All About Vanilla

It's not easy to find Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract at a regular store, except at stores like Whole Foods Market or Trader's Joe (in USA for example). Here, I just want to share Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract & Homemade Vanilla Powder Sugar that you can make yourself at home.

Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract

Ingredients:

2 vanilla beans

1 1/2 cups glycerin

1/2 cup warm water

What to do:

Slit beans down the middle, and scrape down seeds.

Place both in glycerin and warm water.

Place in a dark jar (or a light jar in a dark place).

Let sit for a month or so.

Shake often.

Strain. (optional).

Vanilla Powder Sugar

Vanilla powder sugar is when a vanilla bean has been added to white granulated sugar or confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar. The bean is cut in half and buried in the sugar, covered, and left for a week or two to allow the vanilla to permeate through the sugar. This vanilla sugar can be used in place of regular sugar and adds a wonderful vanilla flavor to desserts.

Ingredients:

1 vanilla beans

1 - 2 cups (200-400 grams) of organic granulated sugar or organic confectioners sugar

What to do:

Place a cut vanilla bean into 1-2 cups (200-400 grams) of organic granulated sugar or confectioners organic sugar and store in a covered container for a few weeks before using. One tablespoon of vanilla sugar has the flavoring power of 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Vanilla Powder is produced by grinding whole dried vanilla beans until powdery. The advantage to vanilla powder is it can be added to warm liquids and the vanilla flavor will not evaporate as it does with extracts.