Do-it-yourself Vanilla Extract » Hummingbird Excessive

photo of two bottles of homemade vanilla extract

About This Do-it-yourself Vanilla Extract

This simple home made vanilla extract recipe requires simply TWO components: vanilla bean pods and vodka! The recipe comes collectively virtually effortlessly, too—simply mix the 2 components in a glass jar, give it shake, and retailer. Over time, the vanilla beans will infuse the vodka to create the extract. You may then use the ensuing home made vanilla extract in any baking recipe on Hummingbird Excessive, vanilla flavored or in any other case!

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Substances and Substitutions

Now that I’ve satisfied you to make home made vanilla extract, right here’s your buying checklist for the recipe:

Buying Record For Do-it-yourself Vanilla Extract Recipe

And let’s speak about these components, some potential substitutions, and related buying suggestions.

Vanilla Bean Pods

You want 5 vanilla bean pods to make one (6-ounce) bottle of home made vanilla extract.

The Finest Place To Purchase Vanilla Beans

Though you should buy particular person vanilla bean pods on the grocery retailer, they’re expensive as heck! Only one single vanilla bean pod often prices between $9.99 to $15.99 at your common grocery retailer.

So as an alternative, I like to recommend shopping for vanilla bean pods in bulk from Beanilla.com. Though their costs have gone up just lately (ugh, like in every single place else!), you possibly can nonetheless discover fairly good offers. I just lately purchased 10 Madagascar vanilla bean pods for $28.50. That’s $2.85 per vanilla bean pod!

What’s the distinction between Madagascar, Mexican, and Tahitian vanilla?

Right here’s a fast abstract of the variations between Madagascar, Mexican, and Tahitian vanilla:

  • Madagascar Vanilla: Most available vanilla extracts and beans use Madagascar vanilla bean pods. It has a creamy, wealthy taste, with refined notes of chocolate.
  • Mexican Vanilla: Mexican taste has a refined, woodier taste, with a spicy-sweet character much like clove or nutmeg.
  • Tahitian Vanilla: Tahitian vanilla has a fragile floral, fruity taste much like anise and cherry. As a result of Tahitian vanilla may be very prone to warmth, it’s costlier and prized.

Vodka

You want ¾ cup (6 ounces or 170 grams) to make one (6-ounce) bottle of home made vanilla extract.

The Finest Vodka To Use For Do-it-yourself Vanilla Extract

Actually, there’s no must splurge on high-end vodka. A budget stuff works simply in addition to the costly stuff. Simply be sure you keep away from vodkas with synthetic flavors and sugars added—these flavors and sugars will have an effect on the style of your home made extract!

Can I take advantage of one other alcohol in addition to vodka?

Sure! You need to use any sort of alcohol you favor, however vodka works finest as a result of it’s impartial in taste and can actually make the vanilla beans shine. You too can decide an alcohol with a complimentary taste like bourbon or rum.

photo of single bottle of homemade vanilla extract

How To Make Do-it-yourself Vanilla Extract

Listed here are the fundamental steps to make home made vanilla extract:

  1. Prep the vanilla beans. I wish to slice the vanilla bean pods lengthwise earlier than putting them within the bottle. Doing so permits vanilla beans to flee out of the pods extra simply and infuse your extract with much more taste!
  2. Add the vodka and shake. A metallic funnel (like one from this set!) will make this course of go by rapidly and simply.
  3. Retailer at room temperature in a cool, darkish place for at least 8 weeks (however ideally 6 months). You may technically use the extract in 8 weeks. Nonetheless, will probably be way more flavorful should you wait a full 6 months!

Finest Recipe Suggestions

  • For finest outcomes, retailer your home made vanilla extract in an hermetic glass bottle with a resealable stopper. Don’t use plastic—the alcohol will degrade the plastic extra time and trigger it to leech chemical substances into your extract.

    You should buy hermetic glass bottles with resealable lids on-line. I like these ones from 5-ounce bottles from Ikea (which is what I used, and so they retailer 6-ounces of liquid comfortably!), in addition to these bigger 8.5-ounce bottles from Amazon.com.

  • For those who use a bigger bottle, don’t be afraid to make use of extra alcohol to make extra extract! I like to recommend going as much as 1 cup (8 ounces or 227 grams) of vodka for five vanilla bean pods. Don’t use anymore than that, although—should you use an excessive amount of alcohol, your extract received’t be as flavorful as mine!

Use Your Do-it-yourself Extract In These Vanilla Recipes on Hummingbird Excessive

photo of two bottles of homemade vanilla extract

Do-it-yourself Vanilla Extract Recipe

yield: 1 (6-ounce) bottle

Prep Time: 1 min

Work Time: 4 minutes

Whole Time: 5 minutes

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Substances

  • 5 vanilla bean pods
  • ¾ cup (6 ounces or 170 grams) vodka

Directions

  • Prep the vanilla beans. Use the tip of a pointy knife to slice every vanilla bean pod lengthwise. Working one after the other, stuff the pods into the bottle—you might must fold the pods to get them to suit.

  • Add the vodka and shake. Use a (ideally metallic) funnel to pour the vodka into the bottle filled with vanilla beans. Add extra vodka if vital to make sure that the beans are absolutely submerged. Shake vigorously for 15 to 30 seconds.

  • Retailer for at least 8 weeks (however ideally at the very least 6 months) earlier than utilizing. Retailer the extract at room temperature in a cool, darkish place for at least 8 weeks, however at the very least 6 months for optimum taste earlier than utilizing. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds on a weekly foundation.

  • Take away the vanilla beans from the vodka after first use. After 6 months, take away the pods utterly after first use. Use as instructed in a recipe. Nonetheless, if utilizing the extract earlier than 6 months, hold the pods within the bottle and high the extract off with extra vodka—the pods nonetheless have taste which you could extract. Shake and retailer as instructed within the recipe. Solely take away the beans after 6 months has handed. Do-it-yourself vanilla extract with out the pods will retailer within the hermetic glass bottle at room temperature for as much as 3 years.

Notes

  • For finest outcomes, retailer your home made vanilla extract in an hermetic glass bottle with a resealable stopper. Don’t use plastic—the alcohol will degrade the plastic extra time and trigger it to leech chemical substances into your extract.
    You should buy hermetic glass bottles with resealable lids on-line. I like these ones from 5-ounce bottles from Ikea (which is what I used, and so they retailer 6-ounces of liquid comfortably!), in addition to these bigger 8.5-ounce bottles from Amazon.com.
     
  • For those who use a bigger bottle, don’t be afraid to make use of extra alcohol to make extra extract! I like to recommend going as much as 1 cup (8 ounces or 227 grams) of vodka for five vanilla bean pods. Don’t use anymore than that, although—should you use an excessive amount of alcohol, your extract received’t be as flavorful as mine!

NO TIME TO BAKE?!

Over the previous a number of years of working Hummingbird Excessive, I saved an important facet of my life hidden from my readers: I had a full-time, extraordinarily demanding job within the tech world. In my debut cookbook, Weeknight Baking, I lastly reveal the secrets and techniques to baking scrumptious desserts on a decent schedule.

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