How to Make Vanilla Bean Paste

How to make vanilla bean paste on your own?

You might be curious about how to make vanilla bean paste on your own. For those who love to bake, understanding how to make vanilla paste at home can elevate your culinary creations. This homemade vanilla paste recipe is cost-effective and allows you to control the quality of the ingredients.

Vanilla paste is a versatile ingredient that combines the potency of vanilla extract with the convenience of vanilla powder, giving your desserts an intense, aromatic flavor.
To begin, gather:
3-4 high-quality vanilla beans,
a tablespoon of sugar,
and a teaspoon of water or light corn syrup.

Split the beans lengthwise with a sharp knife and scrape out the seeds. These tiny seeds, known as vanilla caviar, give vanilla paste its signature flavour and appearance. Once the vanilla caviar is scraped out of the vanilla pod, rather than discarding the outer husk, it can be dried and ground using a standard coffee grinder to a fine powder for use in other dishes.

Next, mix the seeds with the sugar in a small bowl. Using a mortar and pestle, grind the mixture into a fine paste. The sugar helps to break down the seeds and release the essential oils, intensifying the flavor.

Once you’ve achieved a smooth paste, slowly add the water or corn syrup. This step is crucial to getting the right consistency for your homemade vanilla paste: thick enough to stay on a spoon but smooth enough to blend easily into your recipes. This method of making vanilla paste ensures that you’re capturing the pure, unadulterated essence of the vanilla bean. The end product is a rich, fragrant paste perfect for adding depth to cakes, cookies, custards, and even savory dishes.

How do you turn vanilla extract into vanilla paste?

To make vanilla paste from vanilla extract, you need to combine the extract with vanilla bean seeds scraped from the pods. To achieve the desired consistency, you can add a thickening agent, such as cornstarch or glycerin.

Heat the mixture gently to combine the ingredients, ensuring you create a smooth, thick paste. This is a simple way to make vanilla bean paste at home.

Are vanilla paste and vanilla extract the same?

No, the vanilla paste is a more concentrated and thicker flavor than vanilla extract. While extract is liquid, vanilla paste contains the seeds of the vanilla bean, offering a richer taste and texture, making it ideal for baking and desserts.

How long does homemade vanilla bean paste last?

Homemade vanilla paste can last up to 6 months when stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. For the best flavor, use it within this time frame.

Once you’ve achieved a smooth paste, slowly add the water or corn syrup. This step is crucial to getting the right consistency for your homemade vanilla paste thick enough to stay on a spoon but smooth enough to blend blend easily into your recipes.

This method on how to make vanilla paste ensures that you’re capturing the pure, unadulterated essence of the vanilla bean. The end product is a rich, fragrant paste perfect for adding depth to cakes, cookies, custards, and even savoury dishes.