When it comes to baking and making pastries at home, there’s no better way to add depth and complexity than by adding pure Vanilla Extract. While it can sometimes be difficult to source here in India, I’m happy to mention that homemade vanilla extract is super simple to make and requires just 2 basic ingredients!
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About Vanilla Extract Recipe
Living in India, it is difficult to get pure vanilla extract, so I used to resort to buying either organic vanilla beans or vanilla powder from super stores and add them to my bakes. Then my sis gifted me a high-quality pure vanilla extract from United States. One whiff and I was hooked.
Once I used the last precious drops of my liquid gold, I decided to make vanilla extract at home. Since vanilla beans are easily available both in superstores as well as online, I started making homemade extract and I’ve never looked back!
All you need are two ingredients — vanilla beans and liquor — and a little patience to make the best, purest vanilla extract around. No more messing around with artificial vanillin or using expensive vanilla beans to get gorgeous vanilla flavor!
Ingredients & Equipment
Making vanilla extract at home is very easy. You only need two ingredients
- Vanilla Beans – The quality and flavor of the vanilla extract largely depends on the type of vanilla beans you buy. I used prime vanilla beans (also called “gourmet” or “grade A” vanilla beans. I used some grown in God’s own country – Kerala.
- Alcohol – Use any high ABV liquor like vodka, rum, whisky, or brandy. I used vodka because it has the purest flavor, letting all of the complexity of the vanilla beans shine through unimpeded.
As far as equipment is concerned, you just need a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. I told you this was an easy recipe!
How To Make Vanilla Extract At Home
1. You will need 4 to 5 vanilla beans, ¾ cup vodka (6.4 ounces or 0.4 pint) and a glass jar or bottle.
2. On a cutting board, slit the vanilla beans into two to expose the tiny seeds inside.
3. You can also slit and then chop them in small sticks.
4. Add the vanilla beans to a clean glass jar or bottle. Be sure to scrape off the vanilla seeds from the cutting board and add them to the jar; don’t waste any of their magical flavor!
Now pour in the vodka and seal the lid. Shake the jar lightly. The vanilla beans need to be completely immersed in the liquor to extract all the good flavor. Keep the jar in a cool, dry place at room temperature.
5. Once a week, shake the jar to ensure you’re steeping the entire bean. Allow the vanilla beans to steep in the liquor for at least a month so that the alcohol extracts the flavors from the vanilla beans.
6. I kept this batch for more than 5 months, and it only got better with time.
7. After a period of time, you will see the transparency of the vodka changes to a deep dark brown color, which is a great indication that it is ready to be used.
Add this real, pure, homemade vanilla extract to all your favorite bakes and desserts!
Tips & Tricks
- The longer you allow the vanilla beans to steep, the better and more potent the flavors become.
- The vanilla beans continue to flavor the liquor, even after you start using the extract. Just make sure that the beans are always submerged inside the liquor.
- Once the extract has been used enough to leave some vanilla beans exposed to the air, you can remove them, pat the beans dry, and then add them to a sugar jar or container to get vanilla-flavored sugar. You can even make vanilla-flavored salt using this method!
- Did you use the seeds from a vanilla bean in another recipe? Keep the pod and use it for making vanilla extract!
Recipes Using Vanilla Extract
If you bake much, you probably already know: vanilla extract is in a LOT of recipes! Here are some of my favorites:
This is only a small sampling of a few recipes on the site that use vanilla extract. Once you make this delectable flavoring potion, I have a feeling you’ll find plenty of excuses to use it.
FAQs
You can keep the vanilla extract at room temperature easily. You could also opt to keep in the fridge.
So long as you are using a liquor that is 40% ABV (80-proof), anything will work. I personally prefer using vodka because it is neutral in flavor and lets the real flavor of the vanilla beans shine through. Whiskey, brandy, or rum are all perfectly acceptable, too!
So long as they are fully submerged, I’d say they should stay good for 6 months or more. The alcohol acts as an excellent preservative.
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Vanilla Extract Recipe | How to make Vanilla Extract
Ingredients
- 4 to 5 vanilla beans
- ¾ cup vodka (6 ounces or 0.38 pint)
- a clean glass bottle or glass jar
Instructions
- You will need 4 to 5 vanilla beans, ¾ cup vodka (7.6 ounces or ½ pint) and a clean, dry glass jar or bottle
- Now slit the vanilla beans and halve them into two using a knife. You can also slit and then chop them in small sticks.
- Add them to a clean glass jar/bottle and then pour vodka. Shake the jar lightly. The chopped vanilla beans needs to completely immersed in the vodka. Cover tightly with the lid and keep in a cool dry place.
- Once in a week shake the jar. Let the vanilla beans to steep in the vodka for at least a month. The more you keep longer, the better and potent the flavors will be.
- After a month or so, you can also strain the extract. The vanilla beans can be pat dried and then added to a sugar jar or container to get vanilla flavored sugar.
- When the vanilla beans are soaked for a month or so, you will see the transparency of vodka changes to a deep dark brown color. Later add the homemade Vanilla Extract as required to your bakes and desserts. You can keep the extract at room temperature or refrigerate it.
Notes
- The longer you allow the vanilla beans to steep, the better and more potent the flavors become.
- Make sure to good quality and a higher grade of vanilla beans as the flavor of the vanilla extract largely depends on the type of vanilla beans you use.
- Use any of your preferred high ABV liquor like vodka, rum, whiskey, or brandy.
- Keep in mind that the chopped vanilla beans continue to flavor the liquor, even after you start using the extract. Always ensure that the beans are always submerged inside the liquor.
- Once the extract has been used enough to leave some vanilla beans exposed to the air, you can remove them, pat the beans dry, and then add them to a sugar jar or container to get vanilla-flavored sugar.
Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)
This Vanilla Extract Recipe from the archives, originally published in April 2015 has been updated and republished on January 2023.
