Vanilla Extract Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make high quality 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.

The standard for pure vanilla extract is 1 oz. of vanilla beans (by weight) per 8 fl. oz. (1 cup) of alcohol.

As the vanilla extract sits, it will get darker. You want the beans to soak in the alcohol for at least 2 months before using it. The flavor will only get better with time. Make up several batches of vanilla extract at once so you never have to wait for a batch to brew.

We know many vanilla extract aficionados that will only use grade-B vanilla beans for their extracts. The belief is that the drier grade-B vanilla bean produces a much more concentrated extract taste. It typically takes a little longer to extract (more than 1 year), but the taste benefit is worth it to them.

Place the bottle in a cool, dark place for at least 2 months, giving it a shake every week or so. The longer the vanilla sits, the stronger the flavor becomes.

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.

By FDA standards, pure vanilla extract contains a minimum of 35 percent alcohol, the same proof as Captain Morgan rum. You can't buy it in liquor stores, but it's sold in grocery stores and for many, it is a household staple.

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. Do not refrigerate or freeze, even after opening.

With Vodka, you get the taste of the pure vanilla bean, as the alcohol is completely tasteless. With Rum, you get a very sweet taste and the maximum vanilla taste. With Bourbon, while you do get a wonderfully enhanced vanilla taste, there are specific smoky notes that emanate through the extract.

100 Proof - The Everclear diluted to 100 proof, the vanilla is dark, rich, and smells good. This Proof seems to be extracting the best of them all. The FDA recommends extracting at 70-100 proof to get the best results and to follow their guidlines, 80 proof is what most of us use.

How often can you reuse vanilla beans to make vanilla extract? ›

You can use vanilla beans for extract more than once, which makes them a gift that keeps on giving. Just know that the flavor will get weaker over time. Many recommend using them no more than four times.

Home Made Pure Vanilla Extract

Place beans in the selected jar(s) or bottle(s) and completely cover with vodka. Place the lid on and shake gently. Put away in a cool, dark place (such as your cupboard!) and give it a couple of gentle shakes each day for about a week or so.

Remember, the number 1 ingredient in vanilla extract is alcohol. #2 is vanilla beans. You will always smell some alcohol in your extract. However, the smell of a finished extract is usually vanilla first and spirit second.

Place your vanilla pods vertically in a glass jar (recycled or "Le Parfait" jars) with a base of alcohol (rum, gin, vodka). Only the ends of your pod should be in contact with the alcohol base, i.e. around 2 to 3cm high. This way, your pods will keep for several months.

Combined with the hot, humid climate and rich soil, hand pollination by the country's skilled and patient farmers has enabled Madagascar to become the world's top vanilla producer in both quantity and quality.

Bourbon vanilla beans are the most popular type of vanilla, resulting from their clear and creamy flavor and the fact that Madagascar is the world's top producer of vanilla. These vanilla beans are the thinnest of the four types and also have the most flavor.