Vanilla bean paste has become an increasingly popular baking ingredient over the last few years. This aromatic paste adds incredible depth of flavor and those beautiful vanilla bean specks to cookies, cakes, ice creams and more. But if you’ve never purchased vanilla bean paste before, you may be wondering where to find it in the grocery store.
At our website, we get asked all the time – where can I buy vanilla bean paste? Which aisle is it in? Is it with the spices or the extracts? Well, today I’m sharing all my tips and tricks for hunting down vanilla bean paste during your next grocery trip. Keep reading to find out exactly where to locate this versatile baking essential!
Check the Baking Aisle
The first spot to look when trying to find vanilla bean paste is in the baking aisle. This section of the store contains all the staple ingredients you need to whip up cakes, cookies, muffins and more. Along with the usual suspects like flour, sugar and baking powder, you’ll also find flavorings and extracts here.
Vanilla bean paste is often merchandised on the shelves near the vanilla extract. Take a peek at the selection of vanilla extracts almond extract lemon extract and so on. In many grocery stores, the vanilla bean paste sits right next to the pure vanilla extract.
You may find it tucked in near the front, end or middle of the extract selection so be sure to scan the entire shelf carefully. It’s typically packaged in a small glass bottle or jar. Popular brands to look for include Nielsen-Massey, Beanilla and Amoretti.
If you still don’t see the vanilla bean paste after thoroughly checking the entire baking aisle, don’t give up. There are a couple more key places it could be hiding.
Look in the Gourmet Section
Over the past few years vanilla bean paste has gone from an obscure ingredient only used by professional bakers to a mainstream staple found in most home kitchens. However, some grocery stores still classify it as a specialty or gourmet product.
Many grocers now have a designated section for gourmet, premium or specialty foods This is an area where you’ll find pricier, higher-quality ingredients like fancy oils and vinegars, truffle salt, specialty chocolate and more Be sure to browse through this section – vanilla bean paste is often merchandised here alongside other upscale baking components.
You may find it near the food coloring gels, sprinkles, fancy chocolate chips and other embellishments used to make baked goods extra gorgeous. The product packaging helps it stand out from regular old vanilla extract with its mention of “gourmet” and “vanilla bean specks” – so keep an eye out for those buzzwords.
The Spice Aisle is Another Possibility
Another spot to consider when vanilla bean paste is proving difficult to locate is the spice aisle. Although vanilla bean paste isn’t a traditional dried spice, some grocery stores categorize it alongside spices and dried herbs since it is used primarily for flavoring foods.
Take a few minutes to walk up and down the spice aisle checking the shelves meticulously. Look on the top shelves, middle shelves and lower shelves. Scan all around the perimeter of the aisle as well – sometimes specialty ingredients get arranged in a small section along the side of the aisle.
You may find vanilla bean paste sitting alongside everyday spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. It could also be shelved near flavorful dried herbs like oregano, basil and rosemary.
Be sure to read the labels carefully, as it may be situated near lookalike products like vanilla powder or vanilla sugar. The product packaging will clearly indicate if it is true vanilla bean paste.
Don’t Overlook the Natural Foods Section
If your grocery store has a dedicated natural foods section, be sure to swing through and search there as well. This part of the store features organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and other specialty food products.
You’re likely to find certain premium or specialty baking ingredients like organic chocolate chips, natural food coloring and so on in the natural foods section. And vanilla bean paste is no exception – there’s a good chance you’ll discover it on the shelves near other natural baking components.
This section often carries organic and non-GMO varieties of pantry staples. Check the shelves for small glass jars labeled organic vanilla bean paste. Popular natural brands include Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic and Sunfood.
As you browse through, also keep an eye out for it near the natural sweeteners like coconut sugar, maple syrup and agave nectar. Vanilla bean paste makes a wonderful addition to plant-based and other specialized diets, so the natural foods section has you covered.
Ask for Help Finding It
If you just can’t seem to uncover the vanilla bean paste anywhere in the grocery store, don’t be afraid to ask an employee for assistance. The workers at the store know the inventory inside and out and will be able to point you straight toward the vanilla bean paste.
Employee tip: approach someone working in the baking aisle or spice aisle first, as they will be most familiar with those specific products and their locations. Phrase your question simply: “Excuse me, could you please tell me where the vanilla bean paste is located?”
Delightfully, many grocery stores now have an app you can download on your smartphone. Search for the store name + “app” and check if they offer this option – it provides an easy way to look up exact product placement.
You can simply type “vanilla bean paste” into the app’s search bar and it will tell you precisely which aisle number or section of the store carries it. The app may even provide helpful supplemental info like prices, quantities and stock availability.
Ordering Online is an Option
If you have no luck finding vanilla bean paste at your local grocery store, purchasing online is another way to get your hands on it. There are many online stores that carry an extensive range of baking components like vanilla bean paste.
Large retailers like Amazon and Walmart offer vanilla bean paste for sale and will ship it straight to your door. There are also specialized online baking supply stores such as Wilton and BakeDeco – both carry quality vanilla bean paste.
Searching for “vanilla bean paste” on Google will bring up tons of options to order. Make sure to purchase from a reputable retailer for freshness and customer service perks like convenient returns or exchanges.
Buying online is a fast and simple solution if the vanilla bean paste selection at your grocery store is lacking. You’ll gain access to a wider variety of brands and quantities. No more wandering every aisle aimlessly searching – just click and it’s on its way!
Don’t Settle for Vanilla Extract
In a time crunch, you may be tempted to nix the vanilla bean paste and simply use vanilla extract instead. I strongly advise against this! The two are absolutely not interchangeable.
While vanilla extract offers lovely flavor, only the vanilla bean paste provides those beautiful specks of actual vanilla bean seeds. Vanilla bean paste imparts a richer, more nuanced and multi-layered vanilla taste as well.
Trust me when I say any recipe you make will benefit immensely from the use of true vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla extract. Your cakes, cookies and ice creams will taste far superior!
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Expert’s Guide to Vanilla: Extract, Paste, Powder, and Whole Beans
FAQ
Is vanilla bean paste refrigerated?
What is a substitute for vanilla bean paste?
Is vanilla bean paste the same as vanilla beans?
Where is vanilla in grocery store?
Where can I find vanilla beans?
Look in the baking aisle. If you’re looking for vanilla beans at a conventional supermarket, your best bet is going to be the baking aisle. Vanilla extract is usually found near the baking supplies, but there are other ingredients that contain real vanilla as well.
What is vanilla bean paste?
Vanilla bean paste is a fantastic ingredient that many chefs and home cooks love to use, and here’s why: Delicious Flavor: Vanilla bean paste gives a delicious and deep vanilla taste that can make any dessert, baked treat, or drink taste even better. It has a richer and more complex flavor than the typical vanilla extracts you find in stores.
Where can I find vanilla extract?
Vanilla extract is usually found near the baking supplies, but there are other ingredients that contain real vanilla as well. If you’re shopping at Whole Foods or another natural food store, look in the bulk bins or refrigerated section near the produce section.
Where can I buy vanilla beans at a discount?
Safeway: This is another place to buy bulk bags of vanilla beans at a discount price. Other stores include Trader Joe’s, Kroger, Vons, Publix, H-E-B, Hannaford, Ralphs, Meijer, and Sprouts Farmers Market. How Can You Store Vanilla Beans? When you buy your vanilla beans, you should store them properly.