Vanilla recipes
Vanilla is the fruit of an orchid plant (and no, it’s not one of your five a day). It’s extremely pernickety to grow, which adds to its expense whether you buy it as pods, extract or essence. Happily, a little goes a long way.
It’s also incredibly hard to describe the flavour, without saying it’s vanilla-y or chocolate-y! Either way, make the most of it in these creamy, scent-laden recipes, which include drinks, pannacottas and cakes.
Showing 1-16 of 37 recipes
Patisserie
Manon Lagrève’s mini canelés
Manon Lagrève shares a family recipe for mini canelés. The wonderful batter is flavoured with vanilla and rum, and caramelises during baking.
Bank holiday recipes
Vanilla buttercream
Classic vanilla buttercream is a baking staple. Use it as your base and adapt to suit your needs – a little cocoa powder for chocolate icing or almond extract in place of vanilla.
Patisserie
Vanilla slice
The hero of many a high street bakery, the vanilla slice is a glorious thing. Like a cross between a custard tart and a mille feuille, it takes you through a whole range of textures and embraces the retro aesthetic better than any other bake.
Coffee
Coffee, hazelnut and vanilla tequila
Coffee beans gently infuse into tequila over time, while hazelnuts, vanilla and sugar round out the flavour. Delicious over ice in the sun.
September seasonal
Plum and vanilla jam
This speedy plum preserve with hints of vanilla and cinnamon uses a clever time-saving trick. Delicious plum jam in a hurry? Yes please.
Non-alcoholic drinks
Lemon verbena and vanilla cordial
This homemade cordial for grown-ups uses herbs, lemon verbena and edible flowers to create a sophisticated cooler for spring and summer days.
Best of British
Proper homemade custard
This easy recipe for proper homemade custard is the perfect finishing touch: pour it over apple pie, steamed pudding, or whatever you fancy.
Christmas baking
Vanilla fudge
Give our easy vanilla fudge recipe a go! It takes less than an hour to make 20 squares – perfect for a homemade Christmas gift.
Apricots
Vanilla tart with poached apricots
The filling for this vanilla tart recipe is made with cream, eggs and fresh vanilla. It's super rich which makes the tangy poached apricots a perfect match.
Strawberries
Strawberry and vanilla baked cheesecake
Strawberries are the hero in this beautiful baked strawberry cheesecake recipe – it'd be perfect for a summer dinner party dessert, or even afternoon tea
Retro puddings
Granny Brett’s warm vanilla rice pudding with golden syrup
This creamy vanilla rice pudding is inspired by the version chef Roy Brett's granny used to make when he was young. A comfort food classic.
Vanilla
Katrya’s baba with vanilla and lovage syrup
Typically made with rum, this baba uses a vanilla and lovage infused vodka syrup for an extra punch of flavour. Serve warm for extra gooiness
Coffee
Pecan and cinnamon streusel coffee cake
Debbie Major's version is a butter-rich vanilla cake with cinnamon and pecan streusel running through the centre and scattered on top.
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