Vanilla bean use question...

[bercilakslady]

I just purchased a pound of vanilla beans for $20 plus shipping, and I'm planning to use it for making vanilla extract and sugar for gifts, as well as for my own cooking. My question comes from the prevalence of vanilla paste as a stronger flavored substitute for extract. Is it possible to make vanilla paste that will keep well? How would you do that? I expect that the keeping qualities of vanilla extract are due to the alcohol, so I'm not sure what the keeping qualities of vanilla beans ground to a paste with nothing added would be, or if that is a reasonable way to make vanilla paste.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience?

Comments

[bercilakslady]

Where did you find the recipes? Both methods seem reasonable, and I think I'm going to try the vanilla extract one to see how it works. I'd use corn syrup in addition, but it's really hard to find corn syrup without added fake vanilla flavor where I shop.

[flit]

There's no reason why you couldn't make a simple syrup flavored with vanilla as well. Make a cup of simple syrup and then steep with one or two vanilla beans as with the corn syrup; grinding them first would improve extraction but you might end up wanting to strain it after a few weeks of extraction. I would keep this in the refrigerator rather than on the shelf.