The two methods I tested were adding hot syrup to the raw beans THEN processing them in a grinder to a paste, and grinding the raw beans with granulated sugar first then making a hot syrup with it after.Īnd I found something interesting. Um… That’s 37.52% cheaper! (And that’s when you use my extra bean recipe… You can go down in beans to the standard strength with a dozen beans and it costs $2.97 per ounce which is a 41% savings!) At my grocery store, I pay $7.25 per ounce. Which again was minimal anyway.ĭoing it myself cost me $4.53 per ounce. The similarity in them? They cost at least 38% less than what you’ll buy in a finished paste at the store. SPOILER ALTER: they produce two very different products. Still, I may have tasted some from my spoon to compare as I made two different batches to test ratios and methods. Let it sit for some time and the bean deepens and infuses every last liquid suspension molecule entirely thus carrying the glorious bean’s flavor farther in your baking adventures. I did find a commonality: it’s simple and only requires four ingredients on average.ĭude! I could crank this out easy and be ready to use this glorious concoction right away! Who doesn’t love instant gratification?!? So I strolled the interwebs searching for the perfect method and recipe and looking for commonalities so I could try my hand at my own formulation. I had to set them aside painfully to do other things that day and couldn’t play with making my first batch of vanilla bean paste until the following evening. I haven’t held that many beans in my hand since culinary school and they most certainly weren’t worth that much at that time. When they arrived I did a happy dance a sent a picture to my other cakey half Aaron, of Man versus Cake. And if that’s what you’re accustomed to, let me encourage you to treat yourself and your baked goods to some Premium beans at least once. If you’ve ever purchased a couple of beans at the supermarket from the spice rack in a sealed glass jar, those are very much Grade B beans. I saw this difference immediately when I opened the package. (See? I learned this there! Now I can better buy my beans anywhere!) That doesn’t affect their flavor or ability to make vanilla extract, however. The difference between Premium and Grade B? Grade B are not as plump, juicy or pretty. I was considering the Grade B beans which would have done fine for what I’m doing, but they were out. I got premium grade Madagascar Bourbon beans. You can count on quality when a company clearly has a passion for their product and wants to share their quality with you so you can make the best decision for your needs. They were NOT the cheapest option, but they know their beans and have a passion for what they sell. : )īefore you ask, I got these glorious, plump, beans from Beanilla. Not to mention I love fussing like this in the kitchen. And my Perfect Vanilla Cake requires the best I can get my hands on! Making it would save money and produce what is likely a better product. Vanilla goes with everything! And I cannot justify spending $28.99 on a 4-ounce bottle of it any longer. And while the initial “investment” (because that’s what it was to buy a pound of vanilla beans) felt ridiculous, it was a necessary thing to do. I don’t have time for this!”Īlas, it’s what I did anyways. It feels like dealing with my kids when they refuse to clean the dishes they just made: “If I have to do this myself, no one’s going to be happy about it. So rather than buy the things that you contribute to making, I’ll simply buy you, raw and unprocessed, and make my own paste, extract and bonus vanilla sugar. You’ve forced my hand, tricky little beans. The stand-alone flavor in all of its glory, or the hidden support system that helps other flavors to delight the palette more confidently.Īnd you cost a flippin’ arm and leg right now, and I can’t wrap my head around these ridiculous prices. Why must you tease me so? You are the backbone of all I bake and make. Oh, vanilla beans… you have become so painfully expensive and thus all of your derivative products have also become unpleasant to my wallet.
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