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5 Easy Ways to Use Vanilla Beans 💜
Hey Reader,
Growing up, we never had real vanilla beans on hand. They were definitely too expensive and not on the grocery list. Honestly, I'm not sure if I'd ever seen a real vanilla bean in person until I was a teenager, and that was only because I'd started cooking and baking a ton.
Now...they're a constant ingredient in my pantry. They're still pricey, but you can often find really great quality beans for a good price online!
Vanilla Extract
I grew up using imitation vanilla extract because it was much more affordable. As I started switching to a from-scratch lifestyle, I began buying the real stuff, and BOY was that expensive! Eventually, I decided to make my own vanilla extract. Even though it cost some money to buy the beans and alcohol, it was worth it!
I now *always* have a bottle of vanilla extract brewing, and I use those spent beans for any of the next 4 projects!
Vanilla Sugar
You can make vanilla sugar with either spent or fresh beans, and it's seriously easy. We ALWAYS have it on hand for sweetening coffee or rolling cookie dough. You can even use it to make sugar cubes!
Vanilla Bean Paste
Have you ever tried vanilla bean paste? This is the secret to deep vanilla flavor in your ice cream, cupcakes, or frostings, but the store-bought stuff is extremely expensive ($14 for a little jar?)!
Fortunately, the homemade stuff is quite inexpensive to make, and you can use your spent beans and homemade vanilla extract. It's so easy, too!
Vanilla Infused Maple Syrup
Add a vanilla bean or two to your maple syrup for the most delicious treat to drizzle over your pancakes and waffles! Maple syrup is delicious on its own, but the floral flavor of vanilla takes it to a whole different level.
There's always a bottle of this vanilla maple syrup in the fridge. It makes the best French toast ever!
Vanilla Sugar Scrub
Since I'm fragrance-free, it can be hard to get a nice, bold scent from homemade skincare products. This vanilla sugar scrub has the most delicious vanilla scent and is a great way to use up those leftover beans!
I love to jar this one up to share as a homemade gift, too.
Want more ideas? Try these delicious Vanilla Muffins, this Vanilla Pear Liqueur Recipe, or my Vanilla Infused Honey. I'll be sure to share any more vanilla recipes that come up, too!
Enjoy! Have fun playing with those vanilla beans. :)
Milk Glass Home | Seasonal Slow Living
Rachael McKennon
Welcome to Milk Glass Home, your spot for sustainable slow living. Think food preservation projects, real food recipes, fun DIYs, and helpful tips so you can slow down and live with the seasons. Subscribe below to get all of my recipes, tips, and guides!
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