Vanilla Extract Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make vanilla extract? ›

You only need 2 ingredients for homemade vanilla extract: vanilla beans and vodka. Let the vanilla beans infuse the vodka for as little as 8 weeks, but for optimal flavor, wait at least 6-12 months before using. Homemade vanilla is more cost efficient than store-bought options. You can try homemade vanilla sugar too.

It is up to you when you want to discard the old beans and start fresh. I choose to use them 2-4 times, depending on the quality of the beans, how long the extract has been sitting and if I've been careful about making sure the beans stay submerged at all times.

Vanilla extract is made by soaking vanilla beans in a mixture of water and ethyl alcohol ( 1 ). The extract gets its signature vanilla flavor from a molecule called vanillin found in vanilla beans ( 1 , 2). Standards for pure vanilla extract vary by country.

Vanilla Extract Ingredients (makes 10 (4oz) jars):

It's easy to scale this recipe up or down, the proportions are 4 whole vanilla beans per 1 cup (8 oz) vodka, or 2 vanilla beans per 1/2 cup (4 oz) vodka.

A bit of simple math reveals that homemade vanilla extract is the more economical choice. Say you buy two 4-ounce bottles of the good vanilla extract from the grocery store every year. If each jar costs $18, that's $180 over a five-year span.

Vodka is the preferred alcohol for extractions like this, as its flavor is neutral and does not compete with that of the vanilla beans.

What is the shelf life of my vanilla extract? When stored properly, vanilla extract will keep indefinitely, but using it within five years will allow for best flavor and aroma.

For best flavor you'll want 4-5 vanilla beans for every 8 ounces (1 cup) of vodka. The quality of the vanilla beans is more important than the quality of the alcohol, so you don't need to buy an expensive bottle. Alcohol: 80 proof Vodka, (or brandy, rum, or bourbon, if preferred, for different flavor).

My vanilla extract isn't getting dark. Why? Answer #1: Time. If your beans have only been soaking for a few weeks, just give them more time.

Leaving the Beans Whole

There are two primary benefits to leaving your vanilla beans whole: Vanilla extract makers will tell you that there is a richer vanilla taste when the vanillin is extracted by seeping through an uncut vanilla pod. It's easy to harvest the caviar or reuse the bean when your extract is finished.

Can you put too many vanilla beans in vanilla extract? ›

The nice thing about making your own vanilla extract is that you can add more or less beans as you'd like.

But BEWARE the trap of buying flavored vodkas for vanilla extract. They don't always marry well with vanilla beans and the result can be disheartening. Stick with plain Smirnoff and you'll do just fine. Ciroc - A five-times distilled French vodka will deliver a beautiful, pure extract.

The crop must be cured and dried, and so from beginning to end (growth to export) the process takes a solid year. "Vanilla is the most labor-intensive crop in the world which is why it's only second in price to saffron," explains "Vanilla Queen" Patricia Rain, culinary historian, and owner of The Vanilla Company.

For the best flavor, let the beans steep for 6 months or up to 12 months. However, you can use the extract after 2 months, it just won't be as strong. Once the extract is ready, you can transfer the liquid to 4-ounce glass bottles for easy use or gifting. Place a piece of vanilla bean in each bottle if desired.

Vanilla extract doesn't have to be made with alcohol, but finding a non-alcoholic version at the store can be difficult and costly. Fortunately, it's really easy to make at home and it can save you money.

This allows the flavour compounds from the pure vanilla bean to infuse into the alcohol/water mixture, which then forms the pure vanilla extract. While vanilla beans can be extracted without alcohol, it is very slow, ineffective and results in a lower quality vanilla extract.

Is There Alcohol in Vanilla Extract? By definition, yes there is alcohol in vanilla extract. According to the FDA, vanilla extract is a mixture of vanilla scent and flavor characteristic, and alcohol. To be exact, the FDA requires an ethyl alcohol content of at least 35% for a product to be considered vanilla extract.

Most vodka is 80 proof, or 40% alcohol. The FDA requires a minimum 70 proof, or 35% alcohol on vanilla extracts. This makes vodka a perfect medium for vanilla extraction.