Vanilla Extract Made in Your Own Kitchen? Yes, YOU can do it!
Making my own vanilla, was one of the best things that I decided to do! I absolutely LOVE using vanilla and with prices soaring, it was getting ridiculous to keep buying it at the price that we were.
I try to purchase a lot of things organic, and vanilla is one of them, so that made the price that much greater as well.
My first attempt at making my own vanilla, was embarrassing. I thought that the higher proof alcohol that I used, the faster the process would take, and the deeper flavored the vanilla would be….not so…it did not turn out well!
I used Everclear and the proof was way too high, which resulted in the bitter tones of the beans becoming a part of the end result.
So…learn from me and don’t do that!
It took a few years for me to decide to try again. But the prices were making me think seriously about it. After I did the math and discovered that I could make organic Vanilla for around half the cost of what I was paying for it currently, I knew that I had to do it again.
This time I looked into it further, found an amazing company that had everything I could possibly need to be successful at making it again and decided to give it a go.
I chose to purchase the Madagascar Vanilla beans from Vanilla Bean Kings and used some Bacardi White Rum that I had in my cupboard. When the package of vanilla beans arrived, I could smell the heavenly aroma right through the packaging!
Boy, did I get excited. These beans were not like the first ones that I had used, which had been dry and shriveled and didn’t smell very strong. These beans, were squishy, plump, very fresh looking and did I mention, smelled amazing???
6 weeks later, I was using the most amazing homemade vanilla extract and loving it!!! I have gone on to make more and right now, I have a large 1.75 liter bottle sitting in the cupboard becoming Christmas gifts!
How do I make my own Vanilla?
Purchase Beans from Vanilla Bean Kings or Amazon
Split pods lengthwise with a sharp knife on a cutting board (These are my favorite knives for this)
Put the Vanilla bean pods into your choice of alcohol
Cap bottle, label it with the date and type of beans and store in the cupboard
Shake 1-2 times per week (if you remember!) Don’t worry if you forget, it will be fine!
What type of Alcohol works best for Making Vanilla?
40% or 80 proof is best. The most popular alcohol to use is Vodka, because it doesn’t get in the way of the vanilla flavor and your extract will taste purely like vanilla.
Other popular ones to use are Brandy, Bourbon and Rum.
I personally prefer to use rum, only because I have a sweet tooth and like to have the sweeter flavor that the rum adds to the vanilla.
I love all of the information that Vanilla Bean Kings has to offer so that you can see and read about all of the possible pairings of beans to different types of alcohol. So you can choose according to your own tastes and preferences and uses.
I am really excited about gifting vanilla for Christmas this year! I think that it will be a wonderful gift to give.
It has high value, but is totally budget friendly since I can make it for half the cost that I would buy it in the store and I can get some really cute little swing top bottles and tie some pretty twine around the top and probably put a label on it and it will be perfect!
