26 Vanilla Recipes That Are Anything But Boring

Read Time: 8 mins

26 Vanilla Recipes That Are Anything But Boring2/26 Fruit Tart 29 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Fruit Tart Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: It’s well worth the effort to whip up this creamy fruit tart bursting with juicy berries. A friend gave me the recipe, and it always receives rave reviews at gatherings. —Susan Terzakis, Andover, Massachusetts 3/26 Blueberry Bread 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Blueberry Bread Recipe photo by Kristina Vanni for Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 1

loaf (12 pieces) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

loaf (12 pieces) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This blueberry bread recipe is a simple quick bread that I look forward to making when fresh blueberries are in season. It’s so good that I end up making it year-round. —Karen Scales, Waukesha, Wisconsin 4/26 Vanilla Bean Fizz Test Kitchen Approved Vanilla Bean Fizz Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A homemade vanilla bean syrup from our home economists fabulously flavors Champagne. The bubbly beverage is ideal for holidays throughout the year. 5/26 Rum Vanilla

Latkes are crispy fried pancakes, often made with potatoes

Cranberry Sauce 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 40 min Servings 2 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Cranberry sauce is one of my favorite things—this jazzed-up version combines vanilla with rum to create a rich flavorful sauce that’s far from the usual! —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin 6/26 Vanilla & Cinnamon-Kissed Apple Latkes 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 25 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Latkes are crispy fried pancakes, often made with potatoes. But this sweet version with apples, orange juice, cinnamon

and vanilla falls in the dessert realm

and vanilla falls in the dessert realm. —Candy McMenamin, Lexington, South Carolina 7/26 Vanilla Cheesecake 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Vanilla Cheesecake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 25 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: To me, there is nothing better than a simple, elegant cheesecake where the vanilla takes center stage. And when I’m feeling decadent, I’ll add the rich chocolate ganache topping. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 8/26 Vanilla Citrus Cider 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Vanilla Citrus Cider Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 20

min Servings 10 servings (3/4 cup each) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

min Servings 10 servings (3/4 cup each) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My mom used to make cider for the holidays, so I based my citrus-vanilla variation on her recipe. I think it hits the spot! The longer the cider simmers, the stronger the flavors will be.—Kristin Weglarz, Bremerton, Washington 9/26 Vanilla Frosting 148 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Easy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe photo by Christine Ma for Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings About 3 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: After trying a few buttercream frosting recipes, this easy vanilla buttercream frosting

takes the cake with its unmatchable homemade taste

takes the cake with its unmatchable homemade taste. With a few simple variations, you can come up with different colors and flavors. —Diana Wilson, Denver, Colorado 10/26 Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe 65 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 1-1/4 quarts Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We don’t want to brag, but as far as vanilla ice cream recipes go, this one is the best. And with only four ingredients, it just might be the easiest, too. No ice cream maker? No problem. Just follow the

directions below to learn how to make homemade ice cream by hand

directions below to learn how to make homemade ice cream by hand. It’s the perfect base for our best ice cream sundae ideas, too. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 11/26 Vanilla Wafers 40 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Vanilla Wafer Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings about 3-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These buttery cookies bake up chewy and crispy at the same time. Sprinkle these vanilla wafers with colored sugar or leave them as-is. Their simplicity is beauty enough! —Edith MacBeath, Gaines, Pennsylvania 12/26 Meringue Cookies 55 Reviews Test Kitchen

They’re all you need after a big, special dinner

Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings about 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These sweet little swirls are light as can be. They’re all you need after a big, special dinner. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 13/26 Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows 23 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is our daughter’s favorite hot chocolate recipe. It may look like ordinary cocoa, but a touch of vanilla sets it apart from

Try spreading vanilla buttercream frosting on top to finish it off

the rest. And the melted marshmallows give it a frothy body you won’t get from a cocoa packet. —Jo Ann Schimcek, Weimar, Texas 14/26 Vanilla Cake 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Best Vanilla Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: There’s a reason this vanilla cake recipe is the best. Adding creamy vanilla bean paste into the moist, rich cake batter creates a power-packed vanilla flavor that can’t be bought in stores. Try spreading vanilla buttercream frosting on top to finish it off. —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee,

Everyone loved it!

Wisconsin 15/26 Cream Puff Dessert 20 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Cream Puff Dessert Recipe photo by Melissa Patterson for Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I took this rich dessert to a fellowship meeting at our church. Everyone loved it! In fact, so many people asked for the recipe that the church secretary printed it in our monthly newsletter.—Lisa Nash, Blaine, Minnesota 16/26 Homemade Vanilla Extract 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 5 min Servings 2 cups

Share it with special friends who like to cook or bake

Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Homemade vanilla is fun to give in decorative bottles with attractive labels. Share it with special friends who like to cook or bake. —Becky Jo Smith, Kettle Falls, Washington 17/26 Frozen Yogurt 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Frozen Greek Vanilla Yogurt Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2-1/2 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: It’s so simple and easy to make your own frozen Greek yogurt, you might even want to get the kids in on the fun. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 18/26 Pear-Stuffed French

He says he makes it frequently for his children and they clean their plates!

Vanilla Toast 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My handyman, who is originally from Nicaragua, shared this classic breakfast dish his mother used to prepare. He says he makes it frequently for his children and they clean their plates! —Gail Borczyk, Boca Raton, Florida 19/26 Vanilla Crescents 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings about 4 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These cookies are especially cozy at Christmastime, but are wonderful all year long. Try them dipped into

It really is one of the best angel food cake recipes I’ve found

hot tea or coffee.—Cara McDonald, Winter Park, Colorado 20/26 Angel Food Cake 37 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved AUDREY ROMPON FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 50 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For our daughter’s wedding, a friend made this lovely, airy angel food cake from a recipe she’s used for decades. It really is one of the best angel food cake recipes I’ve found. Serve slices plain or dress them up with fresh fruit. —Marilyn Niemeyer, Doon, Iowa 21/26 Berries with Vanilla Custard 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 4

For a change, also try the custard with strawberries or peaches

servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: What a simple, delectable way to enjoy fresh raspberries. For a change, also try the custard with strawberries or peaches. —Sarah C. Vasques, Milford, New Hampshire 22/26 Vanilla Bean Cupcakes 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 50 min Servings 1-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My son loves these vanilla bean cupcakes! Flecks of vanilla bean in the moist, tender cupcakes give them special-occasion status. —Alysha Braun, St. Catharines, Ontario 23/26 Almond-Vanilla Yogurt Parfaits 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home

Whipped cream teams up with white chocolate

Total Time 15 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’m a night-shift nurse. When I get home, I make a crunchy parfait with yogurt for a protein boost before heading off to a good day’s sleep. —Meredith Brazinski, Neptune, New Jersey 24/26 Elegant White Chocolate Mousse 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Elegant White Chocolate Mousse Recipe photo by Nicole Perry for Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Simply elegant is a fitting description for this smooth treat. Whipped cream teams up with white chocolate

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⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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