This post shares how to make homemade vanilla powder using vanilla beans, buckwheat groats and a blender. You can use vanilla powder in place of vanilla extract!

Vanilla Powder up close.

Highlights

I first heard about vanilla powder from the raw food world and saw it on the shelves at the health food store. Vanilla powder is a nice alternative to vanilla extract because it’s a whole food, it is alcohol-free, and you can make it yourself in just a few minutes.

I searched the internet for how to make vanilla powder so I could make my own. I kind of assumed you could just dehydrate the heck out of a vanilla bean and then grind it up in a coffee grinder.

But, the method that I’m sharing today is easier because you don’t have to dry the vanilla beans, and you can store the powder at room temperature or in the refrigerator. This recipe gets made in a high-speed blender like a Blendtec or a Vitamix.

Ingredient Overview

The main ingredient in this recipe are whole vanilla beans. They are not cheap, but you can buy them in bulk to save some money. 

whole vanilla beans

You’ll also need some buckwheat groats to help make the homemade vanilla powder. Buckwheat groats are naturally gluten-free and vegan. You can often find them in the bulk bins at your local health food store.

buckwheat groats

Recipe Steps

Step One

Combine one cup of buckwheat groats with 5 whole vanilla beans in the base of a high-speed blender.

Buckwheat groats in Vitamix.

Step Two

Blend on high for about 30 seconds, or until the mixture turns into a fine powder.

Vanilla powder in the Vitamix.

Step Three

Transfer your powder to a jar with a lid. Use the powder however you would normally use vanilla extract. Vanilla powder is great to add to smoothies, too. I love it in my Acai Coconut Smoothie.

Homemade Vanilla Powder

Here is the printable recipe:

Print

How to Make Vanilla Powder

Vanilla Powder up close.

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This post shares how to make homemade vanilla powder using vanilla beans, buckwheat groats and a blender. You can use vanilla powder in place of vanilla extract.

  • Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 minutes
  • Total Time: 12 minutes
  • Yield: 30 1x
  • Category: Flavoring
  • Method: Blender
  • Cuisine: Raw Vegan
  • Diet: Vegan
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw buckwheat groats
  • 5 whole vanilla pods (preferably organic)

Instructions

  1. Cut the ends off of the vanilla pods and discard.
  2. Place the groats and vanilla pods in a high-speed blender and process on high until ground.
  3. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

Your vanilla bean powder should keep for several months in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator.

Keywords: how to make vanilla powder, homemade vanilla powder, buckwheat vanilla powder

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