Costco Has a Major Deal on Vanilla for Holiday Baking and I’m Stocking Up

Just about any baking recipe calls for vanilla, whether you’re making a batch of cookies, or baking a cake or cheesecake. Vanilla not only infuses treats with a deliciously sweet flavor and aroma, but it also enhances other ingredients in the mix. Vanilla plays a key role and is anything but boring.

While vanilla extract is a convenient option, nothing compares to the rich complexity and beautiful little specks that real vanilla beans add. They’re a bit pricier than vanilla extract, but Costco has the ultimate deal right now on vanilla beans for holiday baking at a fraction of the cost. 

Costco’s Amazing Vanilla Deal

Vanilla beans are typically packaged in jars and can be purchased at most grocery stores nationwide. However, they’re often anywhere from $5 to $10 per bean, with only a few beans in the jar. That can certainly add up if you’re using them for multiple recipes. 

What makes Costco’s deal so great? Kirkland Signature Organic Madagascar Vanilla Beans are priced at $10.89 for 20 pods right now. That’s a significant savings compared to prices you’ll find elsewhere.

Why You Should Use Vanilla Beans

Vanilla extract is made by soaking vanilla beans to extract their flavor. Instead of just the liquid, when you use vanilla beans, you can go straight to the source to incorporate all of the rich, concentrated flavor of the tiny beans inside each pod into your desserts. 

This is best for recipes where vanilla is the main flavor, or one of the key flavors, such as vanilla cakes and cupcakes, sugar cookies, shortbread, and cheesecake. Vanilla beans can also be used for making homemade vanilla extract, which is a lovely gift idea during the holiday season. 

Tips for Using Vanilla Beans 

It’s a bit trickier to use vanilla beans than vanilla extract or vanilla paste, but the results are well worth the extra effort. Incorporate vanilla beans into the creamed butter and sugar for cookies, or wet ingredients for a batter, when the recipe calls for adding vanilla in the directions. Here are my tips for using and storing vanilla beans:

• How to scrape the beans: Use the sharp side of a paring knife to create a slit down the length of the vanilla bean, and then scrape out the seeds inside using the dull side of the knife. Those go straight into your mixing bowl. 
• How to store the vanilla beans: Vanilla beans are a coveted ingredient! Be sure to store them in a zip-top bag with all of the air pressed out and place it in the pantry or cupboard. Keeping vanilla beans away from air, heat, and light will help keep them fresh for longer.
• Don’t ditch the pod: Even if you’ve scraped all of the beans out, there’s still plenty of use left in the pod itself. Keep the flavorful pods to steep in hot tea or milk and infuse the liquid, put them in an airtight container filled with sugar or salt to infuse basic pantry ingredients with more flavor, or let them steep in vodka for a few months to make vanilla extract.

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