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.

Store at room temperature, in a cool, dark place (like the back of a cabinet away from heat sources) for as little as two months, shaking daily for the first week or two. After some time has passed, give the jar a shake once or twice a week, until the alcohol turns a rich brown and smells of fragrant vanilla essence.

Grade B Vanilla Pods have a lower moisture content. They are best for infusing into alcoholic or creamy bases (such as crème anglaise) or for making Vanilla extract. The flavour of Grade B Vanilla is deep but lighter than Grade A.

Anything over 80 proof is fine and makes a lovely extract. It's true, though, that the higher the proof, the more vanilla essence will be extracted into the liquid.

Pure vanilla extract—the kind made with real vanilla beans and at least 35 percent alcohol—has an indefinite shelf life.

You'll find that homemade vanilla is less expensive (store-bought vanilla extract can cost $4 an ounce) and more flavorful than store-bought, and it's so EASY to make! It never expires and you'll have plenty to use in cookies, cakes, scones, french toast, and more.

Those include a cheap bottle of vodka; vanilla beans; bottles. You could totally steep the vanilla extract in the alcohol bottle, of course, but I prefer to divide it into containers for steeping. I know what you're thinking: Did she say to use cheap liquor to make vanilla extract?!? Yes, I did.

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.

How many vanilla beans does it take to make a gallon of vanilla extract? ›

FDA standards call for at least 13.35 ounces of vanilla beans per gallon of liquid. This equates to approximately . 9 oz of beans per 8 ounces of alcohol! Many people really like to use rum, bourbon, or brandy.

Vanilla beans can last upwards of two years if stored properly. Now, they're not exactly the type of beans that spoil when they expire, but rather, they tend to dry out. So, while the beans might still be safe to use after their shelf life, you'll notice they have little to no taste or aroma left.

You can leave the vanilla beans in the bottles indefinitely and continue to top up the jar with alcohol as you use the extract. Alternatively, you can make vanilla sugar with the used vanilla beans. Place the old vanilla beans in some granulated sugar to infuse the sugar with vanilla flavors.

If you use a decent amount of quality vanilla beans (3+ per 8 oz), 4 months should be sufficient. If you use fewer beans, you should wait closer to 6 months. We've found that the extract flavor continues to improve even up to ~ 1 year of aging, then it levels out.

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.

For example, taste tests conducted by Cooks Illustrated and Epicurious both found that the difference in taste in baked goods was subtle or even undetectable, but made with imitation vanilla extracts tended to win over desserts made with pure vanilla extract.

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.