What to do with leftover vanilla pods

Recipes with vanilla pods

• Vanilla shortbread
• Vanilla and nutmeg baked rice pudding
• Granny Brett’s warm vanilla rice pudding with golden syrup
• Easy custard

How to use up leftover vanilla pods

• Vanilla sugar
  Tip 500g granulated sugar into a large kilner jar. Slice a vanilla pod in half lengthways and, using the back of a knife, scrape out the seeds and mix them into the sugar. Halve each piece of vanilla pod and put all four pieces in the jar of sugar. Give the jar a shake, then set aside to infuse for 2 weeks. Use the vanilla sugar in place of plain granulated sugar to add flavour to sweet baking.
• Poached fruit
  split a vanilla pod, scrape out the seeds and add (seeds and pod) to the poaching liquid for fruit. This works particularly well with pears and plums.
• Vanilla vodka
  Put 3-4 vanilla pods in a full 70l bottle of vodka and replace the lid. Leave to infuse for 1 week, shaking the bottle every other day (it will turn light brown). For a stronger flavour, split the pods and scrape the seeds into the bottle, too. vanilla vodka is great for cocktails.