Making vanilla extract at home is a lot more cheaper and the quality is better than store bought. You will get very good aroma and flavour in your baked goods from using homemade vanilla extract. Did you know you can make vanilla bean paste and vanilla sugar at home. You only need 2 ingredients to make vanilla extract or essence at home. Learn how to make best homemade vanilla extract at home with step by step pictures and video.
Vanilla Extract
Since I have been baking quite a lot, I am running out of vanilla extract often. Finding a good quality vanilla extract is quite expensive here. So I thought of making vanilla extract at home. I bough some vanilla beans from Amazon and Hubby's friend got a bottle of vodka from Russia, so thought of using that to make this. And I am telling you, once you try this homemade vanilla extract, you are never going to buy store bought stuff again. This stuff is pure gold when it comes to baking vanilla cake, vanilla ice cream, panna cotta or vanilla muffins.
Table of Contents
About Vanilla Extract
Can you believe you can make pure vanilla extract at home using just 2 ingredients. Yes you heard it right. Making vanilla extract at home is not only cheap and budget friendly. You only need two ingredients. Good quality vanilla beans and Alcohol.
Making vanilla extract at home is not only affordable but you get the finest flavoured vanilla extract when you make it yourselves. The quality and flavour of the vanilla extract depends on the quality of vanilla bean. So try to find best quality vanilla bean that you can afford. I like to use Madagascar vanilla beans which I source either in online stores or wholesale dealer.
Actually when it comes to homemade vanilla extract, there is no particular recipe to follow. All you need is bunch of vanilla beans and vodka. Once you make a batch of vanilla extract, you can keep adding more vanilla beans and more liquor as it gets used. It doesn't get spoiled. Once you start making vanilla extract at home, you can try my vanilla bean paste and vanilla sugar which comes handy all the time.
More Vanilla Flavoured Recipes You Might Like
Watch Vanilla Extract Making Video
Homemade Vanilla Extract Ingredients
Vanilla Beans - The quality and flavour of the vanilla extract depends on the quality of vanilla bean. So try to find best quality vanilla bean that you can afford. I like to use Madagascar vanilla beans which I source either in online stores or wholesale dealer.
Vodka - Vanilla extract is usually made with vodka because it is more affordable. but you can use bourbon, brandy or rum as well. I like to use pure distilled vodka.
How to Make Vanilla Extract at Home (Stepwise Pictures)
Which Bottle to Use
1)For making vanilla extract at home, use glass bottles or mason jars. Since vanilla extract doesn't go bad for years it is better to invest in good quality glass jar. I don't recommend using mason jars with metal lid since it may rust.
I use my wine decanter for this since it has glass lid.
Vanilla Beans
2)The quality and flavour of the vanilla extract depends on the quality of vanilla bean. So try to find best quality vanilla bean that you can afford.
I like to slit the vanilla bean in half and use that to make vanilla extract.
Making Vanilla Extract
3)Add vanilla bean into the decanter. You can add as much vanilla bean into the decanter as you want. In fact you can keep adding more vanilla beans and more liquor as it gets used.
4)Pour in the vodka. I prefer vodka when making vanilla extract since it is neutral in flavour and preserves the extract.
5)Cover the jar with lid and allow it to sit for few weeks for the flavour to infuse. Make sure you shake the bottle in between.
Vanilla Extract After 2 Weeks
6)This is how the vanilla extract looks after 2 weeks. The longer the extract sits the better the flavour will be.
Expert Tips
- use glass bottle with glass or plastic lid for storing vanilla extract. If you use glass bottle with metal lid, it may rust in the long run.
- Once you make a batch of vanilla extract, you can keep adding more vanilla beans and more liquor as it gets used. It doesn't get spoiled.
- You can just slit the vanilla bean in the middle and add it to the bottle whole without cutting. I like to cut in half for the vanilla seeds to extract faster.
- You can use rum, brandy or bourbon instead of vodka.
How Long Should Vanilla Bean Steep Before Using
Once you make the vanilla extract allow it steep for at least 2 weeks to month before using it in baking. the longer the vanilla extract sits the better the flavour of the vanilla will be.
Storage
Vanilla Extract can be stored more than a year. As you use the vanilla extract, you can keep adding more vanilla beans and vodka.
FAQ
Which bottle to use for storing vanilla extract?
For making vanilla extract at home, use glass bottles or mason jars. Since vanilla extract doesn't go bad for years it is better to invest in good quality glass jar. I don't recommend using mason jars with metal lid since it may rust.
I use my wine decanter for this since it has glass lid. You can search for glass decanter in amazon and you will find many options.
Should we use only vodka to make vanilla extract?
Vanilla extract is usually made with vodka because it is more affordable. but you can use bourbon, brandy or rum as well.
I like to use pure distilled vodka. But you can use any booze you want, it's just Vodka has no flavor of it's own. Other booze leaves it's own flavor in the result.
Is it necessary to use alcohol for making vanilla extract?
Vanilla extract made using alcohol is a way of extracting and preserving the flavour of vanilla bean for a longer period of time. It is important to use alcohol and not water because it will affect the shelf life and water will not preserve the vanilla bean flavour.
Can this be used in cakes for kids?
When heating or baking the alcohol content will be evaporated. So it is completely safe to use this vanilla extract in baking for kids.
How long can this be stored?
Vanilla Extract can be stored more than a year. As you use the vanilla extract, you can keep adding more vanilla beans and vodka.
More Baking Basics
📖 Recipe Card
Homemade Vanilla Extract | How to Make Vanilla Extract at Home
Equipment
- Sterilised Glass Bottle with Glass lid or Plastic Lid
Ingredients
- 1 cup Pure Distilled Vodka (240ml)
- 6 no Vanilla Bean
Instructions
- Split vanilla beans in half and put it in a clean dry glass bottle. Pour 1 cup of vodka over the beans.
- Shake it every once in a while and let it steep for a month. Use as needed.
- Once you make a batch of vanilla extract, you can keep adding more vanilla beans and more liquor as it gets used. It doesn't get spoiled.
Video
Notes
- use glass bottle with glass or plastic lid for storing vanilla extract. If you use glass bottle with metal lid, it may rust in the long run.
- Once you make a batch of vanilla extract, you can keep adding more vanilla beans and more liquor as it gets used. It doesn't get spoiled.
- You can just slit the vanilla bean in the middle and add it to the bottle whole without cutting. I like to cut in half for the vanilla seeds to extract faster.
- You can use rum, brandy or bourbon instead of vodka.
How Long Should Vanilla Bean Steep Before Using
Once you make the vanilla extract allow it to steep for at least 2 weeks to month before using it in baking. the longer the vanilla extract sits the better the flavour of the vanilla will be.Storage
Vanilla Extract can be stored more than a year. As you use the vanilla extract, you can keep adding more vanilla beans and vodka.If you have any questions not covered in this post and if you need help, leave me a comment or mail me @[email protected] and I’ll help as soon as I can.
Follow me on Instagram, Facebook,Pinterest ,Youtube for more Yummy Tummy inspiration.
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE OR ANYTHING FROM YUMMY TUMMY, MAKE SURE TO POST IT AND TAG ME SO I CAN SEE ALL OF YOUR CREATIONS!! #YUMMYTUMMYAARTHI AND @YUMMYTUMMYAARTHI ON INSTAGRAM!
Mina
Superb recipe. Will try it and get back to you. Could you please give recipe of cake improver?
Reshma
Where did you buy this bottle
Purviz Anjum
is Vodka necessary making Vanilla essence? can we use any other liquids a part of VODKA or alcohol ?
appreciate your reply
Best Regards
Turtle Dove
Use any booze you want, it's just Vodka has no flavor of it's own. Other booze leaves it's own flavor in the result.
Gayathri Ramalingam
Can this be used in cakes for Kids?