Vanilla extract is an essential ingredient that is used in baking. This ingredient also has a lot of uses apart from baking cookies and cakes. Vanilla extract can be used to neutralise the smell of paint. It can be used to freshen up your fridge, as a natural insect repellent in addition to making your home smell nice. Because of the high alcohol content in vanilla extract, it is perfect for removing the marks left behind from stubborn stickers or tape. There may be instances where you are out of vanilla extract but there are alternatives you can use in place of vanilla extract. Some of the best substitutes for vanilla extract are written below.
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Maple Syrup
One of the best alternatives for vanilla extract in cookies is maple syrup. Maple syrup is not only meant for pancakes, waffles, and French toast you can also use it for baking cookies in place of vanilla extract. If your recipe requires you to use vanilla extract simply substitute it with an equal amount of maple syrup in it and you will not be able to tell the difference. You can easily find maple syrup in most grocery stores.
Almond Extract
Another great alternative for vanilla extract in cookies is almond extract. Almond extract is often much cheaper than vanilla extract but that depends on what brand you use. Almond extract makes a great substitute for vanilla in a lot of recipes such as cookies and cakes. Both maple syrup, and vanilla extract have an aromatic nutty flavour, and they both produce similar results in baking. You can use it almond extract in place of vanilla extract at a one to one ratio for all your recipes.
Vanilla Almond Milk
Also on our list of some of the best substitutes for vanilla extract in cookies is vanilla almond milk. Vanilla almond milk is something you must always have in your fridge, since it makes a great substitute for vanilla extract in most of your baking. You can also consider using other plant-based milk such as soy milk, as long as it is vanilla flavoured.
Vanilla Powder
Vanilla powder can also make one of the best substitutes for vanilla extract in cookies. Starbucks always has a wide variety of powders to add to your drinks, and vanilla powder is always one of them. Simply add a hint of vanilla powder in place of vanilla extract in your baking. Vanilla powder is made from crushing vanilla beans until they become powder-like. You can use the same amount of vanilla powder for vanilla extract in any recipe to get the same effect.
Honey
Honey is also on our list of the best alternatives for vanilla extract in cookies. In fact, honey is a great alternative for a lot of ingredients apart from vanilla extract. If you decide to use honey instead of vanilla extract in your recipe ensure that you reduce the amount of sugar in your dish. This is because honey is already very sweet and it can also impact how sticky your dessert will turn out.
Spices
Spices make a great alternative for vanilla extract in cookies. You can use cinnamon in place of vanilla extract in a lot of recipes. You can also add your cinnamon to nearly everything that you can think of baking as well in drinks such as cappuccinos or chai tea lattes, sweet potatoes, as well as yogurt. Also consider other spices such as nutmeg and cloves because they have the same effect as vanilla. Most of the time vanilla extract is usually used to enhance other flavours in baking, but spices can do the same thing as well. Spices are also much cheaper and they last longer. To use spices in place of vanilla extract just use a one to one ratio. You should not use a lot of the spices to your dish.
Bourbon
Bourbon is also a good substitute for vanilla extract in cookies. It is used in a lot of baking more often than you would think. Bourbon is known to improve the moisture and texture of certain foods as well. Since bourbon is aged in oak, it has a slight smoked vanilla flavour which makes it a great substitute for vanilla extract. You can use bourbon to your advantage and enhance the flavour of your baking, such as in a pecan pie, chocolate cake, or gingerbread in addition to cookies.
Brandy
Brandy is another alcohol that you can use in place of vanilla extract in baking cookies. If you do not have vanilla extract in your kitchen simply whip out the brandy and use it in place of vanilla extract. There are a lot of baked products you can make with brandy in place of vanilla extract. For example, you can make a brandy and banana bread, or a brandy buttercream frosting in addition to cookies. To replace vanilla extract with brandy simply use the same amount of brandy as the amount of vanilla your recipe calls for.
Rum
Whether you believe it or not, there is alcohol in vanilla but it is not much. As such, you can easily substitute vanilla extract with Rum in addition to other alcoholic beverages such as brandy and Bourbon. Rum can also be used in place of vanilla extract in cookies. To use Rum in place of vanilla extract simply use a one to one ratio. As long as whatever you are making is baked, the alcohol content will cook out leaving you with all of the flavour and none of the booze in your cookies or any baked product.
Chocolate
If you are one with a sweet tooth you can make use of chocolate in place of vanilla extract in your cookies. Chocolate is a popular ingredient that is used in making a lot of baked products including cookies. It is one ingredient that you can use in a lot of recipes in place of vanilla extract. Although your cookies or any other dessert may taste different you can never go wrong with a little chocolate in your baking.