How to Use a Jar of Vanilla Bean Paste, Extract’s Cool Cousin
If you bake often—or just find yourself wandering the baking aisle—you might’ve noticed jars of vanilla bean paste popping up everywhere. This thick, syrupy blend combines concentrated vanilla extract with real vanilla seeds, offering a deep flavor and those signature specks without the fuss of scraping pods. It’s richer than extract, more convenient than whole beans and—thanks to its gel-like consistency—basically spill-proof. Ina Garten’s go-to vanilla brand, Nielsen Massey, has been selling theirs for years, but our Test Kitchen has noticed that you can even snag a $5 bottle of Bourbon Vanilla Bean Paste from Trader Joe’s. So, if you’ve recently picked up a jar (or just need an excuse to), we’ll show you how to put it to work. Good news: it’s an easy 1:1 swap for vanilla extract in any recipe. And, according to our very own Hotline, 1 tablespoon of paste equals 1 whole vanilla bean. Read More >>
If you bake often—or just find yourself wandering the baking aisle—you might’ve noticed jars of vanilla bean paste popping up everywhere. This thick, syrupy blend combines concentrated vanilla extract with real vanilla seeds, offering a deep flavor and those signature specks without the fuss of scraping pods. It’s richer than extract, more convenient than whole beans and—thanks to its gel-like consistency—basically spill-proof.
Ina Garten’s go-to vanilla brand, Nielsen Massey, has been selling theirs for years, but our Test Kitchen has noticed that you can even snag a $5 bottle of Bourbon Vanilla Bean Paste from Trader Joe’s. So, if you’ve recently picked up a jar (or just need an excuse to), we’ll show you how to put it to work. Good news: it’s an easy 1:1 swap for vanilla extract in any recipe. And, according to our very own Hotline, 1 tablespoon of paste equals 1 whole vanilla bean.
