✔ Updated · Alcohol content, safety and poison-control advice
Vanilla extract smells like dessert, so it's easy to forget what's in the bottle. I keep mine on a high shelf, and here's exactly why.
No, you shouldn't drink vanilla extract. In the US, pure vanilla extract must contain at least 35% alcohol by volume, about 70 proof, which is close to vodka. A teaspoon in a recipe is fine, but drinking it straight can cause alcohol intoxication, and even a small bottle can be dangerous for a child. If someone has swallowed a lot, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
- Pure vanilla extract: at least 35% alcohol (about 70 proof).
- Cooking with it in normal amounts is safe.
- Keep it out of reach of children, like any alcohol.
- Swallowed a lot? Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222. Emergency: 911.
Is It Safe to Drink Vanilla Extract?
Vanilla extract is safe as a flavoring, in the teaspoon amounts recipes call for. It isn't meant to be drunk. The reason is simple: it's mostly alcohol and water with vanilla flavor dissolved in it.
The US Food and Drug Administration's standard for vanilla extract requires at least 35% ethyl alcohol by volume. That's around 70 proof, in the same range as many spirits. So drinking vanilla extract is drinking strong alcohol, with all the same risks, plus a harsh, bitter taste that surprises most people.
How Much Alcohol Is in Vanilla Extract?
Here's the math, using pure vanilla extract at the 35% minimum. A US standard drink contains about 0.6 fl oz (14 g) of pure alcohol.
| Amount of pure vanilla extract | Pure alcohol (approx.) | Roughly equal to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 0.06 fl oz (1.7 ml) | About 1/10 of a standard drink |
| 1 tablespoon | 0.18 fl oz (5 ml) | About 1/3 of a standard drink |
| 1 fl oz bottle | 0.35 fl oz (10 ml) | More than half a standard drink |
| 2 fl oz bottle | 0.7 fl oz (21 ml) | More than 1 standard drink |
| 4 fl oz bottle | 1.4 fl oz (41 ml) | More than 2 standard drinks |
What Happens if You Drink Vanilla Extract?
A small taste off a spoon won't do anything except make you wince. Drinking larger amounts acts like drinking any strong alcohol: it can cause drunkenness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and poor judgment, and enough of it can cause alcohol poisoning.
Because it's sold in the baking aisle, people sometimes underestimate it. A whole large bottle is several drinks' worth of alcohol, and it can also show up in a breath test, so never drink it and drive.
Vanilla Extract and Children
This is the part that really matters. Children are much more sensitive to alcohol than adults, and a small bottle of vanilla extract can contain enough alcohol to make a young child seriously ill. In small children, alcohol can cause dangerously low blood sugar, drowsiness and trouble breathing.
In my kitchen the vanilla lives up high with the other things little hands shouldn't reach, and the cap goes back on as soon as I've measured.
What to Do if Someone Drank Vanilla Extract
- Call Poison Control right away at 1-800-222-1222 (US), or use the online tool at poison.org. Have the bottle in hand so you can tell them the product and roughly how much is missing.
- Call 911 immediately if the person is hard to wake, has trouble breathing, has a seizure or is very confused.
- Don't make them vomit unless Poison Control tells you to.
- For a child, call even if they seem fine. Symptoms can take time to appear.
Can You Eat Vanilla Extract Raw?
Yes, in normal recipe amounts. Plenty of no-bake recipes use vanilla extract without cooking: frosting, whipped cream, puddings, smoothies and edible cookie dough. A teaspoon spread through a whole batch adds very little alcohol to each serving.
Baking and simmering drive off a lot of the alcohol, though not every last bit. If you need to avoid alcohol entirely, use the swaps below.
Pure vs Imitation vs Alcohol-Free Vanilla
| Type | What it is | Alcohol |
|---|---|---|
| Pure vanilla extract | Vanilla beans steeped in alcohol and water | At least 35% by law |
| Imitation vanilla | Synthetic vanillin flavoring | Varies; many contain some alcohol, check the label |
| Alcohol-free vanilla flavoring | Vanilla in glycerin or another base | Usually none; check the label |
| Vanilla bean paste | Vanilla seeds in a thick syrup | Often contains some alcohol |
| Whole vanilla beans | The dried pod; scrape out the seeds | None |
Want a Vanilla Drink? Make One the Safe Way
If what you're really craving is that warm vanilla flavor in a mug, try a vanilla steamer: heat 1 cup of milk until steaming, whisk in 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar or honey and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and top with a pinch of cinnamon. It's cozy and tastes like dessert in a mug. When I make it for Lucy and Max, I use alcohol-free vanilla flavoring instead.
For coffee drinks, a homemade syrup is the way to go. My copycat vanilla syrup goes into my vanilla latte, and for baking questions, see can you eat raw dough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can vanilla extract get you drunk?
Yes. Pure vanilla extract is at least 35% alcohol by volume, about 70 proof, so drinking enough of it causes intoxication just like other strong alcohol. It is not a safe or pleasant way to drink, and it can be dangerous, especially for children.
Is it bad to drink vanilla extract?
Yes, drinking it is a bad idea. A teaspoon in a recipe is fine, but drinking vanilla extract straight means drinking strong alcohol. Larger amounts can cause intoxication, vomiting and alcohol poisoning. Keep it out of children's reach and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if someone swallows a lot.
How much alcohol is in a bottle of vanilla extract?
At the 35% minimum, a 2 fl oz bottle of pure vanilla extract holds about 0.7 fl oz of pure alcohol, which is more than one US standard drink. A 4 fl oz bottle holds more than two standard drinks.
Can you eat vanilla extract without cooking it?
Yes, in normal recipe amounts. No-bake recipes like frosting, whipped cream and pudding use it raw, and a teaspoon spread through a batch adds very little alcohol per serving. For a fully alcohol-free option, use alcohol-free vanilla flavoring or vanilla bean seeds.
What should I do if my child drank vanilla extract?
Call Poison Control right away at 1-800-222-1222, even if your child seems fine, and have the bottle with you. Call 911 if your child is very sleepy, hard to wake, having trouble breathing or having a seizure. Don't make them vomit unless told to.
