Easiest Way to Make Vanilla Extract at Home
Make Homemade Vanilla Extract
Do you use a lot of vanilla extract? We bake a lot here and I love experiment and make things ourselves when we can. So making vanilla extract was just another thing I wanted to try, and it’s so simple to do.
What do I Need to Make My Own Vanilla Extract?
- Vodka
- madagascar vanilla beans
How Is This Different than Store Bought Vanilla Extract?
There are 2 ingredients needed to make this recipe. Not all recipes are as simple and may be vanilla flavor and not vanilla extract. You want vanilla made with vanilla beans. If you like to make your own extracts, this may be something you also want to do. We also have made, lemon, banana, almond and cherry extracts in similar ways.
Can I Just Use a Clean Glass Jar?
You can, but you need a good seal so the alcohol doesn’t evaporate. We used bottles with plunger spout to prevent evaporation on your vanilla extract. Make sure whatever you use, the alcohol won’t evaporate from.
What Type of Vanilla Beans Should I Buy?
There are various qualities of vanilla beans. Madagascar vanilla beans are great, but do research to find what flavors you want. The extract grade vanilla beans also vary, so decide what your budget is and what you want to spend, because making homemade vanilla extract can get expensive the higher grade vanilla beans you use.
What is The Best Alcohol to Make Vanilla Extract?
You can make bourbon vanilla, with bourbon or you you can use vodka to make a vodka vanilla. The vodka has a flavorless taste, while the bourbon will has the flavor of the bourbon you use. I have also heard of people using rum. Use the alcohol you want to have as a flavor profile on your vanilla.
What is the Difference Between Vanilla Flavor and Vanilla Extract?
Vanilla flavoring is made of synthetic compounds that mimic the taste of vanilla extract. Vanilla extract is made from vanilla beans where the flavor has been extracted using a tasteless alcohol.
How To Make Vanilla Extract for Gifts?
My suggestion is to make a large bottle of your own homemade vanilla extract. Once it has sat for at least 6 months, you can remove and pour extract into smaller gifting bottles and add 1-2 vanilla beans into each bottle for an intense vanilla flavor.
What Do I Do with the Vanilla Beans After Making Homemade Vanilla?
We like to make vanilla sugar. This is made by taking vanilla beans and placing them on paper town to dry, but not dry out and mixing with sugar. You need to make sure you split the beans prior to putting into the vodka to extract. This will hopefully keep the vanilla bean seeds in the vanilla. You can also extact the beans for baking.
Make these other homemade extracts:
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vanilla beans, split found here
- 8 ounces vodka can also use bourbon or other tasteless alcohol
Instructions
- Take a knife and put a slit down the middle of each vanilla bean.
- Use a measuring scale and measure out 1 ounce of beans.
- Place the beans into the clear bottles and add 8 ounces of vodka or other tasteless alcohol.
- Repeat this process for the amount of beans you have.
- Close the bottles and place in a cool dark place.
- Turn the bottles every week for at least 6 months.
- Once the vanilla is dark enough for you, you can remove the vanilla beans and use the vanilla extract.
- You can also leave the vanilla beans in the extract if desired to strengthen the vanilla.
- If you want to make more vanilla, the vanilla beans already used will have a 50% strength. You can also place the used beans in a mother jar or make vanilla bean sugar with them.
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