Vanilla Extract: how many carbs?

[axela]

Hi,

Most brands of Vanilla Extract (including McCormick) do not include nutritional info. Most list corn syrup as an ingredient, and I'm wondering how many carbs to count for a 1/2 tsp?

[nurseypoo5]

i hope you get an answer soon...my hubby was sent to get me some more vanilla extract and brought this big bottle..i opened it THEN noticed the corn syrup...i tasted it..yuck lol! anyway i dont want to waste it if its not that many carbs....i can deal with one carb here and there... but not much more than that!

[axela]

Just did a little 'net research and came up with this -- Vanilla Extract is at the top:

http://diabetes.about.com/library/blcarbs/blcarbsV.htm

It's about 1/2 carb per teaspoon, and the recipe I'm going to make calls for 1 tsp and has 18 portions, so I think I'll be ok.

[dizneegirl]

It's fairly easy to make your own vanilla extract, if you feel like it (and want to avoid the corn syrup, and the high costs of "pure")...

3-4 vanilla beans, sliced lengthwise
750 ml vodka

Put the beans in the vodka, put in a dark place, and let sit for 6 weeks or more (shake occasionally if you think about it). When you use some, replace with an equal amount of vodka... you'll have a virtually unending supply of vanilla extract for the next 7 years or so.

[axela]

This seems like a fantastic idea but will it taste bitter? I have lemon extract that is alchohol based as well and it is not sweet.

[dizneegirl]

All vanilla extract is alcohol based.

I don't think you'd want to drink this stuff (unless it was mixed with a Diet Coke!), but I've used it exclusively for the last year, and it works/tastes just like store-bought vanilla in recipes.

[auntie3]

I have been using some vanilla that was brought back here from Mexico. There is no alcohol in the base, and it is just the pure, beautiful vanilla flavor - the color is a pale yellow - almost beige. I find that without the alcohol, I actually need to use more of the flavoring, since my tastebuds are quite used to that alcohol based stuff! LOL. My old bottle says the alcohol used is Brandy. There is a web site where they sell imported Mexican vanilla, which I'm sure you could find if you do a google search. You can also get vanilla powder in specialty shops, which is just residue from the actual vanilla beans that have have been soaked in water, if I'm not mistaken. The powder is quite expensive, though.

[axela]

Do any of you bake with Stevia? I made some almond cookies last night with 1 tsp of Stevia and it sweet with slight bitterness. I want to eliminate the bitterness -- anyone know an adequate amount to sub for 1 cup of sugar? I was following th guidelines from several websites that say 1 tsp of the Sweat Leaf clear liquid = 1 cup of sugar.

Any thoughts?

[dizneegirl]

You're right Auntie... never make generalizations!

Most of the US vanilla extract is alcohol based. (I think that works! )

I use stevia all the time... I use both powdered, and locarbman's homemade liquid stevia. I measure both the same... approx 1/4. tsp = 1 cup sugar. I'd start with that, taste, and go from there if you had enough stevia to cause bitterness.