When it comes to baking, vanilla is the best complimentary flavour to any sweet goods. Be it chocolate, strawberry, or the popular matcha — adding vanilla to your baked goods provide a subtle sweet, creamy notes to any dish. There are a lot of types of vanilla in the market. In French baking, vanilla pods are usually used for baking but vanilla extract and vanilla essence are good too. Here’s what to consider when choosing the best vanilla for your baking.
Vanilla Beans
Vanilla beans, or some people called them vanilla pods, are usually incorporated for more of an intense flavour. You can see some dark vanilla flecks in ice cream or French custard. When it comes to buying vanilla beans — pick a plump, shiny bean and avoid dry or shrivelled ones.
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is the most popular but not the most affordable out of all the options. Some vanilla extracts sometimes have ‘artificial’ or ‘imitation’ written on their bottles, which are made of chemical mixture to achieve that vanilla flavour. Try avoiding ‘imitation vanilla’ which as it often leaves a bitter aftertaste. When you can, always choose pure vanilla extract over artificial ones, which, despite costing more it actually delivers superb vanilla flavour.
Vanilla Paste
Vanilla paste is a mixture of vanilla extract with vanilla bean powder. This paste provides just as strong flavour as vanilla extract especially when the ‘powder’ comes from crushed vanilla beans. When getting vanilla paste, try to find one that contains vanilla beans or seeds in it to make sure you get the best flavour out of it.
Vanilla Sugar
Vanilla sugar, as the name goes, it’s a sugar-infused vanilla and is sometimes mixed with vanilla bean powder. This type of vanilla is very popular and easily found in stores. To make your own vanilla sugar, dry your used vanilla beans and store them in a bottle or container with granulated sugar and a pinch of salt to bring out the flavour.
Vanilla Syrup
Vanilla syrup is probably the most popular category amongst amateur bakers and bartenders. Made from simple syrup infused with vanilla bean seeds, this syrup is perfect for soaking cakes, enhancing frosting, or adding a splash to coffee.
Whatever you choose for your baking, make sure to choose one that not only fits the budget but also fits the recipe and the recipient