How to Make Your Own Vanilla Extract and a Creepy Story About Vanilla
Find out how to make homemade vanilla extract from scratch! A few vanilla beans, some vodka, and lots of patience and time….and you have the most beautiful vanilla extract. It’s great for cooking! It saves you money. And best of all…your vanilla extract you make yourself makes the BEST holiday gift!
There is nothing better on the nose than a scrumptious vanilla bean! Except for Vanilla Extract that is! Sweet and slightly spicy at the same time---Vanilla makes me HAPPY and adds warmth and natural sweetness to my cooking. The sweet, creamy, soft, and kind of powdery smell brings me memories of my mother's baking during cold winter days.
Vanilla extract is vital to many baked dishes, and the good stuff is expensive. Did you know you can make your own amazingly high quality vanilla extract. It's way better than store-bought, and it can be gifted in a beautiful bottle too! I'll also share where to get the best vanilla beans!
The Legend of the Vanilla Bean
Before I share the recipe here is an intriguing little story about where vanilla comes from. Vanilla was first harvested in Mexico by the Totonac Indians.
According to Totonac legend, an immortal princess and a mortal man fell in love. But this was a forbidden love. Once they were discovered, both lovers were beheaded, and in the spot where their blood was spilled, the erotic and lovely vanilla vine of the tropics grew.
Later on, in about the 15th century, the Aztecs conquered the Totonacs, and the vanilla bean became a luxury of the kings. It's heavenly, and what a background story!
But enough of the romance---on to some insanely incredible vanilla extract!
Since Vanilla extract is actually a tincture of sorts, you might be interested in these related articles (and there's lots more on the blog):
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Benefits of Vanilla
Vanilla is full of antioxidants! Antioxidants keep us young, healthy, and fight free radicals in our bodies. We all need plenty of these!
Research is still being undertaken about the benefits of vanilla, but for now, it is appearing that vanilla just may help bring down cholesterol and also help with inflammation in the body. (Source)
Why Make Your Own Vanilla Extract?
First off, you know EXACTLY what's in it---because you made it yourself! Vanilla Beans and whatever type of alcohol you choose. That's it. No weird sugars, chemical enhancers, or anything else.
Did you know that the artificially flavored vanilla extract sold in grocery stores is actually flavored with chemicals that may actually come from coal tar?
If you make your own, all that vanilla goodness is the real deal! That's a comforting thought in my book.
Finally, when you make your own using this method (traditional tincture), the vanilla bean is not heavily processed. The extract actually has up to 90% more of the beneficial compounds than vanilla extract that's been processed in factories. That's another big plus!
Ingredients for Making Vanilla Extract
Vanilla Beans I recommend about 25 high quality beans per quart of alcohol.
Alcohol--at least 80 proof. I simply use Vodka.
That's it!
NOTE: I tend to eyeball my vanilla bean and alcohol ratio. I realize this isn’t super scientific, but since the vanilla extract is just for our family use, I don’t worry about it. However, if you want to be sure you’re getting a very high quality vanilla extract, it’s a good idea to actually weigh your beans and then measure out the ounces of your vodka in fluid ounces.
The thing is, vanilla beans vary greatly in quality, thickness, moistness, and strength depending on where you purchase the beans and how fresh they are. Here’s a great link to help you determine the bean to alcohol ratio amounts.
Here are uncut whole vanilla beans.
How to Make Vanilla Extract
1) Cut your vanilla beans in half lengthwise. You want all the juicy inner part exposed to the alcohol. Cut the beans into one-inch lengths. This exposes more of the bean to the alcohol and speeds up the extraction process. Some people will tell you it’s the pod that matters; others will tell you it’s the beans. So, since it doesn’t matter if they’re cut up or not, this is how I do it…just to be on the safe side.
2) Place 15-25 beans into your quart jar, or however many you’re using if you decide to weight out your beans. The moister they are, and the more you use, the better.
3) Pour your alcohol (Rum, Vodka, Brandy....as long as it's 80 proof or higher) over the beans to within an inch of the top.
4) Put the lid on!
5) Shake once in awhile. Some herbalists say to place the infusing extract in a dark cupboard---I use the solar method, so I leave mine in a sunny window. Plus, it looks really cool.
6) After a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks, just strain out the liquid and bottle it up! You can keep a piece of bean in the bottle if you want. It will just make the extract stronger over time, and it's pretty and interesting that way.
That's it! :-)
Where Can I Get Vanilla Beans?
You can buy Vanilla Beans from Starwest Botanicals. They sell them in 1/4 pound units (quite expensive, and you sure can make a TON of extract that way), OR you can purchase 4 beans at a time. I like their beans because they are fresh and moist inside. Starwest has always come through on any herb purchase I've made there.
You can also try Costco, believe it or not! I ran across some in the spice aisle there this past fall and decided to take a chance! There were very good quality too! The price was actually comparable to Starwest, which surprised me. So if you are fortunate enough to have a Costco around, you can give them a try!
If neither of those places is an option, Amazon also has grade A gourmet quality vanilla beans too!
For illustration only….You’ll be using a LOT more than this, and remember to cut them up!
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This isn’t enough beans for this jar….. It’s simply a pretty picture.
I got the cute bottles in the picture below at Hobby Lobby. However, if I wasn't gifting these, I'd be using amber glass bottles to store the extract long term for myself. You can gift them in the amber glass bottles too. They are also pretty---you just can't see the bean!
Watch how to make homemade vanilla extract from scratch here! Make herbal holiday gifts!
I’ve got one of these jars two years later, and the extract is as dark brown as can be and lovely! This herbal tincture extract will keep indefinitely! The extract shown here is still very young.
Final Thoughts on Making Your Own Vanilla Extract
This is a wonderful culinary extract/tincture to give as gifts or to use yourself. I love when things work out great, and this experiment using real vanilla beans was definitely one of those experiences.
I hope you try out making your own vanilla extract! If you've never made an herbal tincture before, guess what?! This is as simple as it is! It's just not as intimidating using vanilla. This could be your gateway into making your own herbal tinctures and plant medicines!
NOTE: The longer you leave your extract tincturing, the darker the extract will become. As right now, I have one tincture that is several months old and is nice and dark, a deep brown. If you are planning to gift these for the holidays, I'd go ahead and get started right away!
I like to let mine infuse for at least three months.
Oh! And have you been thinking about learning more about herbalism and using herbs for your health? Besides Rosemary Gladstar's book (pictured below), check out the Healing Harvest Homestead of Herbalism, Aromatics, and Traditional Skills! There are some wonderful beginning and intermediate level herbal courses there.
If you’d like to take quality herbal courses with support and lifetime access to the materials, check out the Healing Harvest Homestead School of Botanical Arts & Science.
The Herbal Academy of New England is also a great school!
Also….Don’t forget to grab your FREE Herbal Remedies Guide + Cheat Sheet. This is a handy reference to 10 common herbs that you probably have and a cheat sheet for how to use them. It’s perfect for your kitchen or apothecary!
Hugs, Health, and Self-Reliance!
Heidi
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, and in no manner, stated or implied is any information in this article or elsewhere on my website or publications, meant to cure, treat, prevent, or diagnose any health issue. Please see a medical doctor for any health problems, if you’re pregnant, nursing, or on medications. My statements are simply personal opinion based on years of study and experience. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.