Making your own homemade vanilla extract can’t be any easier!! I was surprised when doing my research – just how easy this whole process is! It inspired this chick to go further into extracts and make a few (or.. ahem.. a lot) more herself, but we’ll get into those on a later post!
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HOMEMADE VANILLA EXTRACT
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So you know that I’m always all about the homemade or DIY category of things. If you can make it yourself, I’m down! I’ll try it and if it’s relatively easy, relatively low cost and turns out just as good as a commercial version, then that’s what I stick to. This homemade vanilla extract is no different!
Now, a little mention here… vanilla beans have skyrocketed in price lately. This excellent article here explains the nitty-gritty of why, but in general, it has to do with basically three things:
- The extensive time, labor and methods involved in producing good quality vanilla beans
- Supply and demand
- Crime
Take a quick moment and read the article I linked above. It’s really interesting and gives you insight into how one seemingly simple ingredient can be so …. complicated, for a lack of better word. The humble vanilla bean can influence not only your final product in baking/cooking but the impact it has one people’s lives is amazing!
Yes, there’s artificial vanilla flavoring that’s cheaper than cheap to use, and in a pinch, it will do. But the flavor produced from the REAL vanilla extract is simply amazing. Seeing those tiny seeds inside the bean are little flavor bombs – each and every one of them! Ever had vanilla ice cream made with just extract versus vanilla beans? HUGE difference! And you’re baking would be influenced exactly the same way.
Ok.. so let’s get on with it.
How to make your own homemade vanilla extract!
As I said before, it’s crazy simple.
You’ll want to start out with a fair number of pods. Probably at least 5 – 7 for sure. Here is a list of what you’ll need to make your own homemade vanilla extract:
- Vanilla beans
- Good vodka *see notes in the recipe card*
- Airtight glass container (these ones are perfect for gift giving!)
- Cute labels for gift-giving
- Sharp knife
So begin with measuring the pods to your container. The pods should be long enough to go the distance of your container, but not so high that it will need to be squished in the jar.
By the way, you can use any alcohol you prefer. I used vodka here because I’ll be using the extract in many different applications and vodka is the least likely to add any extra flavor to the extract.
However, if you prefer, you can use bourbon (a whiskey), or any sort of rum (regular or even spiced) you prefer as well. There IS a method to make your own homemade vanilla extract not using an alcohol base, but I haven’t tried that yet, so we won’t discuss it here today.
Place all your vanilla beans into the container you’ve chosen. Remember, if your beans are longer than the jar, simply cut them in half to make them fit in the container.
Also, a good idea is to CAREFULLY, run your sharp knife down the length of the bean, just to open it up a bit more to allow the vodka to permeate the bean and infuse more flavor.
Be sure it’s clean – but no need to sterilize it. You can certainly go that extra step if you prefer though.
Pour the vodka (or any alcohol you’re using) over the beans to the top, covering the beans as well as possible. Close the airtight lid, and give it a good shake.
That’s it!!
Now, of course, you can’t use this extract right away unless you want to only taste the alcohol in your final product. You need to let time take over.
The extract that you see here has been steeping 1 month.
It’s usable now, but honestly, the longer you leave it the better.
So I’ll start using this homemade vanilla extract now, as it’s sat for a long period of time. But every day for a week, I gave it a good shake and then after that, I left it alone to do its thing.
You can leave the beans in there indefinitely but if you wanted, you can take a few of the used beans out, dry them off and place them in a container of sugar. Now, again, the longer you leave them in the sugar, the more the sugar will take on the flavor of the vanilla, and then you have vanilla sugar!!
(Think vanilla-flavored brown sugar… or dip muffin tops in the vanilla sugar to make them even more yummy and sparkly…. oh Lord!!)
Your other option is just to leave all the beans in the container of vodka, keep topping up the alcohol as you need, and add the odd bean or two to the container to keep the process going.
Perfect For Gifts!
So homemade vanilla extract is PERFECT for gift giving!! Find some adorable glass (no plastic please!) jars and make some extracts for your friends who love to cook and bake.
This has the whole package you need, glass jars and super cute labels!!!!!!!
They would LOVE the idea of having their own extracts made by you! Just remember – it will take a month or so to be useable, so you may want to start your gifts ahead of time, or you can simply add a cute label giving them instructions on when they can use it!
What can you make with your own homemade vanilla extract?
Oh, my beautiful reader, the sky’s the limit. Seriously. Here’s a shortlist:
- cakes
- cookies
- puddings
- pretty much ANY dessert known to man
- sauces
- smoothies
- candied vanilla bacon (I think I might have to try making THAT one!!)
- select beef dishes
- salad dressings and vinaigrettes
etc, etc….
If you are looking for a few recipes using your brand spanking new awesome homemade vanilla extract, check out my Secret Ingredient Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Icing:
or my Ginger Rum Cake Recipe (that’s also a great edible Christmas gift!)
So I hope you find this post on how to make your very own homemade vanilla extract easy and enjoyable! Keep watch because I have a whole bunch of other extracts currently brewing that I’ll bring to you soon! If you make your own vanilla extract, please let me know in the comments what you think of it, and how it turned out!! Thanks for stopping by The Salty Pot today!
RECIPE BELOW FOR HOMEMADE VANILLA EXTRACT! ENJOY!
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Never buy vanilla extract again! Make your very own Homemade Vanilla Extract yourself to include in all your favorite desserts and baking. Save that cash!
Ingredients
- 5-7 + Vanilla Beans
- 1 cup Vodka (unflavored, your favorite brand name)
- If you're making gifts, you'll need 8oz jars, and super cute labels for gift giving.
Instructions
- Measure the beans for the height of your jar making sure they run the length of the jar, but not too tall that they will stick too far out of the vodka.
- With a sharp knife, CAREFULLY run the tip of the knife down the length of the bean to open them up and infuse more of their vanilla flavor. Be very careful and go slowly. The beans can be slippery.
- Place the beans into the jar, being sure the length of the beans doesn't go higher than the neck of the jar.
- Pour the vodka, covering the beans
- Leave for AT LEAST 30 days. The longer the better. Every day for the first week, give the jar a shake. After that, you can leave it to infuse.
- The vanilla will be ready to use in 30 days. Feel free to add more vanilla beans over time to keep the strength of the extract up. Take some of the spent beans, and place them in some brown or white sugar to flavor the sugar.
Notes
Try and use the best vodka possible. Keep in mind, PRICE is not always the indicator of how good the vodka is. If you're unsure, ask someone who might know. Also, supporting an artisan producer will give you tons of great information and knowledge on how to pick the vodka that would be perfect for your extract.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 48 tsp Serving Size: 1 tspAmount Per Serving: Calories: 11Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
Julie says
How long does this last in the cabinet? A few months? A year? Just curious if it ever goes bad?
Joanne says
Hi Julie! As long as the vanilla beans are submerged under the alcohol, this doesn’t go bad. The longer it sits, the better it gets. As you use it, you would add more beans to it. Eventually you’ll want to start a new one because the beans won’t be able to stay under the extract you use it.
Jasmine | Midsummer Life Dream says
Homemade vanilla extract is so much better! I’ll be making this soon.
TheSaltyPot says
Thank you Jasmine! I agree, sooo much better! Let me know what you think of it when you make it! Thanks for commenting!
Janet Evers says
Do you keep refrigerated or in cabinet?
TheSaltyPot says
Hi Janet!
I keep it right in the cabinet. In a dark, room temp place is perfect for it! Thanks for asking!