1. Roasted fruit Most roasted fruit recipes call for added sugar, but you totally don’t need it. Instead, drizzle a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract on sliced peaches, halved cherries or berries, or sliced pears before roasting them in the oven. It’ll bring out the fruit’s natural sweet, floral flavor without any extra calories or carbs.  
  2. Plain yogurt Vanilla-flavored yogurt is loaded with sugar and—let’s be real—doesn’t even taste very good. Half a teaspoon of vanilla extract stirred into plain yogurt hits the spot without that weird, fake thing that most pre-flavored versions have going on.    MORE: 5 “Healthy” Yogurts with More Sugar Than a Doughnut
  3. Almond butter Make a big batch by stirring a teaspoon or two of vanilla into half a cup of almond butter, or just add a drop to a one- or two-tablespoon serving. Use as a dip for fresh fruit, slather on whole grain toast, or pair it with a square of dark chocolate. (Also check out these six nut butters you need to try.)
  4. Smoothies If vanilla-flavored protein powder tastes good in a blended drink, you know real vanilla will probably taste even better. Start by adding a teaspoon and giving it a taste. You can always add more! MORE: 20 Super Healthy Smoothie Recipes
  5. Almond flour pancakes Sometimes, Paleo pancakes made minus the sugar can fall a little flat. (Here’s how to go Paleo on a budget.) Mix two to three teaspoons of vanilla extract into your batter before spooning it onto the griddle, though, and you might forget about the syrup altogether.  
  6. Banana soft serve Frozen pureed bananas are the ultimate blank canvas. Add a few drops of vanilla extract while pureeing them in the food processor, and you’ve got squeaky clean vanilla soft serve.   MORE: 5 Easy Ways to Cook with Banana Peels
  7. Coffee or lattes Just because you’ve given sugary flavored syrups the boot doesn’t mean you’re destined to a lifetime of boring coffee. A drop or two of vanilla extract creates the illusion of sweetness—plus, the cozy smell is so good first thing in the morning.
  8. Coconut whipped cream You know how you can turn a can of coconut milk into dairy-free whipped cream? Adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract takes about three seconds—and makes the stuff taste even better.