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Skip the synthetic versions and avoid the high prices at the market: Learn how to make vanilla extract from scratch. Use it for baked goods, drinks, and all your favorite vanilla bean recipes. This homemade vanilla extract recipe takes just two ingredients and a pretty bottle!
There’s simply no substitute for the intoxicating allure of vanilla. Nothing comes close to the perfect, flora aroma of pure vanilla extract.
However, because vanilla extract is so expensive, 98% of vanilla is used as a flavor and fragrance is actually synthetic. Much of the extract that’s out there is just a mishmash of chemicals that smell like vanilla but don’t deliver the goods.
As if that’s not bad enough, many companies substitute inferior, imitation vanilla and then label it “natural flavors.”
Therefore, I think it’s worth it to make your own and have the best quality vanilla extract ever. And it’s completely, absolutely simple to make.
The process takes a few weeks for steeping, but I can’t think of a lovelier gift than a pretty glass jar filled with the very best vanilla extract, made by you.
Get started now, and in a little bit, you’ll have a handmade gift for the cake and cookie baker in your life. I’ll bet you get something delicious soon, just for thinking of them.
What is vanilla?
Vanilla extract, or essence, is made from vanilla beans, those long, dark pods you might see with hefty price tags at gourmet shops.
Vanilla beans, also known as vanilla pods, are the edible fruit of a tropical orchid that thrives along the equator in Mexico, Ecuador, Tampico, and the Caribbean. Throughout Mexico, vanilla is considered sacred and is still a very important part of the culture.
Why is vanilla so expensive?
Vanilla is valuable because it’s the most precious and labor-intensive agricultural crop in the world.
First of all, vanilla plants take an average of 3 years just to start flowering. When the fruit appears, it must hang on the vine for a minimum of nine months to develop that lovely aroma we all know and love.
As if that’s not long enough, once the pods are harvested, they dry out and cure, almost entirely in the sun. This drying process shrinks the beans to about 20% of their original size. Talk about return on investment!
After the beans dry, they’re sorted by size and quality. Then they age for another month or two before they show up in the marketplace, ready to be used. Whew!
The good news is that homemade vanilla is more economical in the long run, especially when you find a good source for beans.
Where do you buy vanilla beans?
Even though I’m a big fan of buying local, when it comes to vanilla beans, I only shop online.
Unlike the dried-up and brittle vanilla beans that you might receive from your local grocery store, vanilla purchased from reputable suppliers is oily, pliable, and very fresh. High inventory turnover means your vanilla will be as fresh as can be.
Look for companies on the web specializing in vanilla beans; they know their stuff.
Since buying vanilla beans is a sizable investment, the money you spend should get you the best bean possible.
What are the different varieties of vanilla beans?
Different varieties of beans vary in taste, depending on where they’re grown and how they’re cultivated.
Here are some basic types of vanilla beans and their flavor profile:
Madagascar: rich and creamy, also the most popular type of bean used.
Mexican: bold and dark with tones of smoke.
Tahitian: floral, cherry-chocolate overtones.
Indian Vanilla: full, chocolate, and a favorite among vanilla extract makers.
What type of beans for making vanilla extract?
There are two grades of vanilla beans: A and B. Buy the B!
Grade A beans work fine, but they tend to be more expensive and primarily used for cooking and pastry making.
Grade B beans yield the most flavor since they are specifically meant for extracting.
How many vanilla beans should I use when making homemade vanilla extract?
Don’t just pack as many beans as you can into that jar! There’s an easy recipe for making homemade vanilla extract.
There are two basic grades of vanilla extract, “single-fold,” and “double-fold.” Most good quality vanilla extract that you find in the stores is single-fold. More difficult to find is the double-fold extract, primarily used by professional bakers and pastry chefs. Most home bakers are just fine with single-fold vanilla.
No matter which one you decide on, you’re still making vanilla extract for less money than what you can buy in the store.
Single fold:
5 beans per 8 ounces alcohol. This ratio is the one to remember for almost all diy homemade vanilla.
Double fold:
9-10 beans per 8 ounces alcohol. This ratio gives a much stronger vanilla flavor that you can’t get simply by doubling the amount of vanilla extract you use.
How do you make homemade vanilla extract?
DIY vanilla extract is one of the easiest things in the world to make. All you need is two ingredients: vanilla beans and vodka. Oh, and a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- First, you want to cut the beans in half, length-wise. You can do this with a sharp knife, or with a pair of scissors.
- Gently scrape out the seeds from inside of each pod. Scrape these into a small saucepan. Add the vodka to the pan.
- Heat the vodka vanilla mixture gently over medium-low heat, with the saucepan covered. It should be hot and steaming, but not boiling.
- Pour the vanilla, seeds and all, into the glass jar. Allow to cool to room temperature and screw the lid on. Store in your pantry.
- Every few days, give the vanilla a gentle shake. After six weeks, taste the vanilla. If it’s strong enough to use, use it! If not, let it sit a few weeks longer.
If you like, you can cut the pods into 1-inch pieces, and add them to the saucepan. Not totally necessary, but our goal is to get the highest ratio of bean: vodka as possible. If you want to leave your pods whole for looks, add them to the jar instead of the saucepan.
This method gently heats the vodka/vanilla bean mixture, which shortens the time required before you can use the extract. If you’re not comfortable heating vodka, you don’t have to. Add everything to the jar you’ll be making the vanilla in, and that’s fine.
Let the vanilla festival begin! You just made the best vanilla extract in the whole wide world.
What kind of alcohol is best for vanilla extract?
Vodka. Can you make vanilla extract with rum? Can you make vanilla with bourbon? Yes, but I like vodka, hands down—it makes the best, pure vanilla flavor. Ideally, you want something with a high alcohol content (at least 80 proof) and a neutral or complementary flavor to the beans.
It doesn’t even have to be fancy vodka–the beans are fancy enough.
How to make vanilla extract without alcohol:
If you definitely need an alcohol-free vanilla extract, use glycerin in place of alcohol. Don’t heat the glycerin, though–just add the sliced beans and the glycerin together.
Can vanilla extract go bad?
Properly stored, vanilla extract can last indefinitely. Keep your bottle out of the sun, in a dark cool corner of the pantry, and you’ll be fine.
What can you do with leftover vanilla beans?
Don’t throw them away! When you strain the extract, you can use the pods in a few other delicious ways before throwing them out.
- Vanilla sugar: Bury them in a bowl of sugar to gently flavor it. Or make a simple syrup flavored with vanilla pods.
- Poached fruit: Poached pears, apples, quince, prunes–there’s no fruit that doesn’t love vanilla poaching in red wine or syrup.
- Coffee and tea: Add a pod to your morning pour-over for an ethereal morning pick-me-up.
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How to Make Vanilla Extract
Ingredients
- 6 vanilla beans (about ½ ounce, see note 1)
- 8 ounces vodka or other 80 proof alcohol (see note 2)
Instructions
- In an 8 ounce (or slightly larger) clean glass bottle, add vanilla beans (cut the beans into small pieces if needed to make them fit).
- Top with 8 ounces vodka or other 80 proof alcohol (or slightly more so beans are completely submerged). Close the bottle completely and give it a shake.
- Label, date, and store in a cool, dark place for a minimum of 8 weeks, ideally 6 to 12 months for the best flavor.
- As you use the vanilla extract, you can top off the bottle with more vodka for a year or more. If the vodka still smells good, it's still safe to use. Or, remove the beans and strain the vanilla extract. The flavor will stop intensifying at that point, but the vanilla extract will be good indefinitely.
Notes
- Vanilla beans: There are two grades of vanilla beans: A and B. Buy the B! Grade A beans are more expensive and are primarily used for cooking and pastry making. Grade B beans yield the most flavor since they are specifically meant for extracting. I recommend these Tahitian vanilla beans or these Madagascar vanilla beans.
- 80 proof alcohol: Most vanilla extract is made with vodka and I prefer it for it's neutral, pure flavor. But you can use bourbon, brandy, or even rum. Feel free to buy the cheapest alcohol you can find and save "the good stuff" for cocktails.
- Yield: This Vanilla Extract recipe makes about 8 ounces of vanilla extract.
- Storage: Store vanilla extract in a cool, dark place.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
Thanks so much. So happy to find a method to warm and activate the vanilla without the use of an InstaPot.
You’re welcome, LeiLo! Take care! – Meggan
I have an instant pot recipe for vanilla extract. Does it work well also or not as well?
Hi William, I haven’t tried it myself, so I’m not sure. Sorry about that! – Meggan
How much glycerin do I have to used. In making vanilla esen
Hi Fuziah, it’s three parts glycerin and one part water. So for every cup of vodka, it will be 3/4 cup food-grade glycerin and 1/4 cup water. – Meggan
What is vodka?
And how muxh villina beans?
I’m waiting your answer please let my reply soon ?
Hi Anum, vodka is a spirit made from the distillation of rye, wheat, or potatoes. It’s Russian in origin. You could also use rum for this reicpe. The ratio is 1 ounce of vanilla beans (about 5 pods) for each cup of vodka. Thanks! -Meggan