How To Make Homemade Vanilla Extract

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Learn how to make homemade vanilla extract with only 2 simple ingredients.  Making your own vanilla is not only economical but very simple and easy to do.  Vanilla extract is a tincture made by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol.  You can use your instant pot to speed up the tincture making process, and have vanilla in 30 minutes, or you can make it the old-fashioned way by just allowing it to sit on a shelf for a few weeks until it turns into vanilla.  Once you learn to make your own vanilla, you’ll never need to purchase it at the grocery store again.

Why I Like Making My Own Homemade Pure Vanilla

• Store-bought vanilla extract can be very expensive.
• You can purchase imitation vanilla, but it is synthetically made in a lab, and is full of chemicals. 
• Vanilla extract will always have a much better flavor than imitation vanilla extract, and I know exactly what’s in it.
• Vanilla is very simple to make
• I always like having vanilla extract on my pantry shelf, so I never run out when I’m in the middle of a baking project.
• You can control the strength of your vanilla by allowing it to sit longer if you want it stronger.
• Homemade vanilla makes great holiday gifts, especially packaged in cute little glass bottles.

Ways We Use Homemade

• In homemade chocolate milk, hot chocolate & marshmallows, or coffee
• Almost all of our baked goods like these sourdough banana chocolate chip muffins include vanilla extract
• Homemade vanilla makes the best vanilla ice cream
• It’s great in cookies, frostings, and cakes of course
• Vanilla extract gives the best flavor to cream pies, whipped cream and pudding

Simple Ingredients

• Whole Vanilla Beans – I order grade b beans from Amazon.  They make wonderful vanilla and aren’t as expensive as some vanilla beans.
• Vodka or other alcohol – pure vanilla extract is usually made with vodka, but you can use bourbon, brandy or rum instead.  No need to purchase expensive alcohol, the cheap stuff works just fine.  You can also use glycerin if you’d rather not make it with alcohol, but the flavor won’t be as good.  The alcohol cooks out of any baking recipes, and it’s used in such small amounts, so we don’t worry about it.

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Tools You May Need

• 8 Quart Instant Pot – if using the quick instant pot vanilla method
• Quart mason jar or glass bottles with tight seals
• Sharp knife
• Cutting Board

Tips For Making Your Own Homemade Vanilla Extract

• If you have an instant pot, you can make vanilla in 30 minutes instead of waiting 6 months for the vanilla to infuse into the alcohol.
• You can use your vanilla beans to make vanilla two or three times.  Just put your beans in a fresh jar and cover with more vodka, or continue to add alcohol to the jar of vanilla beans as you use up the vanilla.  The vanilla might be a little lighter each time, but it will still have good flavor.
• Splitting the vanilla bean with a knife before making the vanilla allows the full vanilla flavor to infuse into the alcohol.

FAQ:

How can I make gluten-free vanilla extract?

To make gluten free vanilla extract, you have to look for gluten free alcohol.  Some alcohols are made with wheat or rye, and these contain trace amounts of gluten.

What is the best alcohol for making vanilla extract?

Vodka is the best alcohol for making vanilla extract because it has a neutral flavor, which really allows the flavor of the vanilla to shine through.  However, you can use bourbon, brandy or rum if you’d like to change the flavor profile in the final product.

Is it worth it to make your own vanilla extract?

Yes, it is much cheaper to make your own vanilla extract and you end up with a better vanilla when you make it from scratch.

Which types of vanilla beans are best for making homemade extract?

That depends on the flavor that you like in your vanilla.  Different flavors can be achieved by using different kinds of vanilla bean pods.

• Madagascar Vanilla beans are very common and have a creamy and rich flavor
• Mexican Vanilla beans have a darker, almost smoky flavor
• Tahitian Vanilla beans are also very common and have a rich floral flavor

What can I do with the leftover vanilla beans?

Once the vanilla beans have been used to make vanilla two or three times, I like to make them into vanilla sugar, or vanilla powder.

How To Make Homemade Vanilla Extract

Using a sharp knife and a cutting board, split the whole beans down the center.  

Add up to 20 vanilla beans to a quart jar or glass bottle.  You can use more vanilla beans if you want a darker vanilla.

Pour alcohol over the vanilla beans, filling the container to the top.

Seal with a tight-fitting lid.

Traditional Method

Allow to sit on your shelf for 6 to 12 months and allow the alcohol to extract the vanilla flavor from the beans, making vanilla extract.

Instant Pot Method

Put 1 to 2 cups of water in the bottom of your instant pot and place the trivet on the bottom of the pot.

Place 1 or 2 quart jars of vanilla on the trivet.

Put the lid on in the sealing position and turn it on high pressure for 30 minutes. 

Allow it to naturally release before opening the lid.

The high pressure of the instant pot will speed up the extraction process giving you instant vanilla extract, without having to wait many months.  

Store the finished extract in a dark place at room temperature indefinitely and remake as needed.