Make your own vanilla extract
January 16th, 2009
Wouldn’t you be happy to get this as a Christmas gift? I read Catherine Newman’s post about making homemade vanilla as Christmas gifts and thought, Brilliant! I’m gonna do that this year! So we did.
I bought a dozen 4-ounce clear Boston round glass bottles and 20 organic Tahitian vanilla beans (I actually received 23 beans). Troy went to BevMo and picked up a couple of liters of vodka. (The helpful Beverage Consultant even recommended this specific brand of vodka, which she thought would bring out the vanilla flavor without overwhelming it. Uh…sure, okay then!) I gathered those supplies along with a cutting board, a clean pair of scissors, a measuring cup and a funnel.
[UPDATE 12 October 2011: The company I originally bought vanilla beans from seems to be on hiatus. Last year I bought beans from the company Vanilla Products USA on eBay, and they were good value for a good product. Or you can just do a search on eBay or Amazon for “vanilla beans” and do your own comparison shopping, of course. Also, I’ve used other kinds of vodka, rum, and bourbon and they all worked just fine—though I think vodka has the most neutral taste. For more questions answered, check out my blog FAQ.)
I also gathered my two lovely and capable assistants, Annalie and my mom Debbie. Really, Annalie did do a lot of the work! Because she’s only four and a half, my mom and I had to help her with cutting the beans and pouring the vodka into the measuring cup, but she was able to do a lot on her own. If your kids are a little older they could probably do this project almost entirely by themselves.
For each bottle of vanilla, you’ll need 2-3 beans and 1/2 cup of vodka. I fudged a little and used something like 1 3/4 beans in most of my bottles, and it turned out plenty vanilla-y. Including the cost of shipping the bottles and the vanilla to my house and the ribbon I tied on the bottles, all the supplies cost me about $50, which means each bottle of vanilla cost a bit more than $4. That’s pretty inexpensive for a cool, useful Christmas gift!
First, we used the scissors to cut each vanilla bean in half lengthwise and then again crosswise.
We stuffed all the bean pieces into the bottles, seven or eight pieces per bottle. I found it easiest to count out the beans first and then hand one bottle and one pile of beans at a time to Annalie, so we didn’t lose track. Once the beans are in the bottle it’s kinda hard to count them.
We got vanilla-bean flecks and sticky juice on our fingers, but it washed off easily and as a bonus made our hands smell yummy.
After we’d distributed all the beans into the bottles, I poured a half-cup of vodka into the measuring cup. My mom held the funnel in the bottle while Annalie poured the vodka in. Then Annalie screwed on the cap.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat till all the bottles are filled and all the lids are on.
I lined up all the bottles in the window because they looked pretty there. The photo above was taken right after we finished filling all the bottles.
Three days later, the vodka had gone from clear to a pretty amber color. Ideally the vanilla should steep for at least a month, till the vanilla is a dark brown. The longer it steeps the stronger the vanilla flavor will be. We didn’t make ours till December 20th, so I just added a don’t-use-until date to the labels.
The vodka, by the way, is just a fairly neutral alcohol base for the vanilla flavor. Vodka is usually between 70 and 80 proof, containing 35-40% alcohol by volume. Commercial vanilla is made—you guessed it—by steeping chopped or macerated vanilla beans in a mixture of water and at least 35% ethyl alcohol. Same thing, more or less!
Sometimes it’s really handy to have a good friend who’s a graphic illustrator! I oh-so-casually mentioned to Brenda that I needed to make labels for the vanilla. Being the nice person she is, she just laughed at my obvious hinting and offered to design one for me. Thanks again Hugh!
Troy and I were talking about how the only ingredients in this vanilla were vodka and vanilla beans, and Troy said, “Don’t forget the love!” That totally cracked us up, so I asked Brenda to put that on the label, along with the best-if-used-after line. Incidentally, if I ever start a food blog it’s totally going to be called “Love, Vodka & Vanilla Beans.”
I tied some festive ribbon around each bottle and added a little handwritten tag clarifying the fact that the the date on the bottle wasn’t the expiration date.
I hope all the recipients enjoy using their homemade vanilla. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to make another batch because I gave it all away and I want some homemade vanilla too!
Edited: I forgot to mention…there are a few more photos of the process in the set homemade vanilla extract on Flickr.
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love it, you clever clogs. and your future blog title reminds me of one of my favourite bars: “Borscht, Vodka and Tears”.
that is soo neat. I am going to do that. They will make a great touch to the baskets I do.
Well,
I’m in love with your daughter.
=)
Who knew you could make vanilla extract? I love this and want to make some of my own.
This is great – I’ve made liqueurs before, many years ago, but have never tried making vanilla. Is this the vanilla that can used in baking too or is it more like a liqueur? Beautiful photographs too. Thanks for sharing.
Great blog, great idea. Cute young lady!
I stumbled upon a blog a while ago that also had a similar vanilla recipe. Minor difference: that blog suggested that to enhance the flavor scrape the soft vanilla out of the inside of the bean and add to the bottle. The other blog also suggested FOUR MONTHS of sitting. My first brew has been sitting two months and smells great. For no good reason I’ll wait two more months. I guess most recipes are pretty flexible and leave a lot of room for creativity.
I make my own too, but with brandy instead of vodka. I absolutely love it and love giving it as gifts.
Awesome
I will definitely be doing this with my four year old Princess. You Mom looks really happy to be helping!
So easy a kid could do it! I love this blog!
Love the small bottles and the labels! I usu do a big bottle and a lotta beans for a few special people, but I might try this instead.
It seems to last forever (my big bottle is going on 4 or 5 years, I think) and tastes wonderful. I just feed it with a few more beans and more vodka several times a year.
This is a lovely blog and I’m adding it to my bookmarked list.
What a great gift idea!
Just amazing.
awesome idea and nice blog annalie is adorable!
(found you through stumble, btw)
kim
I bought the vanilla beans and vodka and raring to go :)…one question…do I leave the beans in the bottle after 30 days or are they removed at that time.
Hello and thanks for the reminder.
I have been doing the same thing for years, except I buy a pint of amber rum, split one vanilla bean lengthwise and then in half and stick it into the bottle. By the time the bottle is almost empty the vanilla taste is the strongest.
What a great idea! And I’d LOVE to receive such a gift. Maybe I’ll have to make some myself since I’m almost out of vanilla.
This was such an interesting article. I stumbled it and just had to leave a comment, which I don’t normally do. Your Annalie is the most adorable little girl I’ve ever seen. My sister in law loves baking, I should do this for her.
who doesn’t love a good vanilla?
I’m definitely going to try this.
Thanks for the idea and how to do it.
Very Cute! I really enjoyed this blog post :-)
What a wonderful homemade gift idea! I would love to try this sometime, thank you very much for sharing. By the way, your daughter is a little cutie! =)=)
The reason why your “Beverage Consultant” chose that particular vodka is because it (and similarly priced vodkas) do not contain a high amount of carbon, unlike cheap vodkas.
According to my bartending teacher, cheap vodkas are required (by law) to be filtered through charcoal and not purified further. This is done so alcoholics (particularly the poor and homeless) are forced [by their body] to evacuate the alcohol if too much is drunk at once — preventing poisoning and eventual death. The unfortunate side effect is the tremendously awful and bitter taste left by the charcoal… Which is why all extracts should be made with high-priced vodka; to avoid overpowering the subtle flavors you’re trying bring out.
The Internet thanks you for this easy to follow and snazzy online how-to!
Bethany,
Do you realize it is illegal for a minor to handle alcohol? Let alone to post evidence of this on the internet? How about some common responsibility and next time, YOU handle the alcohol. Don’t you run the risk of arrest?
Thanks
Kreg, thank you for your kind concern.
When we made the vanilla, it was my general understanding that most states allow a minor to drink as long as a parent says it’s okay.
Now I know that, according to the website of the Alcohol Policy Information System (a project of the National Institue on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism), in the state of California it is legal for minors to possess and/or consume alcohol as long as the minor is on private property (such as a home) and a parent consents and is present. Therefore, I’m pretty sure no illegal acts were committed in the making of this vanilla extract.
While I am totally inrigued, I have NEVER purchased vodka (or even beer) in my life. I’m not sure I could, even for this way cool project…
Found you through stumble. I’ll poke around a bit while I’m here. =)
Leave it to some far right wing conservative to turn an innocent thing such as this into some evil act. Maybe they should be minding what their children are doing instead of worrying about yours. There was no inappropriate use here. In Europe kids are drinking wine with dinner at age 7. Beautiful idea, beautiful pictures. Bueno!
I’m actually making my own vanilla right now – it’s been steeping for a month, and I can’t wait to try it. This post makes me even more excited!
My kids can’t handle alcohol????? Who the heck is going to make my bloody mary in the morning??? Guess the girls are going to have a grumpy mama tomorrow because I refuse to make my own drinks!
It might be good for certain people to have an idea of what laws are in certain areas before leaving comments.
Kudos to you Bethany for having the actual laws there to back you up.
Shame on you for letting your daughter help you make vanilla extract!
Why, oh, why does there always have to be one asshat stinking up the room?
In my opinion, it is much better for the mystery of alcohol to be removed from children and shown proper, responsible uses of it in the home. Such has been done here. However, even back in my very active Mormon and liquor is of the devil days I STILL WOULD HAVE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH A KID HELPING HER MOM AND GRANDMA MAKE VANILLA EXTRACT.
My mother taught me how to make my own vanilla extract in this way when I was a kid, and I taught my daughters when they were 5 and 6. There are many useful metaphors in cooking that will help a child in life, not to mention the fact that everyone loves a cook! I think it’s wonderful that you made this a family affair. Thank you for sharing this with us!
On the negative side, I just found myself with an overwhelming desire to teach another batch of children my kitchen secrets and my girls are many years away from giving me grandchildren… I wonder if I can convince my wife to have a few more… lol
OK, so is this where I admit that I had no idea alcohol of any kind was involved in the vanilla creating process? Because I had no idea. I did once buy a bottle of vanilla extract in Mexico that was brilliant. If I can call vanilla “brilliant.” But it was. I bought three bottles. (This random story brought to you by…kerri’s wee tired brain!)
And your pictures are lovely, as always. xo
Bethany, this is such a great idea! I had no idea it was so easy to make your own vanilla. Thanks for the great post. :)
I was wondering when the trolls were going to come out! Yee Haw!! Love your reply, Bethany. Very cool vanilla making process.
Go away Troll (Kreg), you big meanie. You know nothing about Bethany and you have no right to spew your “wisdom” here.
Take it from this “right wing, conservative” nutjob: I LOVE it!
Definitely putting this on my list of gifts to give to some people in my life this next year.
I’m interested to explore what other extracts can be concocted this way.
Do you make peppermint extract by putting candy-canes or Brachs star mints in vodka?
Just kidding… :)
And Kreg is indeed a “big meanie”, but don’t assume that means he has to be conservative and/or right wing. Some of us do know how to have fun.
Once again, Kudos on this excellent recipe/craft project/gift idea!
I love this idea! Vanilla is such an awesome and complex flavor, and I love to use it in savory dishes–but most commercial vanilla is sweetened somehow. It would be nice to make my own unsweetened vanilla to use with meats and veggies… I’m going to try this one with a nice locally-stilled vodka.
This really made my day! I never thought making vanilla extract could take so much love and care! I think I’m going to have my family get together just for fun and make a few bottles of our own! Thank you so much for putting this on the internet in the fashion you did, the pictures are GREAT!! Keep changing the world a day at a time and have a wonderful life!
Sincerely,
Jamie R.C.
Thanks for this recipie…my husband & I will be making our own vanilla for sure !!!! God bless…Deb K
I’ve made my own for years (it just tastes better)I never made any as gifts, though. I’ve always used brandy, it makes a sweeter vanilla. I’ll try it with vodka next time. Nice job.
I never knew you could make your own vanilla….Thanks for sharing this and BTW your daughter is adorable:)
That is so cool. It looks so easy.
Thank you for the detailed instructions and the great pictures! I’m going to make my own from now on.
[...] Making your own Vanilla Extract, from Bethany Actually. Obviously you wouldn’t use this in your baby’s food, but nice gift, nonetheless. [...]
Found your site on stumble and decided to check it out because my daughter’s name is Bethany. I am looking forward to trying your recipe with my much older daughters. Will have to use a different brand of vodka as I haven’t seen that label here in Australia (not that I lurk around the liquor store), I will take a previous posters advice and use a good quality product. Enjoyed you detailed instructions and found the presentation excellent. Thank you.
Loved the pics, Bethany is adorable! Made my own vanilla extract back in my crafty days (app. 40 yrs. ago) but you have revitalized me, will try your recipe soon, thanks.
Ok, this is just too professional! You put us to shame! The pics are so cute :)
I need to professionalize my work, not that I am in the least bit crafty or can make things but …..
I love this! I have never thought of making my own vanilla… and it looks so easy! Your bottles turned out beautiful!
Great post! Glad to see people are doing this. I make my vanilla extract with 2-3 beans/jar using pure cane rum (or maybe a bit of extra dark rum if I am in a pinch). I’ll have to try to vodka/rum mixture I saw above and see how it compares. I have found that you can keep making extract for quite some time if you keep adding rum to the bottle after you use the extract. Cheers!
A lovely project and a lovely gift. Thanks for sharing.
Another fun thing to do is make vanilla sugar. Cut the vanilla beans the same way and use about half a bean in 2 cups of sugar. Put the bean and sugar in a jar leaving enough space to shake the sugar around a bit. Shake every couple of days for a month. Then use it in coffee, cereal, etc.
I had no idea you could do that!