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I had to step back and ask myself: How do I bake a cake without vanilla extract? Use substitutes like maple syrup, almond extract, and alcohols like brandy or rum instead of vanilla extract. This will enhance the flavor of the cake.
You don’t need to have pure vanilla extract, or any vanilla flavoring (vanilla essence or vanilla beans) to have a good time baking! Chances are, you won’t even miss that vanilla flavor, and you will never want a plain cake again!
- Vanilla Essence. If you don’t have extract go for the much weaker option: essence. It’s made from synthetic vanilla so it’s going to have a much weaker flavor.
- Vanilla Sugar (How to Make It) You can make your own vanilla sugar very easily and store it away for when you run out of extract. It will be a good substitute, just remember to decrease the amount of sugar the recipe calls for with the amount of vanilla sugar that you used.
- Pure Maple Syrup. This is one of the first options for a lot of people. It’s recommended to use pure maple syrup. You can use it in the same quantity the recipe states for the extract.
- Almond Extract. I am well aware that having almond extract at home is not something that a lot of people have. That’s why I recommended all those other substitutes above.
- Ellen Morrissey
- 35 sec
- Other Forms of Pure Vanilla. Extract is the most common form of vanilla, but you may also have vanilla powder, vanilla paste, or the vanilla beans themselves on hand—these are our top picks for a substitute for vanilla extract.
- Maple Syrup. If you are preparing a recipe that requires vanilla extract and you find that you've run out of vanilla in all its forms, some bakers use an equal measure of pure maple syrup in its place.
- Flavoring Extracts. You may also choose to swap in other flavoring extracts in place of the vanilla. Almond imparts a nice flavor to baked goods and spoon desserts.
- Bourbon and Other Alcoholic Spirits. You can also try using a spirit, such as brandy, rum, whiskey, or bourbon, as a vanilla extract substitute. Because bourbon picks up some of the flavors from the oak barrels in which it is aged, its flavor is closest to vanilla.
Mar 20, 2023 · Most cookie doughs and cake batters call for at least a splash of vanilla extract—but what happens if you run out? Can you still bake without it? Short answer: Yep!
Key Takeaways: Experiment with different flavors and substitutes, such as vanilla bean, almond extract, or spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, when baking without vanilla extract. Adjust the amount of substitute used and other ingredients like sugar and salt to compensate for the absence of vanilla extract in recipes.
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Feb 20, 2024 · If you’re looking to make your baked goods a little healthier, baking without vanilla extract can be a great option. While vanilla extract itself isn’t necessarily unhealthy, it does contain alcohol and sugar.