Homemade Vanilla Bean Powder
Vanilla bean powder is a baker's secret to a rich, vanilla flavor that can withstand even high-temperature recipes like cakes. Making your own vanilla bean powder at home is incredibly easy and can be much cheaper than splurging on the powders from the store!
Equipment
- dehydrator or oven
- spice grinder or food processor
- small glass jar
Ingredients
- 8-10 whole vanilla beans
Instructions
How to Dry Vanilla Beans
- Preheat your oven or dehydrator to 150-170 degrees F. This is usually the lowest temperature you can achieve with a standard oven.
- Arrange the vanilla beans in a single layer on a baking sheet or your dehydrator tray.
- Place the vanilla beans in the oven or dehydrator and dry for 2-4 hours. Halfway through the drying period, I like to poke holes into the vanilla beans to release extra moisture. Check on the beans several times while drying to check the moisture level. When done, the dried beans should feel hard and dry to the touch and you should be able to snap them in half with your fingers.
- Remove the dried vanilla beans from the oven or dehydrator and let them cool to room temperature.
How to Make Vanilla Bean Powder
- After the beans are fully dried, break them into small pieces and place them in a spice grinder.
- Blend until the beans turn into a fine powder.
- Use a small strainer to sift out any clumps.
- Store the vanilla bean powder in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a year.
Notes
The drying time and final amount of vanilla bean powder will depend on the size and moisture level of your particular beans.
I used 8 large Grade A Ugandan beans and ended up with 1/4 cup (4 TBS) vanilla bean powder.
Nutrition
Calories: 8kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Fat: 1g
Servings: 12 teaspoons
Calories: 8kcal
Cost: 6