All About Vanilla Bean Paste
Vanilla bean paste will make all of your vanilla desserts even better! Learn what it is, how it’s different from vanilla extract, why and where you should buy it, and how to use it.
What is It?
Vanilla bean paste is a thick syrup made using vanilla bean pod seeds and vanilla extract.
Not only will it make your desserts look pretty (see the vanilla flecks in the frosting photo below), but it will also give them an intense vanilla flavor – think of vanilla bean ice cream compared to plain vanilla ice cream.
While I would never drink vanilla extract straight up, I have been known to lick my fingers if they get some paste on them. It’s still a bit strong – not to mention expensive – to pour on your pancakes, for example.
Differences From Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is made from soaking vanilla bean pods in alcohol. The alcohol takes on the vanilla flavor, but it doesn’t have any of the beans nor any thickness.
The paste is made using an entirely different process that suspends ground vanilla beans in a viscous solution of sugar, water, vanilla extract, and a thickener.
How To Use It
Use vanilla bean paste as a 1:1 substitution for vanilla extract in any recipe.
Because it is more expensive than vanilla extract, I save it for recipes where it really shines. It is amazing when used instead of extract in my vanilla frosting and I love using it in creme brulee and panna cotta. It is also fabulous in cream pie!
Why Use It
You certainly could use an actual vanilla bean instead of the paste in any recipe. But, doing that is far more work – you’ll need to steep the liquid in your recipe with the bean and then scrape out the seeds. And, using a bean is even more pricey.
If you are using a recipe that calls for a bean, substitute one tablespoon of the paste for every bean the recipe calls for. Add it with the wet ingredients as you would any extract.
Where To Buy It
Vanilla bean paste is sold at specialty cooking stores. I’ve seen it at Williams-Sonoma. You can also buy a variety of different vanilla bean paste brands on Amazon [paid link]. The one that I typically use is Nielsen-Massey.
Many of you commented that Trader Joe’s sells cheap vanilla bean paste. I had heard that it had been discontinued. However, recently someone left a comment that they saw it in the store again. Leave a comment if you see it in the store!
Related Recipes
Thank you for the information. I have a Cake Specialty store in my area will try there. This you.
It is a seasonal item at Trader Joe’s. My store has it in stock right now (Glendale, AZ), but it will sell out fast.
I just bought vanilla bean paste at a Trader Joe’s!
So I know this is a super old post, but I just found vanilla bean paste at Trader Joe’s again yesterday! I’ve been looking for a year or so, so I thought I’d pass on the good news!
Woohoo! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks!! I’m actually on the hunt for it!!
But does it affect the texture? does the vanilla bean paste do something to what your baking or is it just for the little specks? I understand that it is thicker, but what does it do?
It does not affect the texture. It just gives a lovely vanilla taste.
I need it tomorrow for my recipe ordering will take to long am I SOL?
I found it at Michaels craft store . It was 6.99 but because it was a regular priced item I got 40% off. Good deal!
Kitchen Collection Stores also carry Vanilla Nean Paste.
of course like your website however you need to test the spelling on several
of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to inform the truth then again I’ll
surely come back again.
~ To go from using the imitation vanilla when I was growing up to Bourbon Vanilla pure, then scraping a bean– too expensive, Vanilla Bean Paste will be amazing. I’ve seen it on TV and posts. Vanilla bean birthday cake, may be able to make vanilla sugar with it. Definitely will use it in all things requiring vanilla.
I have been expirmenting with making my own flavored coffee creamers and used 2 1/2 tsp of the Vanilla Paste instead of Extract. A 1/2 a pinch of fresh ground cinnamon as a hint of counterpoint. Mix an let it sit overnight in he fridge. The paste makes a noticeable differance in the taste! Great creamer at less cost per bottle then bought. Nice thing about it is one can adjust the recipe to personal taste.
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Hi all, try Amazon.com they sell a variety of Vanilla products, best of all most products are reviewed by consumers.
Vanilla Bean Paste doesn’t expire but as it sits in the cupboard past the expiration date it starts to become a goo instead of a thin syrup. Is there a way around this or can you heat it up to make it thinner? I always like finding it at a good deal.
I actually just bought my first jar of vanilla bean paste and I found it at HomeGoods for $6.
I like Rain’s Choice vanilla paste at http://www.vanilla.com/store. The taste is amazing! Plus all products there are eco-friendly and eco-humane.
This is the Vanilla Queen’s site. There are some very interesting articles there about vanilla if you’re interested. Her stories are really interesting.
You can buy in bulk at wholesale there or in smaller quantities at Gourmet Country.
And there are lots of RECIPES there that use vanilla bean paste! http://vanilla.com/?s=“vanilla+paste”
I just got my first bottle of Vanilla Bean Paste at my new favorite store – Surfas Culinary District in Costa Mesa!!! Along with very cool cooking gadgets, supplies, dishes, cheeses to die for and cake decorating stuff, they have a great little restaurant!!! I could spend a lot of money there!
I’m pleased to see that Sara (New Zealand) mentions the pitfalls of the vanilla essence. I have 15 vanilla orchids in my land in Grenada and when I think that I will have to hand fertilise the individual flower between 5am and7am when they start flowering. Wait 9 months for the vanilla beans to be full, pick them. Sit them in the hot sun for 3 hours a day for 14 days (wrapping them in a woollen blanket and putting in a box at night), and then lay them on a rack for two months. I wonder how the paste with those beautiful seeds can be so special after all it is the seeds have the flavour. So after giving the recipe for producing first class beans, please tell me what other than the whole pod, munched up, plus the seeds goes into the paste it cannot be that easy what keeps the flavour intact how many additives? Lizzie
I bought mine at ROSS. Hit and miss but always check expiration date. I paid 6.99 and it’s Nielson-Massey. Like it better than vanilla extract.
OliveNation.com also has fantastic vanilla paste, and gorgeous vanilla beans! The beans always ship free, and I got on their newsletter list so I receive promo codes about once a week. Such great products!
is it possible to make it yourself? I’m at the country where they don’t sell those.
I got my vanilla bean paste online from King Arthur Flour. They sell Nielson-Massey. It comes in a 4 oz jar and is a pretty good value, I think.
The brand I have used is LorAnn’s. They make a madagascar vanilla bean paste. Yes, it’s pricey, but its sooo good! You can order it online though at: https://www.lorannoils.com/p-8688-natural-madagascar-vanilla-bean-paste.aspx
Neilson-Massey’s vanilla paste pales in comparison to a bottle of Madagascar bakers syrup I found from a company called nakedsweetshop. There syrup is made from organic cane sugar and contains absolutely no alcohol. I had found that the paste from NM was not strong enough and I found myself still adding a tsp of extract to reach the desired flavor. The bakers syrup from NSS is amazing. You are able to 1/2 most recipes and still get a beautiful aroma as well as gourmet look. The best thing about it is that it comes in 3 different flavors-vanilla-spiced orange-and cocoa. Dear god the cocoa syrup is incredible. Since then I have gone through 3 bottles and have never had so many comments on my treats. I recommend everyone go to http://www.nakedsweetshop.com you will not be disappointed!!!!!!
The Beanilla website also carries vanilla bean paste. It’s not as expensive as I thought it would be, so I might order some and try your icing recipe! Here’s a link to the Beanilla store:
http://www.beanilla.com/vanilla-paste-c-27.html?gclid=CJ–7M_AhKsCFQ0BQAod-UZo2g
The Arizona Vanilla Company has 3 kinds of Vanilla Paste, and also sells vanilla beans in bulk. –
http://www.arizonavanilla.com/Store/vanillastore.php?cat=3
I am very new to your post (as in have been reading it avidly for the past two hours) and am enjoying it immensely. Here in New Zealand we do actually have the paste as well but it is 5 times the price of ordinary vanilla essence. I once read the back of an imitation vanilla essence bottle and one of the ingredients was propylene glycol – for those not in the know this can be used as antifreeze for engines. Errrkkk. Sara
I am such a sad panda… I called 5 different places locally and only one actually carried it (Williams Sonoma) but they were, naturally, out of stock! Darn it being summertime… the lady at the store said that they would have more in stock sometime next month, but it was bought out really fast because apparently everyone and their dog wanted to use it for their icecream… Darn them, darn them, darn them! Don’t they know my frosting is more important?? :(
Thankfully I did purchase it from Cupcake Projects amazon store. I’m hoping it will get here in time so I can frost the Cupcake Explorer vanilla cupcakes with the Vanilla Bean Buttercream frosting before I have to turn my results in! *crosses fingers*
♥ Kate
Nugget Grocery Stores carry it!
This is so great to read. I just bought VB paste on a whim at HomeGoods for $5.99/bottle. They are great for selling discountined items. Now I read this – you just rocked my baking cupcake world!
just bought my first bottle of vanilla bean paste and will be baking something with it tonight!
I just bought mines for $5, but it says “best by Oct. 13”
….
So, does vanilla bean paste expire?
I’m going to make your favorite vanilla frosting tonight – I just wanted to let anyone in the San Antonio area know that I found vanilla bean paste at Central Market off Broadway in Alamo Heights. It was a bit pricey ($11.99), but somehow I just know it’ll be worth it. :)
I buy it from Amazon- 12 oz (3 x 4oz bottles) for $18 and no shipping if you have Amazon Prime.
It is good stuff…
Love Vanilla Bean Paste – wish you could find as easily as vanilla extract!
We get it at Fresh Market. Our first experience with the paste was at a Viking Cooking School class, and we were sold from then on. I can’t think of anything it doesn’t make better. You should taste the strawberry ice cream I made with it today. YUM!
I love this stuff. It tastes so much more concentrated. Plus, if you’re lazy, like I am at times, it’s so much easier to use than splitting open an actual bean. ;)
I LOVE vanilla paste too!!
I buy mine from Vanilla Food Company and purchase it in a big 32 oz bottle (which works out to be so much cheaper than buying the small 4 oz bottle)
http://www.vanillafoodcompany.ca/Nielsen_Massey_Vanilla_Bean_Paste_p/nmv302.htm
Pam
I love vanilla bean paste. I buy mine from Singing Dog Vanilla. It adds such an intense vanilla flavor, which I love!
Wilene – Hope you enjoyed the frosting! Let me know what you thought!
would like to THANK you for introducing me to vanilla bean paste, i bought mine from amazon was 3 bottles for 18$ and free shipping :) i tasted it out of the bottle b/c the smell was so wonderful it wsa kinda sweet i was suprised im making your vanilla bean buttercream frosting as soon as i post this so TY AGAIN for introducing me to new products i would never have thought of!
Eva – Thanks! I’m so glad that you enjoy the blog! You can use the paste 1 for 1 instead of extract. In case it wasn’t clear – I highly, highly recommend it, especially in frosting.
I’ve never heard of vanilla paste. I am definately going to give it a try. Do you use the same amount that the recipe calls for? For example if a recipe says to use 1 tsp of vanilla extract, do you use the same amount of vanilla paste? This is such a great blog. I always look forward to new entries.
I use the vanilla bean paste in things you want the specks, ie cheescake, panna cotta, ice cream
I use the nielson-massey extract in things that the vanilla flavor will really standout ie pudding,cupcakes from scratch icing etc
I use the cheap vanilla extract only for box mixes or like chocolate cake–something not very vanilla
By the way, I love your blog!
I had never heard of the paste either. However, i do have a ton of vanilla beans (u can buy them in bulk online, this batch came from ebay). I make my own vanilla extract, but what is the exchange for your oreo cookie filling if using the beans or extract instead of the paste?
I also love using vanilla paste! Beanilla Trading Company, wwww.beanilla.com, has excellent paste and it is well priced. Their vanilla beans are also amazing! I ordered some last week… they smelled so good that I bought more today.
This stuff is great!!! TJ’s by me didnt have it anymore :(
I use it in my vanilla bean cake and frosting – out of this world! and it looks so good with the specks.
I just found out that it has, in fact, been discontinued. See this post:
https://www.cupcakeproject.com/trader-joes-does-not-carry-vanilla-bean/
TJ’s DOES have a habit of discontinuing ALL the things I love, so I am thinking i should stock up! Glad you don’t think it is easonal though, Elle!
That’s so weird! I saw it last time I was there, maybe I should stockpile in case the one near my place stops carrying it.
Katie – Good luck! Hope you have it at your store.
I love Vanilla Bean Paste. Its fantastic. When you are making something simple and you want a little more flavor that extract will provide paste is the way to go. I have never seen it at Trader Joe’s I’ll have to look.
TW – I’d be curious to do a taste off between the scraping the beans and using the paste. My guess is it would be pretty similar.
Nicisme – Wow! Lucky you. I wish our supermarkets carried it.
I absolutely love it! Both the supermarkets near to me now stock it, thank goodness!
Nice blog – I also love cupcakes!
I haven’t seen Vanilla Paste at Trader Joes either. But the thought has me salivating. Maybe a STL thing? I personally prefer the Nielsen-Massey myself.
The best place to buy vanilla beans locally I think is Penzey’s. It really is easy to just slice that sucker up and scrape out the beans. Very indulgent frosting. Highly recommend trying for special occasions.
Scoop – Why not carry it all the time? They should know how great that product is!
Aryooki – Aww.. thanks! I highly recommend you try the paste! You will not regret it.
Raquita – I’m still enjoying the vanilla sugar. I’m now curious about your secret source.
Elle – Wonder if it just depends on your particular store.
I always buy it at Trader Joe’s, so I don’t think it’s seasonal, unless they’re changing things. Hope not! That stuff is like liquid gold!
I will definately try the paste but I am married to actual vanilla beans – they aren’t that expensive if you know where to buy ’em..
I need to hook you up..
blog post forthcoming..
I have to say I have not tried the paste but for those married to their vanilla etract the stuff at williams sonoma is far superior to aythign you can buy at the grocery store. By the way I love your blog.
:)
I LOVE vanilla bean paste and like noisy penguin, got mine at Trader Joe’s for a very good price. But like you, Stef, I couldn’t always find it. I found it, then didn’t find it again for a while — when I found it again FINALLY, I think I bought three or four bottles…I do hope it isn’t just seasonal, though for now I am set!
Anyway, totally agree with what you wrote…love VBP!
That’s funny that you say that. I had heard it was at Trader Joe’s so I went there to buy it. They not only didn’t have it, but didn’t even know what it was. Someone told me that maybe they only have it around the holidays? Maybe only certain Trader Joe’s have them?
It’s funny because I wasn’t even looking for this and I found it at Ross Stores yesterday. It was in Las Vegas, NV.
They also sell it at Trader Joe’s, where it’s really not much more expensive than regular vanilla extract.