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    Home » How to (DIY)

    How to Make Vanilla Extract

    September 26, 2024 by Karen 114 Comments

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    If you're thinking about doing some DIY presents for Christmas this year your period of thinking is over - today you're going to learn how to make vanilla extract. 

    Smirnoff vodka, amber bottles and vanilla beans laid out for making vanilla extract.

    I know - Christmas talk. Calm down, it'll only take you two minutes to make homemade vanilla extract and the longer it sits the better it will be - so there's no need to get anxious.

    Unless you accidentally forget to put clothes on when you run to the grocery store for a vanilla bean. That's something to get a bit anxious about. Especially if they're out of vanilla beans.

    6 vanilla beans laid out on wood board beside glass vial.

    Homemade vanilla extract requires 2 ingredients.

    • A Va​​​​nilla Bean
    • Booze

    Table of Contents

    • What's The Difference in Vanilla Beans?
    • What are the best vanilla beans to buy?
    • What's the best alcohol to make vanilla extract?
    • How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract

    Table of Contents

    • Types of beans
    • Which should you buy?
    • What booze to use?
    • Instructions

    Types of beans

    There are 2 main types of Vanilla beans: Tahitian and Madagascar.

    Tahitian vanilla beans are apparently more "floral" tasting and smelling than the standard Madagascar vanilla bean.

    Where are Vanilla Beans Grown?: Madagascar (75% of all beans grow here), Mexico and Tahiti (the other 25%) Little bits come from other countries but not a significant amount.

    How do Vanilla Beans Grow? On a tree? A vine? : Vanilla beans are actually pods that grow on a rare ORCHID. That's right. Vanilla beans grow on orchids. Orchids that can only be pollinated by hummingbirds or some other rare, weird bird. So any commercially grown vanilla orchids have to be hand pollinated. That partly explains the expensive price of the bean.

    Which should you buy?

    • Madagascar vanilla beans are the most readily available. 
    • Tahitian vanilla beans apparently have more floral notes.
    • Mexican vanilla beans are hard to find but it is delicious with heavy chocolate, earthy tones.

    All this to say you should just go with whatever beans you can find and afford.

    The great thing about homemade vanilla is it's the gift that *literally* keeps on giving. I've been topping up the vodka in my own vanilla extract for years. 

    What booze to use?

    You can use anything, but the standard is Vodka because it doesn't interfere with the vanilla flavour.

    Instructions

    1. Slice a vanilla bean in half lengthwise, exposing the soft, seed filled interior.
    2. Place the bean in a 4 oz (118 ml) glass bottle. (amber bottles are best)
    3. Fill the jar with a neutral tasting alcohol. I use Vodka.
    4. Allow the vanilla bean to steep for 4-6 weeks before using.
    Fingers dropping a sliced vanilla bean into an amber bottle.

    Would you like to save this stuff?

    We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.

    The longer the vanilla steeps the stronger the extract will be. You can also use 2 vanilla beans instead of one to make it stronger. There's no need to remove the vanilla bean from the jar once you start using it. Keeping it in there just improves the flavour and allows you to top up the jar with more vodka without diluting the flavour.

    Vodka being poured into an amber bottle containing a vanilla bean.

    Don't use the good vodka! Just the cheapest stuff you can buy or steal. If you're storing your vanilla in a cupboard you can use clear glass bottles but if it's out in the open you should keep it in a amber or brown bottle to prevent light from reducing the quality.

    Supplies

    AMERICANS!

    Buy your amber glass bottles →  on Amazon. ← here.

    Buy your Madagascar Vanilla beans → on Amazon. ← here.

    CANADIANS!

    Buy your amber glass bottles →on Amazon ← here.

    Buy your Tahitian Vanilla beans → on Amazon. ← here.

    An amber jar of homemade vanilla extract with a custom label.

    If you want to make the bottle fancy head on over to the Graphics Fairy which is where I got this Vanilla label that I personalized a bit.

    Get your → Vanilla Extract Paper Label ← here. If you're computer/Photoshop savvy you can customize it that way, otherwise you can just print the label and write in your name and the date in the space provided at the bottom of the label.

    Sliced vanilla beans on a wood cutting board showing thousands upon thousands of seeds inside.

    Cost

    The price of each bottle of pure vanilla extract will vary depending on the cost of the bottles, vodka and eans but generally assume cost you anywhere from $5-$10 to gift including the vanilla bean, the bottle and the vodka but any of these things could change price by the time you read this. 

    2 side by side amber bottles of homemade vanilla extract.

    The vanilla on the left had been steeping for a couple of months. The vanilla on the right was just made the day I took the photo. As it infuses the liquid will get darker and darker.

    Obviously the darker it gets, the more flavourful it will be. If you taste it on day one it'll taste like vodka. if you taste it on day 90, it'll taste like really good vodka. Like a dessert vodka. Just kidding, it'll taste like vanilla.

    A teaspoon filled with homemade vanilla extract and whole vanilla pods nearby.

    Looking back on this post it's a whole lot of words to say - if you want to DIY some homemade vanilla extract, cut a bean in half, stick it in a little jar and the fill it with a few ounces of vodka.

    And don't forget to get dressed before you go to the grocery store.

     

    How to Make Vanilla Extract

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    1. Dani

      October 06, 2024 at 7:17 pm

      I purchased the 12 bottles & Madagascar vanilla beans from your link. They arrived yesterday and I've fixed up all 12 bottles for Christmas gifts. The link for the label no longer works but I'm currently designing my own labels. Thanks for the idea!!!

      Reply
      • Dani

        October 06, 2024 at 10:42 pm

        Here's an update with my labels.

        I used Brother PT-P710BT label printer that works with a mobile device or connects to a desktop.
        I created a vanilla extract label & a label for my farm.

        Reply
        • Karen

          October 14, 2024 at 1:23 am

          Hi Dani, I'm so sorry the link didn't work! But thanks for letting me know. Your labels look really good. ~ karen!

    2. Mary W

      September 28, 2024 at 5:44 pm

      I didn't remember to cut the beans in half 2 years ago but after 9 months it still tasted great. Second time - I forgot to cut the beans but used more of them and after 6 months it still tasted great. This year I have bought 50 beans and flip top bottles for gifting. I'm storing it in the dark for this Christmas and WILL remember to cut the beans open. I'll be using Vodka at the highest proof as I only have a few months left. I'll also be shaking the bottles often, just to improve my chances of really good vanilla. THANK you for this timely post. Just went through the hurricane and got my power back so hoping the store has power so I can get the booze. LOVE the label you used and thank you for the link. Enjoy your day - you have electricity, you have lights, you have a flushing toilet, you have AC - in Florida that is a must. You are blessed - as I will be when I heat up a microwave meal after 3 days eating cold, only. On the other hand, my cold bed will feel wonderful. Thanks again.

      Reply
      • Karen

        September 29, 2024 at 9:54 pm

        Hope everything and everyone made it through O.K.! ~ karen

        Reply
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