Instructions
What is Pure Vanilla Extract?
Vanilla, the fruit of the vanilla orchid, is one of the priciest culinary ingredients thanks to the labor-intensive process required to grow and harvest the beans. Pure vanilla extract is a flavoring made by extracting the flavor compounds from real vanilla beans using a solution of alcohol and water. Unlike imitation vanilla, it contains flavor derived from actual vanilla beans rather than synthetic ingredients.
McCormick’s Pure Vanilla Extract is crafted from premium Madagascar vanilla beans, ensuring that family traditions are elevated by the finest flavor. Whether you are stirring it into a holiday pie or a simple batch of Saturday morning pancakes, it is an essential ingredient that brings out the best in both sweet and savory dishes.
What Does Vanilla Extract Taste Like?
Pure vanilla extract offers a deeper flavor profile. It features a strong floral aroma with sophisticated hints of bourbon, rum, and dried fruit.
Because it is made by macerating vanilla beans in a solution of alcohol and water, it possesses a distinctive warmth that rounds out the flavors of other ingredients. One whiff from a freshly opened bottle should be sweet, woody and incredibly aromatic.
Where Does Vanilla Extract Come From?
Vanilla beans grow on a specific type of climbing orchid called Vanilla planifolia. Most of the world’s high-quality vanilla is grown in tropical regions, with Madagascar being the most famous source for the bourbon vanilla beans we use at McCormick.
Each flower must be hand-pollinated, and the beans must stay on the vine for nine months before being cured and dried. This meticulous process is why pure vanilla is so distinct from imitation versions – there simply is no shortcut for the depth of flavor provided by the real bean.
Vanilla Extract Substitutes
While nothing quite replaces the complex profile of pure vanilla, there are a few options that you can find in a pinch that can help:
- Vanilla Bean Paste: Use a 1:1 ratio. This option provides the same flavor as well as the visual of vanilla bean specks.
- Maple Syrup: Use a 1:1 ratio. This option provides sweetness and a woody depth, though the flavor profile will be slightly altered.
- Almond Extract: Use half of the requested amount (e.g., 1/2 tsp for every 1 tsp of vanilla). It is much more potent and provides a nutty flavor.
Learn more about the difference between vanilla beans, vanilla paste and vanilla extract here!
Does Vanilla Extract Go Bad?
Because of vanilla extract’s high alcohol content, pure vanilla extract has an incredibly long shelf life. Technically it has a shelf life of 1,440 days when stored in a cool, dry place to prevent the evaporation of alcohol. Over time, the flavor may become more concentrated and mellow, similar to a fine wine. If your extract looks clear, smells fragrant, and hasn’t evaporated, it is likely still perfect for your recipe.
How is Vanilla Extract Made?
The process begins with buyers visiting the fields to ensure McCormick is sourcing only the finest Madagascar beans, reinforcing McCormick’s commitment to sustainability.
Once the beans are sourced, they are chopped and soaked in a mixture of water and alcohol. The alcohol acts as a solvent, pulling the essential flavor compounds out of the bean and into the liquid.
At McCormick, we ensure our extract contains no corn syrup and is gluten-free, providing a pure flavor you can feel good about sharing!
Is Vanilla Extract Healthy?
McCormick’s Pure Vanilla Extract is a gluten-free and non-GMO ingredient. Because it is so potent, you only need a small amount to add substantial flavor. This makes McCormick’s Pure Vanilla Extract a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth without adding excessive sugar or calories.
How to Store Vanilla Extract
To maintain the richness of flavor and color, store your vanilla in a cool, dry place away from moisture and heat. Avoid exposing the bottle to fluorescent light or direct sunlight and always keep the cap tightly sealed to prevent the alcohol from evaporating.
Learn more about how long spices and extracts remain fresh here.
Flavors That Go with Vanilla:
Vanilla is one of the ultimate team players in the kitchen. It doesn’t just add its own flavor, rather enhance the flavors around it. Some popular combinations include:
- Chocolate: Is there a more classic combo than chocolate and vanilla? Vanilla is the secret ingredient in almost every chocolate recipe because it mellows out the bitterness of the cocoa.
- Cinnamon: Vanilla and cinnamon combine to make the foundation of warmth in baking. Together they create a cozy flavor profile perfect for snickerdoodles or apple pies.
- Fruit: Adding a teaspoon of vanilla to fruit salads or berry compotes rounds out the acidity and boosts the natural sweetness of the fruit.
- Coffee: Vanilla cuts through the acidity notes of coffee, adding a rich aroma and a smooth finish to your morning cup and coffee-based desserts.
- Savory Meats: Vanilla can balance the salty and savory notes in glazes for chicken, pork or shellfish, helping to create a sophisticated gourmet twist to dinner.
To learn more about Vanilla flavoring as a whole, read more here!
Grown for Good
As a global leader in flavor, we are proud to sustainably source our vanilla through our Grown for Good program. Look for the seal on our bottles which represents our investment in supporting higher incomes for thousands of farmers, providing health insurance to farming families, and building schools in the communities that grow our premium beans. Each year our goal is to source more vanilla through this program to further our commitment to sustainability.
Grab Your Favorite McCormick Vanilla Products
- McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract, 2 fl oz
- McCormick® Small Batch Pure Vanilla Extract, 2 fl oz
- McCormick® All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract, 4 fl oz
- McCormick Gourmet™ Pure Vanilla Extract, 4.0 fl oz
