1. Whipped cream

    1 tsp vanilla per cup of cream

    Add a spoonful of sugar too. Stop whisking at soft peaks.

  2. Coffee and cocoa

    2 or 3 drops per mug

    Like it stronger? Add a drop more. Too much tastes bitter.

  3. Vanilla sugar

    1 tsp vanilla + 1 cup sugar

    Rub together and leave to dry. Sprinkle on toast or berries.

Diner-style pancakes

Recipe · Made with vanilla extract

Diner-style pancakes

Serves 425 minutesEasy

Method

  1. 1Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
  2. 2Whisk the milk, egg, melted butter and vanilla, then stir into the dry mix until just combined. A few lumps are fine.
  3. 3Rest the batter for 5 minutes while a pan heats over medium.
  4. 4Cook ¼ cup at a time until bubbles pop on top, then flip for a minute more.

  • "Pure vanilla extract"

    In the US, pure extract has to be made from real vanilla beans in at least 35% alcohol. Imitation uses vanillin, the main flavor in vanilla, made separately.

  • Where it's from

    Madagascar vanilla is creamy and sweet, Mexican is a little spicy, Tahitian is floral.

  • Size

    Most recipes use a teaspoon or two, so a small bottle lasts a long time.