Vanilla: 10 wonderful ways to use it

1 Buttery muffins
Put 200g/7oz self-raising flour in a bowl with half tsp bicarbonate of soda and 125g/4oz golden caster sugar. Then add 75g/3oz butter, melted, 1 large egg, 284ml carton of soured cream and 1tbsp vanilla extract. Gently stir to combine. Divide mixture between 12 paper muffin cases then bake in oven at gas mark 6/200˚C (180˚C in a fan oven) for 15 mins till pale golden.

2 Mocha panna cotta
Put 300ml/1⁄2 pint double cream in a pan with 300ml/half pint milk, 6tbsp sugar, 2tbsp instant coffee granules, 2tsp vanilla extract and 75g/3oz dark chocolate, cubed. Warm through, then sprinkle over 1tbsp powdered gelatine. Stir to dissolve. Pour into 4 individual yogurt pots or moulds. Chill till firm before serving.

3 Fruit fool
Stir 1tbsp vanilla extract into 500g carton of fresh custard mixed with 500g carton of fruit compôte.

4 Mango brûlée
Cut away skin and flesh from 1 ripe mango, then cut into cubes. Divide cubes between 4 ramekin dishes. Mix together 500g carton of reduced- fat crème fraîche and 200g tub of mascarpone with 2tsp vanilla extract. Spoon over mango then sprinkle over a generous layer of golden granulated sugar. Put under a preheated grill till sugar melts and turns to a dark caramel. Leave to cool before chilling.

5 Special shortbread
Put 250g/9oz plain flour in a food processor with 75g/3oz golden caster sugar and 175g/6oz butter, cubed. Add 2tsp vanilla extract and blend to combine. Press into a 30cm x 20cm/12in x 8in tin and bake in oven at gas mark 4/180˚C (160˚C in a fan oven) for 12-15 mins till golden.

6 Buttermilk scones
Put 300g/11oz self-raising flour in a food processor with 1tsp baking powder, pinch of salt and 50g/2oz chilled butter, diced. Whizz together to make crumbs. Add 25g/1oz golden caster sugar, 284ml carton of buttermilk and 2tsp vanilla extract, and pulse till combined. Roll out pastry and stamp out 8 scones. Bake on a tray in oven at gas mark 7/220˚C (200˚C in a fan oven) for 12-15 mins till pale golden. Split in half and serve with jam.

7 Easy ice cream
Mix together 284ml carton of whipped double cream with 218g can of condensed milk, 200g carton of fresh custard and 2tbsp vanilla extract. Pour into a 900g/ 2lb loaf tin lined with clingfilm. Freeze for at least 6 hrs. Turn over tin onto large plate, tap out ice cream and slice to serve.

8 Sweet eggy bread
Beat together 2 eggs with 150ml/quarter pint milk and 1tsp vanilla extract. Dip 4 slices of bread into egg, coating each slice well. Then heat a generous knob of butter in a frying pan and fry both sides of bread slices till golden. Next, sprinkle with sugar and cut into triangles before serving.

9 Speedy trifle
Arrange a sliced Madeira cake in base of a glass bowl. Pour over 4tbsp elderflower cordial and 6tbsp white wine. Spread over 3tbsp blueberry conserve, then pour over 500g carton of custard. Mix together 142ml carton of double cream, whipped, and 200ml carton of Greek yogurt with 2tsp vanilla

10 Vanilla sugar
Take a vanilla pod, split in half lengthways and place in a jar of sugar to flavour it. Use to sprinkle over fruit.

Easy cake recipes from bestselling UK magazines

Easy bread recipes from bestselling UK magazines

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