Recipes with vanilla bean

Homemade Tia Maria coffee liqueur made with brandy, strong coffee, sugar, and a whole vanilla bean. Just four ingredients and 30 days of patience for a rich, smooth sip.

Oats are a great source of soluble fibre and have been shown to help lower cholesterol levels. Cinnamon is well regarded for its ability to balance sugar levels, thus keeping hunger at bay for longer. Adding flaxseeds or chia seeds boosts the omega-3 oils and adds even more fibre to the dish. The dish can be assembled the night before and left in the fridge for the oats to soften. All that is required the next morning is to add hot milk.

Super-rich creme brulee made with nine egg yolks, heavy cream, and a whole vanilla bean, baked low in a water bath until just set, then crowned with a crackly caramelized sugar crust. Silkier than any restaurant version.

Vanilla buttermilk panna cotta with fresh strawberry jam on top. A make-ahead individual dessert that sets in small glasses and feeds six for dinner parties or date nights.

Peach tres leches cake soaked in three milks and peach schnapps, topped with star anise and cinnamon poached peaches, vanilla whipped cream, and crispy meringue strips.

Aunt Salli's Classic creamy rice pudding topped with whipped cream.

Homemade orange liqueur infused with fresh orange peel, vanilla bean, vodka, and brandy. A DIY Grand Marnier-style spirit that steeps for seven weeks.

Dried prunes, apricots, and pears slow-cooked with vanilla bean, lemon zest, and a touch of sugar until thick and jammy. Make it on the stovetop or set-and-forget in a crockpot.

Frozen layered parfait with honey-almond cream base and raspberry mousse top, served with warm raspberry sauce. The dinner-party showstopper from the Masterchefs collection.

Munich cheesecake with a shortcrust base, vanilla bean cream cheese filling, poppy seed-raisin layer, and brown sugar streusel topping broiled until crisp.

Dense, buttery sweet potato pound cake with sour cream and warm spices, served with a vanilla bean-cinnamon custard sauce and praline ice cream. This is dinner party dessert that earns a standing ovation.

Kutia, a traditional Polish Christmas pudding made with wheat berries, ground poppy seeds, honey, walnuts, almonds, figs, dates, and rum-soaked currants. A treasured holiday dessert.

Fresh gingerbread cake paired with whole pears poached in ruby port with ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla. Served with ginger-scented whipped cream for an elegant holiday dessert plate.

Italian polenta cake with ground almonds, cornmeal, orange and lemon zest, and vanilla bean. Naturally gluten-free with a tender, grainy crumb and citrus perfume.

An ideal fruit salad or dessert for Winter, because the tropical fruits are available year-round and ripen naturally. The riper and more fragrant the fruit, the better the salad.

Mont Blanc dessert: a crisp meringue base ringed with piped vanilla-chestnut puree vermicelli and crowned with vanilla cream and grated dark chocolate. The classic French patisserie centerpiece.