How to Make Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste

If you love baking from scratch or creating homemade pantry staples, vanilla bean paste is a must-have. It adds a rich, aromatic flavor that’s more intense than vanilla extract alone — and it’s surprisingly easy to make at home! With just three ingredients, you can whip up your own batch in minutes, and it keeps beautifully in the fridge.

Whether you’re making cookies, custards, or even DIY gifts, this homemade vanilla bean paste is one you’ll turn to over and over.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe yields about 6–8 ounces of paste — perfect for frequent bakers or gifting in small jars.

• 20 small vanilla beans
• ½ cup vegetable glycerin (food-grade)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

You can use fresh vanilla beans or beans that have already been soaking in vanilla extract — either works great!

How to Make Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste

1. Chop the Beans:
   Slice or snip your vanilla beans into small pieces. This helps them blend more evenly.
2. Blend:
   Add the chopped beans, glycerin, and vanilla extract to a food processor. Blend on high until it becomes a thick but smooth paste. You don’t want it too watery or too chunky — aim for a rich, spreadable texture.
3. Adjust if Needed:
   If your mixture seems too thick, add a little extra glycerin (a teaspoon at a time). If it’s too thin, let it rest for a bit and re-blend to thicken.

Tips for Success

• Use a high-speed blender or food processor to break down the beans thoroughly.
• Don’t discard spent beans from other vanilla recipes — reuse them here for extra value!
• Use food-grade glycerin when making homemade vanilla bean paste. Food-grade glycerin is essential because it’s intended for consumption. Cosmetic-grade glycerin may contain impurities or additives not safe to ingest. Using food-grade ingredients ensures your vanilla paste is both safe and high-quality for culinary use.

Substitutions You Can Try

• Glycerin substitute: You can use a neutral-flavored alcohol (like vodka) for a thinner, extract-style paste, but it won’t be quite as syrupy.
• Vanilla extract substitute: Skip it entirely if your beans are fresh and potent — the extract just boosts the aroma a little.

How to Store Vanilla Bean Paste

Store your homemade vanilla bean paste in an airtight glass jar or bottle in the refrigerator. It should last about 6 months, sometimes longer if kept cool and clean.

• Label it with the date you made it so you can keep track.
• Always use a clean spoon to prevent contamination.

How to Use It

Vanilla bean paste can be used anywhere you’d use vanilla extract — but with even more flavor!

• Baking: Perfect for cookies, cakes, custards, and frostings.
• Beverages: Add a tiny spoonful to coffee or lattes.
• Homemade gifts: Add to holiday gift baskets or jar it up with a ribbon and tag.

Grab our downloadable PDF recipe card.

You’ll see tiny vanilla flecks in your baked goods and taste the deep, warm notes of real vanilla — it’s a small upgrade that makes a big difference. Once you’ve made your own vanilla bean paste, you’ll never want to go back to store-bought. It’s rich, fragrant, and full of real vanilla flavor—perfect for enhancing your favorite recipes. Plus, it’s a rewarding way to make the most of every bean and avoid unnecessary additives. Store it in a cool, dark place, and enjoy a touch of homemade goodness in every spoonful!