Last Updated October 20, 2008

shafi’i ruling on vanilla extract:

So vanilla extract is essentially a mixture of vanilla in a liquid intoxicant (namely, ethanol). It is therefore filth and forbidden to ingest, etc. Anything with vanilla extract added to it would be filthified and therefore also haram to ingest.

Chocolates without vanilla do exist. Not every product on the following pages is vanilla free. Always read the ingredients, and when in doubt, contact the manufacturer.

Chocolate without vanilla extract

  • Coppeneur
  • Domori
  • Rococo
  • Theo Chocolate
  • New Tree
  • Michel Cluizel
  • Terra Nostra
  • Dagoba
  • Wildbar
  • Rapunzel
  • Equal Exchange

    • Reviews are forthcoming.

    Alternatives to Extracts for baking

    I’m not endorsing the shops linked herein, unless I explicitly say so. It’s just to give you an idea of what’s out there.

    • Frontier Coop Vanilla Flavor – found this at my local coop.  Growing up, my mom only used the real, alcohol laden stuff, and with this, I can’t taste the difference.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page.  If you click on “products” and then “baking flavors and extracts,” you’ll find a bunch of other alcohol-less extracts.
    • Vanilla Beans Nector
    • Ground Vanilla Beans – I’ve seen this on occasion at Marshall’s/TJ Maxx quite cheap, but haven’t tried it yet.
    • Vanilla Powder
    • Vanilla Beans – cut it open, scrape out the innerds and let them sit with something liquidish in your recipe. I do this for cookies, and OMGosh, delicious! I can recommend Penzeys (anything from them is great), although they’re expensive. I’ve seen places online that sell them in higher bulk for cheaper prices.
    • Make your own vanilla sugar -if you have used vanilla pods, throw them in a canister with sugar. Makes tasty vanilla tinted sugar that’s great in coffee.

    What about other extracts? If you look hard enough, you can find it. Thanks Sheikh Google!

    • Almond Powder
    • Alcohol free extracts – almond, banana, butter, butter pecan, cherry, coconut, lemon, maple, orange, pineapple, raspberry, strawberry, walnut
    • Extract Substitutes
    • Nature’s Flavors – search “alcohol free,” dozens upon dozens of different flavors
    • Word is Whole Foods has alcohol free extracts. Haven’t been there to confirm, but it’s on my list of things to do.