remains normal.
Where can I find vanilla extract that is gluten-free?
You can find pure vanilla extract at Whole Foods, Wegmans, Publix and many other well-stocked grocery stores. You can buy flavored extracts like bourbon, rum or almond and add those to your tea or coffee. You can make your own pure vanilla extract with alcohol and real vanilla bean – it’s a delicious way to preserve that special bottle of holiday family recipe for years to come!
Preserving the flavor of vanilla beans is a fun way to use them. Make sure that you buy pure vanilla extract without artificial vanillin, or artificial flavors and keep it in a dark cool spot away from direct sunlight.
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