If you always reach for vanilla extract, these vanilla recipes are for you. From swoopable frosting to celebratory cakes, these are a vanilla lover's dream.
25 Best Vanilla Recipes That Are Anything but Boring
Updated on Jul. 29, 2025
1/25
Pressure Cooker Very Vanilla Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cinnamon and vanilla give this cheesecake so much flavor, and making it in the pressure cooker creates a silky, smooth texture that's hard to resist. —Krista Lanphier, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2/25
Vanilla French Toast
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We discovered this easy French toast recipe in Mexico. We couldn't figure out what made the French toast so delicious until we learned the secret was vanilla. Since then, we've added a touch of vanilla to our waffle and pancake recipes, and it makes all the difference. —Joe and Bobbi Schott, Castroville, Texas
3/25
Custard Ice Cream
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4-1/2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
This ice cream is technically a custard since it contains eggs. After lots of testing (and tasting), I've found that eggs are the key to making a smooth and creamy treat that rivals what you can get at a premium ice cream shop. -Peggy Woodward, Shullsburg, Wisconsin
4/25
Vanilla Pudding
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This creamy vanilla pudding turns out perfect every time! It's quick and easy to make, and the result is an old-fashioned pudding that's great for an after-school snack or to use as a base for many delicious desserts. —Jeanne Bullard, Charlotte, North Carolina
5/25
Amish Vanilla Pie
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We live in rural northern Indiana where we have several Amish communities. I found this recipe in our local paper a few years back, and after making a few adjustments, I came up with a fabulous pie! It reminds me of the many cream pies my grandma made for holidays. Be sure to allow the Amish vanilla pie to set and cool completely before cutting and serving. —Shelly Brubacher, Nappanee, Indiana
6/25
Vanilla Bean Fizz
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A homemade vanilla bean syrup from our home economists fabulously flavors Champagne. The bubbly beverage is ideal for holidays throughout the year.
7/25
Rum Vanilla Cranberry Sauce
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
Cranberry sauce is one of my favorite things—this jazzed-up version combines vanilla with rum to create a rich flavorful sauce that's far from the usual! —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin
8/25
Vanilla & Cinnamon-Kissed Apple Latkes
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Latkes are crispy fried pancakes, often made with potatoes. But this sweet version with apples, orange juice, cinnamon and vanilla falls in the dessert realm. —Candy McMenamin, Lexington, South Carolina
9/25
Vanilla Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
To me, there is nothing better than a simple, elegant cheesecake where the vanilla takes center stage. And when I'm feeling decadent, I'll add the rich chocolate ganache topping. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
10/25
Vanilla Citrus Cider
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
10 servings (3/4 cup each)
From the Recipe Creator:
My mom used to make cider for the holidays, so I based my citrus-vanilla variation on her recipe. I think it hits the spot! The longer the cider simmers, the stronger the flavors will be.—Kristin Weglarz, Bremerton, Washington
11/25
Vanilla Frosting
Total Time
10 min
Servings
About 3 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
After trying a few buttercream frosting recipes, this easy vanilla buttercream frosting takes the cake with its unmatchable homemade taste. With a few simple variations, you can come up with different colors and flavors. —Diana Wilson, Denver, Colorado
12/25
Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
Total Time
25 min
Servings
1-1/4 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
We don't want to brag, but as far as vanilla ice cream recipes go, this one is the best. And with only four ingredients, it just might be the easiest, too. No ice cream maker? No problem. Just follow the directions below to learn how to make homemade ice cream by hand. It's the perfect base for our best ice cream sundae ideas, too. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
13/25
Vanilla Wafers
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These buttery cookies bake up chewy and crispy at the same time. Sprinkle these vanilla wafers with colored sugar or leave them as-is. Their simplicity is beauty enough! —Edith MacBeath, Gaines, Pennsylvania
14/25
Meringue Cookies
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These sweet little swirls are light as can be. They're all you need after a big, special dinner. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
15/25
Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is our daughter's favorite hot chocolate recipe. It may look like ordinary cocoa, but a touch of vanilla sets it apart from the rest. And the melted marshmallows give it a frothy body you won't get from a cocoa packet. —Jo Ann Schimcek, Weimar, Texas
16/25
Vanilla Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
There's a reason this vanilla cake recipe is the best. Adding creamy vanilla bean paste into the moist, rich cake batter creates a power-packed vanilla flavor that can't be bought in stores. Try spreading vanilla buttercream frosting on top to finish it off. —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
17/25
Frozen Yogurt
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2-1/2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
It's so simple and easy to make your own frozen Greek yogurt. You might even want to get the kids in on the fun. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
18/25
Vanilla Crescents
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These cookies are especially cozy at Christmastime, but are wonderful all year long. Try them dipped into hot tea or coffee.—Cara McDonald, Winter Park, Colorado
19/25
Angel Food Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For our daughter's wedding, a friend made this lovely, airy angel food cake from a recipe she's used for decades. It really is one of the best angel food cake recipes I've found. Serve slices plain or dress them up with fresh fruit. —Marilyn Niemeyer, Doon, Iowa
20/25
Berries with Vanilla Custard
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
What a simple, delectable way to enjoy fresh raspberries. For a change, also try the custard with strawberries or peaches. —Sarah C. Vasques, Milford, New Hampshire
21/25
Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
Total Time
50 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My son loves these vanilla bean cupcakes! Flecks of vanilla bean in the moist, tender cupcakes give them special-occasion status. —Alysha Braun, St. Catharines, Ontario
22/25
Almond-Vanilla Yogurt Parfaits
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I’m a night-shift nurse. When I get home, I make a crunchy parfait with yogurt for a protein boost before heading off to a good day’s sleep. —Meredith Brazinski, Neptune, New Jersey
23/25
Elegant White Chocolate Mousse
Total Time
20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Simply elegant is a fitting description for this smooth treat. Whipped cream teams up with white chocolate to make this easy white chocolate mousse recipe extra special. —Laurinda Johnston, Belchertown, Massachusetts
24/25
Fudge-Filled Vanilla Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For my husband’s birthday cake, I used white chocolate pudding mix as part of the cake’s topping. Guests rated this fluffy cake excellent. —Linnea Ledgister, Wausau, Wisconsin
25/25
Coffee Creamer
Total Time
10 min
Servings
2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
Flavored coffee creamer drives my husband nuts. Even so, I still make this classic vanilla one all the time. It’s better (and cheaper) than store-bought—and
I know exactly what’s in it! —Shauna Sever, San Francisco, California
Vanilla Recipes FAQ
How can I make vanilla extract at home?
You can make homemade vanilla extract by steeping whole vanilla beans in a high-proof, neutral alcohol, like vodka, in a sealed jar or bottle. Let the mixture steep in a cool, dark place for a minimum of six weeks, shaking occasionally, allowing the beans’ aromatic oils to infuse slowly. This method draws out the deep, floral complexity of vanilla extract, resulting in an amber-hued liquid that gets even better and stronger the longer it sits. As you use the extract, add more vanilla beans and vodka to replenish the bottle, and you will never run out.
What desserts are best with vanilla flavoring?
Vanilla has a place in almost any dessert you can think of, but vanilla flavoring really shines in desserts that highlight its warm, floral notes, like custards, flans, meringues and cream pies. These treats have mild milky or eggy tastes that do not compete with the vanilla, and let it become the main flavoring agent. Vanilla also adds depth to no-bake desserts. For the most flavorful results, use real vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste or scraped, split beans.
What pairs well with vanilla in recipes?
Vanilla pairs well with warm spices and bright fruits, like cinnamon, nutmeg, strawberries, citrus and apples. It also enhances caramel, nuts and brown butter, which lean into toasty, rich flavors. In chocolate desserts, it is an important but subtle background flavor. It is easier to taste vanilla against white or milk chocolate than an intense bar of bittersweet chocolate, so you may need to add more in decadent chocolate desserts, so it cuts through the cocoa.
