how easy is it to make homemade vanilla?
April 28th, 2009
This easy: The other day I was pouring myself a cup of coffee as Troy passed through the kitchen. I asked him if he wanted a cup. He said he’d love one. I told him I’d warm some up in the microwave (as we were still drinking the morning pot of coffee in mid-afternoon) and bring it upstairs for him.
As I stuck the mug in the microwave, Annalie wandered into the kitchen to see what I was doing. “Mommy,” she said, pointing at the double row of glass bottles that had been sitting along the back wall of the counter next to the kettle since I had washed them two weeks before in preparation for using them, “are you ready to make another batch of vanilla now?”
I thought about it for a second. “Well…sure. Why not?”
I pulled out the spouted Pyrex measuring cup and a clean pair of scissors while Annalie found a funnel and started bringing bottles over to a clear spot on the counter. I rummaged in the cupboard till I found the vanilla beans I’d ordered months ago, and got out the economy-size bottle of vodka that we bought for this very purpose. Annalie snipped the beans in half widthwise, then I cut each half lengthwise so each long bean became four short, skinny pieces. We stuffed eight small pieces (two whole beans) in each small bottle, and sixteen small pieces (four whole beans) in the larger bottle. I poured a half-cup of vodka at a time into the measuring cup and Annalie carefully filled each bottle using the funnel (we only had a couple of overflows which were easily cleaned up with a paper towel) and then screwed the caps on.
And voila, we had a whole batch of vanilla done, just like that. The whole process probably took ten, fifteen minutes tops, start to finish. I stuck them on the top shelf of our dish cupboard where they’ll enjoy a nice month-long rest in the dark, being disturbed only when we need a glass or a plate, or when I deem it time to inspect the color and give the bottles a good shake.
I bought two different types of vanilla beans this time (Madagascar Bourbon [which refers to a variety of vanilla bean, not to the alcohol used in making extract] and Tahitian) so I did an experiment of sorts. I made a few bottles of Bourbon-only, a few bottles of Tahitian-only, and made the rest with a mix. I marked the bottom of the bottles so I’ll be able to tell which is which. I look forward to doing smell- and taste-testing when the extract is ready to use.
Oh, and after all that was done and I’d cleaned up the mess, I remembered that Troy was still waiting for his coffee. I nuked it for a few more seconds then carried it upstairs, apologizing for taking so long and explaining that Annalie and I had just made a quick batch of vanilla. Troy laughed and said it was okay, he’d heard us doing something and figured either I’d bring the coffee up eventually or he’d go back down and get it.
Then as I handed Troy the cup, I accidentally sloshed coffee onto my old laptop Troy’s new laptop* which was sitting on the cedar chest we use as a coffee table. Doh! Good thing I can make a mean batch of homemade vanilla, otherwise Troy would have gotten sick of me spilling liquids all over his electronics and just generally being a klutz. I think he sticks around at least partly for the baked goods.
*The laptop was fine. Coffee only got onto the corner of the case, didn’t even get into the keyboard.
For a more detailed account of how to make homemade vanilla with lots of pretty pictures, read Make your own vanilla extract.
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I can’t wait to hear the taste test results! I am making homemade vanilla for Christmas gifts this year thanks to you!!!
Ah, the vanilla! It was reading about the vanilla last time that got me hooked on your blog. I still haven’t tried it, but I figure I’ll give it a shot at Christmas. Sounds so yummy.
Whoo Hoo! I’m casting my vote! Also, thanks for the laptop update at the bottom, as you know some of us were concerned.
That does seem rather simple! Where do you buy your vanilla beans? I love the blog “Peabody’s Culinary Concoctions” and she’s always using vanilla beans. Although the recipes work fine with vanilla extract, I have wondered about buying beans. Now that I read how easy it is to buy beans, I may have to investigate this further! Plus, the little jars of vanilla look adorable!
Excellent multi-tasking!
I just love your Vanilla making! Here’s a question for you though, can it sit for a long time and get better with age? I was thinking if I make a bunch or batch now will it be good for Christmas gifts?
You need to make sure you keep a bottle for yourself this time. All that “hard” and you haven’t tasted it yet. Looking forward to the results of your taste test.
Clover – I’ve purchased my vanilla beans from the eBay seller organic-vanilla and have been very happy with their service and product.
beachmama – I think it would keep that long. My commercial vanilla lasts a long time, and it’s basically the same ingredients. Don’t quote me on that, though. I’m not a vanilla expert, I only play one online.
bluejaye – I actually HAVE tasted several of the bottles I made. I’ve used the vanilla I gave to Brenda to make frosting, and I’ve used the vanilla I gave to Sue and my friend D to flavor my coffee! But I definitely plan on keeping one this time—that big bottle’s for me!
I really think I’m going to have to try this! …especially since I bake so much! I have a bunch of vanilla beans that I bought at Costco, but I can’t remember what type they are.
If I had been down there helping you, I would have insisted on cleaning up the overflows for you. Of course you probably would have rolled your eyes as I lapped up the mess. Oh, and there would have been more accidental overflows…
A few years ago, my company had a staff party at a local cooking school. The group gathered to make dinner together, which was fun, then sat to eat our efforts. During dessert, the cooking instructors had a cooking trivia contest with bottles of wine as prizes. I won a prize for knowing that the flower which produces a vanilla bean lives only one day and, if pollinated on that day, produces one one vanilla bean per year. When the host asked if I’d like a bottle of red or a bottle of white wine as my prize, I jokingly said I’d rather have the industrial-size bottle of Nielsen-Massey vanilla she was holding and she gave it to me! Some of my coworkers were a little shocked that anyone could use that much vanilla but I can’t get through a day without putting vanilla in something. I love that you and Annalie make your own – someday, I might try it here!
I really have to try that vanilla thing one of these days. It looks like so much fun!
Tell the truth. Vanilla is just a convenient excuse to break out the vodka at 2pm (I checked your flickr photo stats!).
My father used to have a Coq au Vin recipe that called for two bottles of wine (one for the pot, one for the cook). I should hope that when you pass this recipe down, it’ll call for at least two bottles of vodka.
where did you get the bottles that you used. My daughter wants to try doing this but we can’t find bottles.
[...] breakfast and conversation and plying Jill with a few lemons freshly-picked off the tree and some homemade vanilla and a sparkly magnet, we pointed them towards a farmer’s market in Carlsbad, told them to [...]
[...] because it was a fun day. Annalie wasn’t interested in making vanilla again (she’s made it before) and Bonnie’s son E preferred to chase the cats and play outside. But the rest of the moms [...]