Move over, chocolate — vanilla can star in your sweets too! While “vanilla” is often used as a synonym for plain or boring, the flavour of this complex spice is anything but.
Sweet, floral, and delicately spicy, we love using vanilla to flavour everything from ice cream to cookies to custards. While the scents of cinnamon, cloves, and ginger are classic, nothing beats the aroma of vanilla.
So, today we’ve rounded up our favourite vanilla dessert recipes to help you fill your house with irresistible scent.
Where did we find all these Delicious Vanilla recipes?
No Bake Vanilla custard -This decadent dessert is so incredibly easy to make, you’ll wonder why you’ve never made it before! It looks and tastes impressive for when you are preparing a dessert for guests, when really it’s a quick and easy recipes to create with just 5 basic ingredients.
Vanilla pudding Cookies-These very vanilla pudding cookies might be the best cookies I’ve ever made. They might be the best cookies I’ve ever eaten… and I’ve eaten my fair share of cookies. And maybe yours. These cookies are light and fluffy, with a perfect vanilla flavour.
Light Vanilla Cupcakes– Make a ‘sweet swap’ and love this healthier vanilla cupcakes without sacrificing the taste.
Vanilla Zucchini Muffins-They have a great vanilla flavour with that added chew from the raisins. If you like zucchini treats, I say go for it and try these!
Vanilla Shortbread Cookies-Bright, buttery & sparkly- there’s nothing better than deliciously festive Vanilla Shortbread! Candy coated & sprinkled to perfection, everyone loves these melt-in-your mouth cookies.
Vanilla Bean Scones-These copycat vanilla bean scones are perfect addition to go with your afternoon coffee. Just the right amount of sweet to satisfy but without all the guilt!
Cherry Vanilla Coke Cupcakes – This cherry Vanilla Coke cupcake is a fun twist on a family favourite.Bursting with flavour it’s sure to be a hit!
Blueberry Vanilla Ice Cream Cake– This Blueberry Vanilla Ice Cream Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting uses a puree of fresh blueberries for a base that is topped with rich cream cheese frosting. Strawberries add a touch of colour to this festive treat.
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream-This Easy Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe makes the perfect treat on hot summer days! You’ll also find tips for great add-ons and hot fudge sauce recipes!
While “vanilla” is often used as a synonym for plain or boring, the flavour of this complex spice is anything but.
Vanilla Cinnamon Pudding-The best part about this recipe is that I can fill a bunch of ramekins to the brim with pudding and keep them covered in the fridge for days to have on hand for a last minute.
Vanilla Bean Mulberry Cake-a forgotten fruit but a truly a delicious secret! (can substitute for blackberries if mulberry’s don’t grow where you live)
French Vanilla Cream Bars-The crust is the French vanilla cake mix that tastes more like a cookie than a cake. It has a creamy, sweet filling and then topped with more French vanilla cookie bits.
Cherry Vanilla Fudge– This Cherry vanilla fudge is rich and creamy just like homemade fudge should be. Sure to be one of your favourite fudge recipes.
Vanilla Bean Gelato-This Vanilla Bean Chai Tea Gelato recipe is a combination of my favourite flavours all wrapped up into a creamy gelato.
Vanilla Almond Pound Cake– This recipe is very versatile and it would be easy to change up the flavours by adding some orange or lemon zest, or mixing some coconut into the batter. After trying this homemade version, you will never going back to the store-bought variety!
Vanilla Crazy Cake-also known as Wacky Cake or Depression Cake, doesn’t need dairy or eggs to make them. In fact, you don’t even need to get a separate bowl dirty – you can make it right in the pan!
Vanilla Mug Cake-Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing which infuses it with sweetness!
Vanilla Butter Syrup-There’s nothing better than topping fresh pancakes with this homemade Warm Vanilla Butter Syrup! Easy to make and you’ll never want store-bought again!
Does your family enjoy vanilla?
I’d love to see your favourite vanilla recipes as well and add them to my list!
Happy baking!
I love vanilla and don’t find it boring at all! I would happily try every one of those delicious-looking treats!
The blueberry vanilla ice cream cake sounds SO good. Perfect for spring.
I’ll take one of each please…with extra sprinkles!
They all look so delicious! I just would not be able to choose.my favorite! The vanilla almond poundcake looks yum!!
As much as I love chocolate, there is just something so delicious and simple about vanilla. What a great collection of recipes!!!
Funny that you posted this. I tried strawberries with toast the other day for the first time. I tried it with penaut butter and it was like natural jelly. So delicious.
We certainly are a vanilla family over chocolate or other flavors. These look like yummy treats that my family would enjoy!
I like to make a large batch of vanilla in the spring so it is ready for fall and holiday cooking. I like your list of recipes and ways to use vanilla.
I’m definitely a chocolate lover but these sound absolutely delicious! I will have to try these for sure. Thank you for sharing!
I’m not a big fan of vanilla, but these definitely look very tasty! I know my kiddos would greatly enjoy some of these as well. I’m a weird one when it comes to baked goods, I don’t like eating a chocolate bar, but I love chocolate cake, cookies with chocolate and such. Kids and I love to bond over baking.
YUM! My brother would love this post. He is the only person in our family that doesnt like Chocolate desserts. Even as a chocolate lover, these look amazing!!
I’ll admit that I am definitely a chocolate girl for most desserts. However, I agree with my eldest son that vanilla sheet cake is superior. And vanilla ice cream is a wonderful platform for toppings.
Vanilla is probably mu all time favorite flavor! Vanilla bean ice cream is SO good! I love all of these recipe ideas and will be checking them out soon. Thanks so much for this post!
Yum, yum! More reasons to go off the diet! I want to try the Cherry Vanilla Fudge. My hubby would most likely enjoy the Cherry Vanilla Coke. My kiddos would most any of them but I see my little guy most enjoying the No Bake Custard.
My daughter is a chocolate fan but loves vanilla frosting. These recipes just might change her to all vanilla. – Stephanie for Winona
I am definitely a fan of vanilla yogurt, ice cream, cake, etc. These are such delicious recipes to check out. That vanilla fudge caught my eye and I would love to recreate that recipe. Maybe this weekend I’ll get the ingredients to make that!
There are way too many yummy recipes in this post. I love vanilla and when you use real vanilla beans or vanilla extract it is anything but a plain taste. I must try making some of the Vanilla Butter Syrup!
I want one of them all. I do not know mulberries? Same taste as blackberries?
The vanilla coke cupcake is on my list to try this weekend,
So much yummy. I am in heaven with all these desserts. Plus sprinkles how fun.
All these recipes look very delicious. I do enjoy the occasional bite of dessert here in there.
I want all the vanilla with sprinkles! Everything looks delicious, pinning for later!
Ooh, these are very creative! I’d love to work on a new dessert and a lot of these would be wonderful. Maybe some new cookies and ice cream could be fun.
There are a lot of really tasty vanilla recipes here! My son prefers vanilla to just about any other flavor. I’m really intrigued by the Vanilla Zucchini Muffins, sounds like a great way to sneak some healthy veggies into a snack!
I like vanilla anything. I’m a little like Bubba Gump and shrimp with my love for vanilla. I’ve even used vanilla beans while baking for a more true flavor. Now I’m craving a vanilla coke float!
Oh wow! These look amazing! I have a sweet tooth like crazy! My kids love anything Vanilla as well. We did this awesome Vanilla cookies last week.
I think my favorite is a plain vanilla shake made at home. Good ice cream and whole milk, that’s all you need!
That mug cake looks tasty. Okay it ALL looks great! I’m ready for dessert!