Description
Vanilla paste gives you the extra vanilla flavor of vanilla beans without the hassle of using vanilla beans plus the added vanilla flavor of extract. Wrestle with the beans once, and you’ll have enough vanilla paste for a good long while.
Instructions
- Working on a cutting board, use a paring knife to slit down the center of a vanilla bean.
- Scrape out the seeds from the inside of the bean. Set the pod off to the side.
- Use a bench scraper or another knife to scrape off your knife into a food processor.
- Continue splitting and scraping out the seeds until you’ve gone through them all.
- Chop the pods into 1/2″ pieces and put them in the food processor as well.
- Pour the honey and vanilla extract into the food processor.
- Process everything for a full minute until the mixture is very sludgy and a murky brown.
- Scrape down the work bowl into a fine mesh strainer set over a glass measure or other bowl. Press down on the solids with a large spoon until you scrape out every last bit of vanilla goodness. See note below for what to do with the leftover pod waste.
- Transfer the paste to small lidded jars.
- Use your homemade vanilla paste in any recipe that calls for vanilla, swapping 1 tsp for 1 tsp.
Notes
- What to do with the leftover vanilla pod waste:
- Vanilla tea: Save the leftover pod waste in a small jar in the fridge. Add a little bit to your loose leaf tea for boosted vanilla flavor.
- Compost
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Additional Time: 0 hours
- Cook Time: 0 hours
- Category: Baking building blocks
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 teaspoon
- Calories: 21
- Sugar: .12
- Sodium: 24
- Fat: 1
- Saturated Fat: .72
- Carbohydrates: .62
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: .88
- Cholesterol: 3