15 Vanilla Extract Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

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Correction 10/4/22: A previous version of this article stated that Sonoma Syrup Co. uses bourbon in its Sonoma's Blend vanilla extract. The ingredient is actually Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans. 

Any avid home baker can express the importance of high-quality vanilla in baking cookies and cakes. Vanilla is harvested from high-altitude, hand-pollinated orchids. The intense flavors of the orchid seeds are coveted by bakers, which differs from the flat flavor of artificial vanilla. Plus, artificial vanilla is manufactured using a petrochemical precursor called guiacol which contributes to consumer skepticism about the risks of consuming artificial vanilla. Some home cooks have found another alternative to purchasing sketchy artificial vanilla: making homemade vanilla extract with brandy and vanilla beans. This DIY method has its downsides — which is mostly the time it takes for the alcohol to extract flavors from the vanilla bean.

If you want to go for the real deal, you should first be advised that vanilla is the second most expensive spice globally behind saffron. So how do you make a good investment and choose the perfect real vanilla extract? We did the hard work for you. Here are our top picks for the best real vanilla extract brands you can buy today. Prices may vary.

Heilala sells an alcohol-free vanilla extract for $22.72 per fluid ounce on its website. At this price you might consider — what benefit does not using an alcohol extraction technique have on the vanilla extract anyway? We should first note that although the alcohol content of vanilla extract hovers around 35%, the temperature of the oven burns most of the alcohol away. But, for consumers opposed to purchasing alcohol-based extracts, Heilala uses glycerin infused with vanilla extractives to offer a real vanilla flavor with no alcohol involved.

According to Baking Bites, alcohol-free vanilla does not have the same pungent vanilla smell as alcohol-based extracts. Since the extract contains no alcohol, some consumers even might note that the taste of an alcohol-free product is much sweeter than an alcohol-based product.

Our main reason for ranking this product lower on our list was the price per fluid ounce and the small size that the brand was limited to. We imagine that Heilala would be best used for flavoring in coffee, but may not be as effective in an aromatic baked good like a vanilla birthday cake.

The Watkins Company offers several budget-baking items including a 2-ounce pure vanilla extract for $5.50 per fluid ounce, an 8-ounce double-strength for $1.75 per fluid ounce, and a 32-ounce pure vanilla extract for $2.69 per fluid ounce.

Watkins is comparatively inexpensive. This may be because some of its products contain extra ingredients like fruit juice for color, water, sugar, and glycerin — in addition to the pure vanilla extract that other brands offer. As always, read the label to ensure you are purchasing pure vanilla extract rather than a diluted version. Moreover, some folks who have purchased Watkins products note that the aroma is somewhat savory (rather that sweet) and off-putting.

If you want to purchase a cheaper product, we recommend sticking to the nostalgic flavors of McCormick or spending the money on a good-quality bottle of Penzey's or Nielsen-Massey extracts. You'll get more consistent quality with a more sweet aromatic profile.

Beyond Good is a reputable brand in the chocolate world, but did you know that the brand also manufactures several different vanilla products? Beyond Good's 8-ounce Madagascar vanilla extract retails on its website for $11.99 ($1.50 per fluid ounce) — making it one of our lower-priced extracts. But do you sacrifice quality when purchasing from Beyond Good? Overall, folks who have purchased Beyond Good's vanillas found that the aroma of the extract was floral, but not overly strong. Some Amazon reviewers found that this vanilla extract was weaker than other Madagascar varieties. Several purchasers liken the flavor to a mild Mexican vanilla.

The price of this product and its omission of sugar moves it up in our rankings. If ethical sourcing is of particular concern to you, you might have another reason to turn to Beyond Good over other vanilla manufacturers. Beyond Good is committed to purchasing cocoa and vanilla directly from producers and manufacturing the products within Madagascar and Uganda. This sourcing increases producer profits and establishes jobs within the countries.

Blue Cattle Truck Trading Company offers two types of vanilla extract: traditional (10% alcohol) and pure (35% alcohol). The traditional extract uses vanillin for a stronger flavor while the pure extract contains a more alcoholic kick with more subtle vanilla notes. Mexican vanilla is naturally very thick, so this brand would be best used as a drizzle over ice cream. Moreover, reviewers found the more subtle taste of the Mexican vanilla to be ideal for rounding out the flavors in fresh applications, like custards.

Blue Truck is made from single-origin vanilla from a small family farm in Veracruz, Mexico. The brand's products also do not contain artificial additives, sugars, or preservatives. The smaller bottles of the product are much more expensive than the bulk bottles; you can purchase sizes ranging from 3.3 ounces to a half gallon. The price of this product is average compared to other brands on our list; the 8.4-ounce container retails for $26.95 ($3.17 per fluid ounce).

The Spice House's pure vanilla extract comes in two sizes: 4 ounces or 8 ounces. The 8-ounce bottle retails for $52.99 ($6.62 per fluid ounce). You can purchase Tahitian, Madagascar, or Mexican vanilla within a few dollars of one another, or purchase vanilla bean pods to make your own vanilla extract at home.

These bottles are the perfect gift for the avid baker in your life. The attractive labels and simplicity of the bottles are indicative of the quality Spice House places into its products. Folks who have purchased from Spice House claim that the products are super aromatic, high-quality, and used for everything from custards to vanilla cakes. Folks looking for an extra vanilla boost can purchase the double-strength Madagascar vanilla for $10.37 per fluid ounce on the brand's website.

Overall, the price of Spice House is comparable to Penzey's. We value the variety in types of vanilla that Spice House offers (and its gift-ability), but would like to see more variation in sizes.

McCormick is easily the most commercially available vanilla extract on our list. You can find it at most grocery stores or for $2.24 per fluid ounce on Amazon. Besides its availability in stores, consumers often term the flavor of McCormick vanilla extract as "nostalgic" with rummy notes. In 2010, McCormick modified its recipe to remove corn syrup and retain the extractives and alcohol. As a whole, McCormick is a good quality, real vanilla extract that is much more affordable for consumers than other brands like Penzey's and Nielsen-Massey. If you plan on baking in large quantities and need an extract with a fair punch, try McCormick. If you plan on sticking to uncooked applications, like homemade ice cream or egg nog, stick to one of the higher quality, more expensive brands.

The most common complaint about McCormick is how artificial the extract can be at first taste, but this complaint isn't common enough to render it significant. We appreciate the easy-pour spout on the traditional McCormick container — which is not common for other brands to include.

If you are an owner of a Penzey's mug or bumper sticker, you have likely ordered more than your fair share of spices, extracts, and refills. Penzey's sells both single-strength and double-strength vanilla extract made with pure Madagascar vanilla beans. The double-strength variety contains double the amount of vanilla beans as a single-strength extract — which is guaranteed to leave a lasting vanilla flavor in raw and baked goods alike.

Penzey's double-strength extract is twice as potent, so you will have to use half as much for the same vanilla flavor. An 8-ounce bottle retails on the website for $85.49 ($10.69 per fluid ounce). However, if you have to use half the amount for a recipe, you might consider the double-strength a more affordable option. The single-strength imparts a less potent aroma and taste than the double-strength; an 8-ounce bottle retails for $56.95 ($7.19 per fluid ounce). You can purchases bottle sizes ranging from 2 ounces to 16 ounces of both products.

Penzey's is by no means inexpensive, but you get what you pay for with this product. The double-strength vanilla is stable for a home cook who frequently makes vanilla cakes and chocolate chip cookies while the single-strength is a similar potency to other brands on our list. Another downside is that you have to purchase Penzey's from a brick-and-mortar location or website. However, that's worth it to us because the Penzey's brand is well-established and reputable in the culinary world.