Homemade vanilla extract recipe is a baker’s secret ingredient. Far superior to grocery store vanilla, even the pure vanilla from great companies like Nielsen Massey.
Unless you are ready to part with a considerable amount of money, making your own homemade vanilla extract takes 2 ingredients and 10 minutes time and you’re done. It’s not cheap to make but gives a richness to baked ingredients that’s hard to come by.
How To Make Homemade Vanilla Extract
Two ingredients, that’s all. Vanilla beans and vodka.
The key to vanilla extract is using the best quality vanilla bean you can buy. But believe it or not, the quality of the vodka doesn’t matter a bit, it’s all in the beans.
I can see you vodka drinkers out there, you would never think of buying the stuff in plastic bottles. But for extract it’s the alcohol content and proof that matters. As long as the alcohol is 35-40% or 70-80 proof, that’s all that matters………for vanilla extract that is (most vodka will fall in this range). I’m aware that sipping on a martini takes a better-quality vodka, but really, for vanilla extract don’t waste your money on the good stuff.
Cut the vanilla bean lengthwise in half. If you need to cut crosswise as well into smaller pieces to fit the jar, that is fine.
Slice the vanilla beans in half lengthwise. Feel free to cut the vanilla bean in shorter pieces if needed to fit your bottle. You just need to make sure that the beans are completely submerged. Gently slice the bean lengthwise, without cutting all the way through. Place in jar, cover with alcohol, shake, and wait, and wait, and wait. Your best flavor will begin to happen around 8 weeks…6 months is even better, but I never make it that long!
What Kind of Vanilla Bean to Use For Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe
The type of vanilla bean you use will determine some nuances to the flavor and aroma of your vanilla extract.
Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans, Grade B – these are the most common vanilla beans used and what will give you the cleanest traditional flavor that you are familiar with.
Tahitian Vanilla Beans – these beans will give you a floral almost chocolaty taste. It pairs well with bourbon instead of vodka. This type of vanilla extract is delicious but a little different taste than what most bakers are after because it’s not like traditional vanilla extract.
Mexican Vanilla Beans – these vanilla beans will give you a gentle, spicier kick in the vanilla extract recipe
What Exactly Is Vanilla Extract Anyway?
Vanilla beans are harvested from orchid plants. These orchids aren’t as pretty as the orchids all of us have on our desk or in our home. Well OK, maybe you don’t have orchids around, but my house is never without a pretty orchid, they are hardy and need very little attention, thus perfect for me! They remind me of visiting my grandmother in Florida where she always had orchids and air plants all around her pool area.
The growing, harvesting and curing process are extensive and arduous. So if you ever wonder why vanilla beans and good quality vanilla extract is so expensive, that is why.
Then let those beautiful beans soak away in some alcohol and you’ll have the secret to professional bakers in your own cupboard.
What Kind of Alcohol And Why Use It For Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe
Vodka is usually your go-to bet for our homemade vanilla extract recipe. Unflavored vodka that is. Because vodka is a clear liquid and has little taste it will yield little to no flavor to the vanilla extract.
You can also use bourbon, brandy or rum. Bourbon is a nice complement to the floral Tahitian vanilla beans. Just make sure that the alcohol is minimum 35% alcohol or 70 proof. Most vodkas meet that criteria.
The purpose of the alcohol is to steep or cure the vanilla bean to pull the oils out into a liquid environment.
Use any vokda as long as it’s 70-80 proof, just about any vodka out there. The quality of the bean is what counts.
Is There Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract?
Yes, natural food stores sometimes carry vanilla extract that uses glycerin instead of alcohol as the solvent. You can also try using a vanilla powder if you want to avoid the alcohol.
Why Make Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe?
Because it’s far superior to typical store-bought vanilla extract, even the really nice brands like Neilsen Massey or from nice spice houses like Penzeys. Most commercial bakers use what’s called double fold vanilla extract and that is their secret weapon, and now you too can have that secret ingredient.
You can’t just double the amount of extract that you are using to get the bold, rich flavor of your favorite bakery. It’s the percentage vanilla bean to liquid that wins. The more fresh vanilla beans you add to your vodka (or liquid) the richer your vanilla extract recipe will be.
How Long Does The Vanilla Extract Recipe Take?
8 weeks will give you a wonderful, rich vanilla extract like you’ve never tasted before. If you have the patience, leave the beans in the bottle for 6 months and the extract will be that much stronger. It will last for at least a year.
How To Store Your Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe
Store at room temperature and away from light. Meaning don’t leave it near the stove or in your kitchen window. A typical cabinet is perfect.
Store in glass bottles. Clear bottles are pretty but amber colored ones will help protect the vanilla extract from light. Either will work.
A 2-4 ounce bottle is typical for most people. At the grocery store it’s not uncommon to see little 1 ounce bottles. Use a funnel to make transferring the vanilla extract from a large bottle into a smaller gift jar.
I keep my homemade vanilla extract in a larger canning jar and pour it into a smaller bottle to keep in my baking cabinet. It’s easier to add the additional vodka.
To keep your vanilla extract going, add additional vodka as you use the extract. Make sure to keep the vanilla beans covered at all times by the vodka to keep them from drying out and/or going bad.
The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Your homemade vanilla extract recipe will keep indefinitely with just a little care.
-You’ll need to make sure that the beans stay submerged in the alcohol at all times.
-As you use the vanilla extract, keep adding unflavored vodka to cover the beans.
-Shake every week or so.
-Store in a cool environment and away from light.
-That’s it, not too many rules
Want a great hostess gift for your next Christmas party? Instead of a bottle of wine bring a bottle of homemade vanilla extract with your own label attached and a recipe to someone who loves to bake or cook. Unique and will be valued.
You can get cute bottles and twine from Amazon or your local cooking or baking store. It’s easy to add a tag or print your own labels. Try mine here.
Recipes To Use Your New Vanilla Extract
Brownie Brittle is a delicious different kind of snack
Pancakes, hey they’re a classic that gets a nice kick from a dose of homemade vanilla extract
Homemade Ginger Ale, it’s really easy and delicious. Makes a great mocktail too
Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe
10 minutes, two ingredients and you have the best vanilla extract available. It's the secret weapon of professional bakers and now you can have it in your ingredient arsenal too!
Ingredients
- 8 Ounces Vodka inexpensive 70-80 proof
- 5 Whole Vanilla beans best quality, you can use less beans
Instructions
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Have a clean 8 ounce bottle handy with a fitted lid.
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Gently slice vanilla lengthwise in half, no need to scrape. Place beans in jar. Fill with vodka. Shake. A funnel will make filling the jar easier.
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Always keep the vanilla beans covered with alcohol. You cut the beans into smaller pieces to fit the jar if necessary.
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Shake every week. Allow at least 8 weeks, at this point the majority of the curing process has happened.
Recipe Notes
How To Store your Vanilla Extract Recipe - You can keep the extract indefinitely, as long as the beans are submerged in the alcohol and the bottle is kept out of light and heat. Your cool kitchen cupboard, away from the stove is perfect.
Vanilla Extract is the perfect hostess gift at your next Christmas or holiday party. If your host likes to bake, then homemade vanilla extract is better than a bottle of fine wine. Make tags or labels with your name, use date and instructions and a favorite recipe. Feel free to use my templates here.
Buy fun, unique bottles at your favorite craft or baking store or view some others here.
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Homemade vanilla makes such a difference in my baking. And it’s so much cheaper.
So glad you tried it Sophie, I love it too.
Hello, I am making vanilla for my son’s wedding as the favor! I made it yesterday and will transfer the vanilla to 160 2 oz bottles in 6 weeks. Should I put a bean in those jars to keep the curing process going? On the tag, it will say not to use before Dec 1st.
Wow, I’m impressed! It’s not necessary to add a vanilla bean to each bottle. If giving as gifts like you are I’d probably avoid it. If the vanilla goes down below the bean as the cook uses it, you need to keep adding vodka to keep the bean from going bad. Most people won’t know to do that, even if you put it on the tag. So for that reason I’d give them your liquid gold and skip the extra bean. Good Luck!
I have been making vanilla extract for about 20 years! Vanilla beans in vodka, but my favorite is the beans in brandy. Much deeper flavor! I have the same jar filled, now for years! If I need the seeds for baking, I clip off a piece of bean and scrape. (Beans that have been soaking) much better than store bought!
How long can you keep homemade vanilla extract?
Forever.
It’s in alcohol.
Keep beans covered and it’s fine for sure!
When would you change the vanilla beans? Or could they last years if you keep adding vodka? When would you recommend to just start over. Seems like the beans like coffee beans would run out of strength?
Great point Janene. I have found that when I keep refilling the jar with vodka I need to replace the beans after about 6-8 months. Not because the beans go bad, but the extract starts to smell more like vodka than vanilla, not a good thing. After researching, the typical response was that you should be able to keep refilling with vodka and the same beans for up to a year. That just hasn’t been the case with me unfortunately, so I add fresh beans at 6-8 months. If you aren’t using the vanilla and only leaving it to steep, then you can leave the jar with the beans in a dark place for several years, just make sure that the beans are completely submerged in the alcohol. Hope this helps!
I’m finally getting around to making homemade vanilla. If I buy a glass bottle of vodka, do you think I can add vanilla beans directly to that bottle and then transfer to smaller bottles later? And if I use a larger bottle of vodka should I use more vanilla beans to balance the concentration (following the ratio in the recipe)?
Hi Shayla, even the smallest bottle of vodka would need a lot of vanilla beans. So yes, you will need to adjust the number of beans to the amount of liquid that you have. I call for more beans to produce a stronger flavor. Good luck, let me know how it turns out. I also like to keep the bottle of vodka on hand so as I use the vanilla extract I can keep topping it off with the vodka to keep the vanilla beans submerged.
Hi! I just started my vanilla extract. Hoping it’s all ready for baking season in a few weeks! Anyway, do I need to somehow strain out the vanilla beans once it’s complete? Thanks!
You’ll be so happy you made the vanilla extract, it makes such a difference in you baked goods. No need to strain out the vanilla beans, just make sure that they are fully submerged in the liquid so that they don’t mold. If they are in the liquid they will be safe infidelity, but the beans will lose flavor over time Enjoy!
Hi! Do you a good source to purchase vanilla beans from? At the cheeper grocery store in my area it was $8 for 2 beans, from Mexico. And I don’t know how fresh they are.
Penzeys, Beanilla and Thrive Market are all good choices. The beans are expensive but you know you are getting fresh which makes a huge difference in this recipe. If I find another source I’ll post later. Good luck……..and sorry my response is so delayed!
Vanilla bean king is where I got mine! $18 for 10 beans I got grade B Tahitian ones
Thanks for the resource Sam.
Vanilla bean coop on Facebook l! They have the best prices anywhere as it is wholesale when you join and preorder. Sara has making types she purchased all over the world! I would also use the weight of the beans vs the count of beans. Sometime the beans are small but sometimes they are huge.
The ratio 8 oz of vodka to 1 oz of vanilla beans. I have seen Instances where 1 bean is over a ounce!
You will be more accurate when you weigh your beans. Also you can create a mother jar and add beans as use want more flavor. Just always keep the vodka covering the beans! Good luck I’ve been making my own for 40 years!
After I have started using the vanilla how many times can I put in more vodka before tossing the beans?
Personally I found that I had to toss and replace the beans after about 6-8 months. But if will depend on how often you use the vanilla and how often you top it off. The shorter you make the vanilla beans the less you’ll have to add vodka because you always want the beans fully submerged to keep them from going bad. What I found is when the vanilla extract smells more like vodka than vanilla then it’s time to replace the beans. Scientific I know!
When the vanilla extract smells more like vodka than vanilla, is the extract bad?
No, but it needs new beans added. I toss the beans in the extract at this point and put new ones in. But no need to waste your liquid gold, it’s perfectly fine!
I never ever toss any bean! Dry them and make vanilla powder the entire bean is edible. You can also scrap the beans from the pod and use in baking or ice cream.
To dry just remove from extract (I never do but you can) And dehydrate I then grind to a powder in a spice/coffee grinder.
And store in a airtight container.
You can also put dried bean in a container of sugar for vanilla sugar. So many ways to use. If you are interested vanilla bean coop on Facebook has so many other ideas and ways to use every part of your expensive beans.
I bought vanilla beans from the grocery store and then I read that you should use grade B N beans. Will what I bought still make good vanilla?
Yes, any fresh vanilla bean will work. Certain grades will give you a stronger flavor but they will cost you more money too.
What about using grade A Madagascar bourban beans for extract? I can buy 5 beans for 15
Yes I’ve used them for extract for years until I found a better source
Found beans at Costco (Gilbert, AZ 9/21/2019) Don’t know what is considered a great price. You get Kirkland Brand Organic Gourmet Vanilla Beans – Madagascar. Quantity: 5. USDA Organic. item# 1309967.
Price $15.99
Great find. The main thing is to buy from a supplier that has good turnover which I would expect Costco to have.
Hi, I made some homemade vanilla this summer and it was supposed to be ready to use Aug 1 but it still has a very strong vodka smell/taste. I’ve added another vanilla bean about 3 weeks ago but it still smells strong. Any ideas how I can turn this around?
If it smells like vodka then you need to add more vanilla beans. The quality and freshness of the beans will determine how many beans need to be added. Make sure you are buying from a source that has high turnover. Many mail order places like Penzeys will have fresh beans. When your vanilla extract is ready it will have a rich vanilla scent, like no other vanilla you’ve ever had.
When the beans are done, can you put them in a container of sugar and make vanilla sugarRIta
Yes, it makes the sugar delicious. Make sure to wash and dry the bean completely before putting it in the sugar. If you haven’t slit the bean yet, then cut it lengthwise to that to get all of the flecks out. Bury in the sugar and cover tightly, let sit for about 2 weeks. If the beans do not have a strong aroma any more when you take them out of the extract then they may not flavor the sugar as much as you would like.
What do you think about using the homemade vanilla in items that the alcohol doesn’t cook out? For instance buttercream icing? Would it leave boozy buttercream? I’ve used some homemade vanilla that I received as a gift in cakes and they are so amazing. I was just nervous about putting it in uncooked items.
It’s fine. All vanilla extract is made with alcohol. If the homemade vanilla smells like vodka (or whatever alcohol you used) then you need to add more vanilla beans. Once the extract is ready it should have a beautiful vanilla aroma, not an alcohol smell at all.
I have a bottle of Everclear that I bought for another purpose and ended up not doing it so I am going to make some raspberry liqueur with some of it but it’s a fairly big bottle and I will have at least 1/2 bottle left. Can I use it to make the vanilla extract or is it too strong of an alcohol?
Thanks!
Yep, Everclear will work just fine.
Do i have to leave the bean in the vodka after its ready? Or can i put that same bean in another bottle with vodka to start another batch?
You’ll need to leave the vanilla bean in the extract for at least 8 weeks. The longer the bean stays in the stronger your vanilla extract. But yes, you can remove the bean after 8 weeks and use in a new batch. Eventually the bean will lose its flavor, depending on how fresh the bean was to begin with will determine how long it will last.
Does the extract need to be strained at all?
No, you can keep the beans in the extract which will keep intensifying the flavor. Or you can remove the beans once you get to the flavor that you want.
Do i have to leave the bean in the vodka after its ready? Or can i put that same bean in another bottle with vodka to start another batch?
I LOVE making my own vanilla but I sometimes use a gold rum has a little sweetness to it. They both are DELISH!!!
Thanks for the tip Mary, I’ll have to try the gold rum sometime.
So excited, I made 2 batches today; one vodka one brandy
I’d love to hear back how the brandy extract turns out!
Can I use butters with cork stoppers?
That is bottles with cork stoppers!!!
Hi Marshall, good question. I haven’t used cork before but I don’t see why not, you just want to keep air out. I found this post on another site http://www.vanillareview.com/make-vanilla-extract/comment-page-1/ that refers to using cork. Hope it helps. -Becky
Yes, that would work.
Love ir!!!~!!@
So glad, it really makes a difference in your baked goods.
Would it be okay to use a canning jar and lid?
Yes, but no need to go through the canning process. I use canning jars for all kinds of things. Especially in place of plastic containers for leftover food.
This looks so good! It is so fun to make this as a gift and put it in a pretty jar!
There are so many places to get great jars. I love giving these as gifts with a recipe or two.
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
I know what you mean, packaging makes such a difference. And the sandwiches really do hold together better and you can’t argue using less plastic.
Yes I’ve used them for extract for years until I found a better source
Can I use Nielsen Massey vanilla bean paste to make vanilla??
If so, does it last as long as beans when I top it up with vodka??
Vanilla bean paste can be used in lieu of vanilla extract in recipes. Use equal amounts. Vanilla bean paste is made with a syrup instead of the alcohol in vanilla extract, so it’s a good substitute if someone doesn’t want to involve the alcohol. I’ve never tried making vanilla extract with paste so I can’t answer that. But I believe the paste is made from the extract so it’s kind of like a chicken and the egg question.
Hi, you are recommending grade B Madagascar, but would grade A work as well? Seems like a better quality vanilla bean according to reviews on Amazon.
Thanks!
Kelly
Grade B is just fine for extract. For baking you’ll want grade A. Grade B have imperfections but don’t affect the taste and are less expensive than grade A.
Is there a bean:alcohol ratio? Like 8oz vodka to X sixe bean?
Not really, it has to do with how strong you want your vanilla extract. In my recipe I suggest 5 average size beans to 8 oz vodka. That’s a rich extract. You’ll see some recipes call for less. Personally I love vanilla and think it adds such a depth of flavor that I lean on the “heavier” vanilla side. It also depends on how fresh your vanilla beans are, the fresher the stronger they are.
I made this and put my beans in a jar in the fridge. They have been in there about a year. Can I still add vodka and make more. Hate to throw our beans but didn’t know since they have been refrigerated
Hmmmm, that’s a new one to me. I’ll do some research and let you know what I find out.
You don’t heat your vodka? I’ve been making vanilla extract for years but the recipe I use has me heat the vodka for 5 mins and then cool. Then add to jar with vanilla bean (cut in half and scraped). Have you done this method?
I havn’t tried that, but if I had to guess it might speed up the process?
I started making the extract in July, it’s now February, so I transferred all the extract to smaller jars. Can I reuse the beans or do I need new beans to make another batch?
Hi Jocelyn, you can reuse the beans, make sure they are always covered by the alcohol. Eventually you’ll notice the vanilla is not as strong, that’s when you need new beans.
Hi I would really like to make my own vanilla extract please and would just love the recipe please.thank you.
Tried it and loved it
OH God I am going to do this but I do have a question—I see the ratio for making Vanilla extract is 8oz of plain Vodka to 5 whole Vanilla beans
I saw the orange, Lime etc. extracts—what is ratio if peels to the vodka?
I look forward to hearing back from you
Best
Darrell
Can you can this?
Not sure about canning. The vodka keeps it for over a year so I really don’t think canning is necessary.