9 Best Vanilla Extract Substitutes for Delicious Culinary Adventures

Whether you're looking for a pure vanilla extract substitute to serve alcohol-free desserts or baked goods, you and the nearby grocery run out of it, or you just want to experiment, my list can surely help you! From vanilla-based ingredients to vanilla-free ones and liquid to solid options, you'll be surprised by the number of choices available.

So, let's start adding depth of flavor and nutty taste to your baking and dessert recipes without pure vanilla extracts.

Jump to:

• Can I Use Imitation Vanilla Extract?
• 6 Best Vanilla Extract Substitutes
• 3 Vanilla-Free Alternatives
• Replacing Vanilla Extract in Your Recipes
• Recipe

Can I Use Imitation Vanilla Extract?

Before I share with you my favorite substitutes for vanilla extract, let me get this out of the way.

To answer the question, yes, you definitely can, but I don't recommend doing so. Or, if you've been using imitation vanilla extract products, I suggest you start shopping for pure vanilla extract.

Why, you may ask? As its name implies, imitation vanilla extract is made of imitation vanilla flavor or artificial ingredients. Surely you'll find imitation extracts made from vanilla beans, but not as much as the amount used in pure extracts.

Most, if not all of them, don't contain alcohol, so manufacturers use artificial preservatives.

6 Best Vanilla Extract Substitutes

Undoubtedly, vanilla flavored ingredients are your best options when substituting vanilla extract in your baked goods and desserts. Of course, they have the same complex flavor as pure vanilla extract and will add richness.

1. Vanilla Bean Caviar or Seed

What is the best way to substitute vanilla extract in your recipe than with what it is made from, right? Yes, they have a different texture, but flavor-wise, you won't be disappointed.

If you have a vanilla bean in your pantry, slice the pod and obtain the vanilla bean caviar using a spoon. You'll use these seeds to replace the same amount of vanilla extract in your recipe. For instance, add one tablespoon of vanilla bean seeds to your recipe that calls for one tablespoon of real vanilla extract.

Now, you may wonder, how many pods will you need? As per my experience, seeds from one whole pod are equivalent to one tablespoon of vanilla extract.

Best for just about anything.

2. Vanilla Bean Paste

Substitute vanilla extract with the same amount of vanilla bean paste in your recipes, and you won't regret it. It isn't just made from vanilla beans but also vanilla extract and sugar.

Like vanilla bean seeds, the vanilla bean paste has a different texture, syrupy and semi-rough because of the tiny seeds. It's for this reason I love using it in my frostings, although you can also use the vanilla bean paste in recipes calling for real vanilla extract.

Best for just about anything.

3. Vanilla Liqueur

If you're looking for a substitute for vanilla extract with the same texture and color, the vanilla liqueur some of you use in your cocktail drinks is a great choice. However, I don't suggest using it if you're trying to refrain from adding alcohol content to your goodies and treats.

Yes, alcohol will evaporate with heat, but they're still not free from alcohol.

With that out of the way, I recommend using twice the amount of vanilla extract required in your recipe when opting for vanilla liqueur. That's because the liqueur has a more subtle vanilla flavor.

Best for just about anything.

Related: What’s the Best Cointreau Substitute?

4. Vanilla Sugar

You guessed it right! This substitute for vanilla extract is granulated sugar with vanilla beans.

What I love most about vanilla sugar is I'm already replacing two ingredients in my recipe instead of just one. That's why using it to substitute vanilla extract is a bit different than the other substitutes on my list.

What you should do is replace the amount of sugar listed in your baking and dessert recipes with vanilla sugar. Then, replace the amount of vanilla extract listed in your baking recipe with water to ensure you don't end up with dry goodies.

I also sometimes sprinkle vanilla sugar on some of my baked goods and sweet treats, even to sweeten my drinks.

Pro Tip: Once you have used all the vanilla sugar, remove the vanilla beans and place them in your jar of granulated sugar to infuse vanilla flavoring into it. Or you can transfer a good amount of sugar to another airtight jar and place the beans. Now, you have homemade vanilla sugar that you can use anytime.

Best for just about anything.

Related: Best Coconut Sugar Substitutes for Healthier Recipes

5. Vanilla Powder

Among the vanilla extract substitutes you'll find in my list, vanilla powder has the strongest and most distinct flavor.

The whole beans have undergone dehydration, which brought out most of their flavors, before being ground into fine powder. Additionally, vanilla powder isn't affected by high temperatures, unlike vanilla extract, so none of the flavors evaporate.

This high-heat tolerance property of vanilla powder is also why it won't give your goodies and treats the same browning as when you use vanilla extract. As such, I only use it when making pale or light-colored baked goods, desserts, and frosting.

To replace vanilla extract with vanilla powder, add half the amount the recipe requires. Since vanilla powder isn't liquid, you would need to increase the amount of liquid ingredients used in your recipe. Or, you can dilute the powder in a tiny amount of hot water to turn it into liquid before using.

Best for pale or light-colored frosting and baking and sweet recipes.

6. Vanilla Flavored Milk

The most easily accessible and affordable substitute for vanilla extract is vanilla flavored milk. It gives your baked goods and desserts nutty flavor notes, and you can choose from various milk products, from oat milk to almond milk.

Just note that the vanilla flavor is a bit more subtle than when you use vanilla extract. Thus, I only opt for this vanilla extract substitute when I'm in a pinch.

That said, the vanilla flavored milk will replace the water, milk, or any liquid ingredient in your recipe and the vanilla extract itself, following a 1:1 ratio.

For instance, your recipe calls for one cup of water and ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract; what you need to do is add one cup of vanilla flavored milk to replace the water and then one-fourth teaspoon to replace the vanilla extract.

Best for just about anything.

Related: 10 Best Whole Milk Substitutes

3 Vanilla-Free Alternatives

Like any other ingredient replacements, the substitutes for vanilla extract don't necessarily need to have vanilla flavoring. As such, here are some vanilla-free alternatives that I have already used and still using that I highly recommend:

1. Almond Extract

With the extract’s nutty flavor, you'll surely serve delicious cakes and cookies without them feeling like there's a missing ingredient. However, almond extract has a stronger aroma and flavor, so using it sparingly is advisable.

I suggest only adding half the amount of what the recipe calls for vanilla extract. Also, make sure no one of your guests has nut allergies before opting for almond extract.

Best for cookies and pound cakes.

2. Espresso Powder

For those of you who’ve been baking for a while, coffee is one of the first things that will come to mind when thinking about richness and decadence. So I’m sure you’re not surprised that I have added espresso powder to my list.

You also won't need to use too much, as a pinch or two of espresso powder can already do its magic. You can also dissolve the espresso powder in hot water and add the same amount as the recipe calls for vanilla extract.

Best for chocolate-flavored baking and dessert recipes.

Related: Coffee Cupcakes (Made With Espresso)

3. Pure Maple Syrup

If you don't have vanilla extract in your pantry or even at the grocery store, go ahead and replace it with the same amount of pure maple syrup. Not only does it have warm, sweet notes, but the syrup will also help bind the ingredients more effectively.

Just remember that maple syrup is sweeter than vanilla extract; in fact, it's even one of the ingredients I use to replace sugar in my recipes. As such, make sure you reduce the amount of sugar or any sweetener in your recipe or completely omit it. Otherwise, you might serve overly sweet food!

As you can see, I also clearly indicated "pure" because some maple syrup products contain additional ingredients like sugar. Some of them are actually corn syrup with artificial maple flavoring.

Best for sweetbread, churros, and pies.

Related: 10 Pure Maple Syrup Substitutes That Won’t Disappoint!

Replacing Vanilla Extract in Your Recipes

Replace the vanilla extract in your recipes without affecting the taste and richness by choosing the right vanilla extract substitute from my list. Most of them will work for all recipes requiring the extract, but some are only best used for a number of recipes.

Hence, pick the right ingredient and make sure you follow the suggested substitution ratio and tips to avoid wasting your ingredients, time, and effort. Of course, there's nothing wrong with experimenting with the ratio to find which works best for your recipe.

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