Vanilla extract is an essential ingredient in many baked goods like cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more. Just one teaspoon has the power to completely transform your baked good into a delicious treat. When you follow a vegan diet, however, you need to look more closely at the ingredients. Can vanilla extract be used in vegan baking?
Vanilla extract is typically considered to be vegan. Some have been suspected to be taken from a Beaver’s gland called castoreum, but that is rare. If you are looking for an alternative to vanilla extract that is also vegan, consider Watkins Pure Almond Extract, McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract, Amoretti Natural Blueberry Artisan Flavor, or Simply Organic Orange Flavor.
In this article, we will discuss whether or not vanilla extract is healthy. We will also discuss the popular brands of vanilla extract and whether or not they are vegan. Lastly, we will discuss a few other extracts and flavors that are vegan-friendly. Let’s dig in!
Contents
Is Vanilla Extract Healthy?
Believe it or not, vanilla extract has quite a few health benefits including:
1. Rich In Vanillin
Vanillin is a phenolic plant compound found in vanilla extract and vanilla beans. It is rich in antioxidants, has anticancer properties, anti-inflammatory effects, it may even benefit brain health and protect against neurodegenerative diseases.
2. Helps Reduce Added Sugar Intake
Using vanilla extract or vanilla bean powder in foods and drinks can help reduce your added sugar intake. We know this because a study found that adding vanilla aroma to sugary drinks enhanced their perceived sweetness and therefore eliminated the need for added sugar.
3. Provides A Calming Effect
Research has shown that vanilla has a calming effect on newborns; it lessens their crying and calms newborns who were born prematurely before and during a blood test.
Vanilla also has a calming effect on adults. It can reduce startle reflexes and provide some relief from sleep apnea, a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts.
Popular Brands Of Vanilla Extract
If you plan on making a trip to your local grocery store to pick up some vanilla extract, these are the brands you are most likely to find:
McCormick All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract
Derived from the finest quality imported vanilla beans, the rich, sweet and subtle flavor of this brand is the perfect way to enhance desserts like cheesecake, cookies and cupcakes. It will also take your breakfast game to the next level when you add it to french toast or pancakes.
This brand is vegan.
These are the ingredients found in McCormick All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract:
- Vanilla bean extractives in water and alcohol
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 teaspoon serving):
- Calories: 12
- Total fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0.4mg
- Total carbs: 0.5g
- Total sugars: 0.5g
- Protein: 0g
Watkins Pure Vanilla Extract
This brand is made with the highest quality Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans. It is aged to perfection using a process that is 140 years old. Best of all, it is vegan, gluten-free, kosher and has no artificial colors.
These are the ingredients found in Watkins Pure Vanilla Extract:
- Water
- Sugar
- Propylene
- Glycol
- Alcohol
- Artificial flavors
- Fruit juice (for color)
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 teaspoon serving):
- Calories: 10
- Total fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 0.5g
- Total sugars: 0.5g
- Protein: 0g
Wilton Imitation Clear Vanilla Flavor Extract
This clear imitation vanilla extract is perfect for homemade buttercream, royal icing, or other frosting recipes. It adds that warm vanilla flavor you love without adding a brown tint.
This brand does not contain any animal ingredients. However, it is made on the same equipment that processes milk, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish.
These are the ingredients found in Wilton Imitation Clear Vanilla Flavor Extract:
- Water
- Alcohol
- Artificial flavor
- Citric acid
- Phosphoric acid
- Butylated hydroxytoluene
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 teaspoon serving):
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 0g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Simply Organic Vanilla Flavoring
This real, potent organic vanilla flavoring is derived from real vanilla beans grown exclusively in Madagascar. There are no artificial flavors, colors, added sugars, and it is non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and kosher.
These are the ingredients found in Simply Organic Vanilla Flavoring:
- Organic glycerin
- Organic vanilla bean extractives in water
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 teaspoon serving):
- Calories: 12
- Total fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0.4mg
- Total carbs: 0.5g
- Total sugars: 0.5g
- Protein: 0g
Badia Pure Vanilla Extract
This brand is of excellent quality. It has a sweet aroma, it is rich in flavor, and it is an essential ingredient for cakes, cupcakes, ice creams, custards and puddings.
This brand is vegan and kosher.
These are the ingredients found in Badia Pure Vanilla Extract:
- Water
- Alcohol
- Extractives of vanilla beans
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 teaspoon serving):
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 0g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Molina Mexican Vanilla Blend
This versatile Mexican vanilla blend is perfect for any type of dish including meat, fish and chicken. You can also use it the more traditional way in coffee, smoothies, or baked goods. It is no wonder why this is the number one selling vanilla product!
This brand is vegan-friendly.
These are the ingredients found in Molina Mexican Vanilla Blend:
- Water
- Pure vanilla extract
- Ethyl alcohol
- Propylene glycol
- Vanillin
- Ethyl vanillin
- Caramel color
- Potassium sorbate (as a preservative)
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 teaspoon serving):
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Total fat: 0g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Alternatives To Vanilla Extract
We learned that vanilla extract has many health benefits and can be used in many different ways. Everyone is different, though, so some people might not like vanilla extract. If you are one of those people who do not like vanilla extract, you might want to consider giving one of these alternatives a try.
Watkins Pure Almond Extract
Almond extract is a common replacement for vanilla extract. Some people even prefer it over vanilla extract because of the delightful flavor it gives. Like vanilla extract, almond extract is perfect for baking, flavoring drinks and more.
This brand is non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher, vegan, and it is all natural, has no artificial flavors or colors, and is corn syrup free.
These are the ingredients found in Watkins Pure Almond Extract:
- Water
- Alcohol
- Oil of bitter almond
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 teaspoon serving):
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 0g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract
The holidays are upon us, which means there is a lot of baking going on and peppermint flavored everything is on the shelves. Made with 100% premium ingredients, this peppermint flavoring is the perfect addition to peppermint hot chocolate, peppermint bark, or peppermint mocha coffee.
This product is vegan-friendly.
These are the ingredients found in McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract:
- Alcohol
- Water
- Oil of peppermint
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 teaspoon serving):
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 0g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Amoretti Natural Blueberry Artisan Flavor
This product captures the flavor of luscious , ripe blueberries perfectly. Featuring a vibrant color, irresistible sweetness and balanced tartness, add the essence of summer to your favorite gourmet creations.
This product does not have any animal ingredients. However, it is produced in a facility that uses milk, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, eggs and wheat.
These are the ingredients found in Amoretti Natural Blueberry Artisan Flavor:
- Natural flavor
- Cane sugar
- Dextrose
- Fructose
- Blueberry
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 teaspoon serving):
- Calories: 15
- Total fat: 0g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Total carbs: 4g
- Total sugars: 3g
- Protein: 0g
Simply Organic Orange Flavor
This product is great in chocolate, holiday baking, and drinks. It is also known to be a stomach settler.
This product is vegan-friendly.
These are the ingredients found in Simply Organic Orange Flavor:
- Organic sunflower oil
- Organic orange oil
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 1 teaspoon serving):
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Total carbs: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Final Thoughts
Nearly all vanilla extracts are vegan including the artificial ones. Some have been suspected to contain castoreum, which comes from a Beaver’s gland, but that is extremely rare. A more common occurrence is vanilla extract being produced in the same facility or on the same equipment as milk or other animal products. That may or may not be a problem depending on how strict you are with your vegan diet.
Vanilla extract might not be for everyone, though. If you are not a fan of vanilla extract, you might want to consider trying some of the alternatives mentioned in this article. They can all be used for similar things, but they each bring their own unique twist to a recipe.
Related Questions
Is Vanilla Extract Gluten-Free?
Yes, most vanilla extracts are gluten-free. Some, however, can be processed in the same facility as wheat. If that is the case, it will always be stated on the label.
Is Vanilla Extract Keto?
Yes, you can have pure vanilla extract on the keto diet. Read more about it here!
Is Vanilla Extract Paleo?
While pure vanilla beans are ok to eat on the paleo diet, vanilla extract is not paleo-friendly. They are often artificial flavorings that contain non-paleo ingredients like alcohol, sugar and preservatives.