Making homemade vanilla extract involves soaking vanilla beans in alcohol for several weeks until the flavors meld, resulting in a rich and aromatic extract. The benefits include a cost-effective alternative to store-bought options and the satisfaction of creating a high-quality ingredient for your recipes.
8ouncesVodkaoptional - use rum, bourbon, or brandy
Instructions
Clean and sterilize the bottle.
Split the fresh vanilla pods in half lengthwise. The easiest way to do this is with scissors or a sharp knife. This will expose the seeds.
Add the vanilla bean and any loose seeds to the container. Depending on the size and shape of your bottle 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 out of direct sunlight to infuse the flavors. Shake the bottle occasionally to distribute the beans.
The extraction process usually takes about 90 days. The longer you wait, the more intense and complex the flavor will be. At this point, the vanilla is ready to use, and the vanilla beans can be removed. The flavor will continue to evolve if the vanilla beans are left in the bottle, just like a fine wine. Just be sure the beans are always submerged in alcohol.
Notes
For a non-alcoholic version, use food-grade glycerinOption - use two 4-ounce sealable bottles
Tips for vanilla for gifting
The beans - I take out the beans when I gift the bottle so the person getting it doesn't have to worry about them, and the beans don't get wasted.
You can use the beans for another bottle of extract. But if it's been less than 6 months, I say go ahead and gift it with the beans inside because there's still plenty of flavor in there! Just remind the person to take out the beans when they start using the vanilla.
The seeds - When you cut open the vanilla beans, some seeds will fall out into the exact and appear in the bottle. These seeds add some extra tasty flavor to baked goods, but if you want, you can strain them out.
