Discover how to make homemade
Get ready to elevate your baking skills. You’ll also delight your taste buds with the delicious scent and flavor of homemade
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Why make your own vanilla extract
You might wonder, “Why make
Here are a few reasons why making your own
Quality: You will have a pure extract without additives, artificial flavors and sweeteners.
Flavor blends: You can use different types of
Costs: Really good quality vanilla is expensive, and making your own extract will save you money.
Gifts: Homemade
The 2 ingredients you need
Creating
- 8 ounces of alcohol, at least 70-proof
- 4 to 6
vanilla beans per eight ounces of alcohol
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Choose your beans
You can make
In addition to the types of
Grade A: These beans are the most expensive and are meant for cooking and baking. They are longer and moist, and their high moisture content allows them to release their flavor quickly.
Grade B: These beans are meant for extraction, yield the most flavor, and are less expensive. They are shorter and appear more dried.
“I use spiced rum to make my
— Michelle, Sift and Simmervanilla extract, and the longer it sits — more than one year — the more the flavor will develop and become richer in tone. Additionally, homemadevanilla extract is a wonderful gift to give during the holidays.”
Choose your alcohol
The alcohol’s job is to extract the
- Vodka: The most commonly used spirit for making
vanilla extract because it is odorless and tasteless, allowing the fragrance of thevanilla to stand out. - Rum: Adds a heavy, sweeter note to the
vanilla . You can use white, gold or dark rum. - Bourbon: Adds a smokey flavor to the
vanilla . - Brandy: Adds sweet and fruity notes to a homemade extract.
Making vanilla extract
Follow these simple steps to make your own
- Clean and sterilize one 8-ounce jar or bottle or two 4-ounce bottles or jars. Using bottles with lids or stoppers is suggested.
- Split the
vanilla beans in half lengthwise. This will expose the seeds. - Add the
vanilla bean and any loose seeds to the container. If you are using a 4-ounce container, you may need to cut the beans in half to fit them into the jar/bottle. - Add the alcohol to cover the beans, then seal the jar or bottle tightly with a lid. Gently shake each container to distribute the beans. Place the jars or bottles in a cool, dark place to infuse the flavors. Shaking the bottle occasionally.
- The extraction process usually takes about 8 weeks. The longer you wait, the more intense and complex the flavor will become. At this point, the
vanilla is ready to use, and thevanilla beans can be removed. If thevanilla beans are left in the bottle, the flavor will continue to evolve, just like a fine wine. Just be sure the beans are always submerged in alcohol.
Vanilla plays a major role in recipes, expertly boosting the flavors of desserts like dark chocolate cookies and pecan tarts. Without its magical touch, these desserts would fall flat.
Make an alcohol-free version
Glycerin is a great substitute for alcohol in making homemade
“I use glycerine to make homemade
— Devy Dar, Soy Yummy Recipesvanilla extract. Because I can not consume alcohol. When you make your ownvanilla extract, you have more control over how strong you want the extract to be. And it is relatively cheaper in the long run.”
While waiting for your DIY Homemade
Jere Cassidy is the writer and recipe developer behind the blog One Hot Oven. A passion for all things food-related led her to culinary school to expand on her baking skills and now to share easy recipes for all home cooks and bakers of all skill levels. When not in the kitchen, Jere’ likes to travel far and wide to find delicious food.