Homemade Vanilla Extract

Homemade Vanilla Extract is hands down way better quality and far more cost-efficient than anything you can buy at the store. Easily made with just two ingredients, it is worth making at home.

Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe

Vanilla extract made at home is far superior to almost anything you can buy at the store. Not to mention, these days, the price of vanilla beans and vanilla extract can be incredibly steep. The vanilla market has been volatile for some time and vanilla has increasingly become more expensive; and there doesn't seem to be any end in sight. Knowing this, it only makes sense to make vanilla extract at home.

I'm sharing all the tips I've gathered over the last few years for exactly how to do it. You only need two ingredients and, time.

So, let's get to making it, shall we? The text below offers tons of tips and helpful notes, or you can scroll to the bottom to grab the recipe and get started!

What do you need to make homemade vanilla extract?

You need only two ingredients:

• whole vanilla beans (affiliate link)
• alcohol

Aside from that, you'll need:

• a pairing knife, or scissors, to cut the vanilla beans to size and to split in half
• jars (affiliate link) or recycled jars
• labels

Let's Talk Vanilla Beans

Vanilla beans are classified into two categories: Grade A and Grade B.

Grade A (also known as "prime" or "gourmet") beans contain more moisture in the beans, and are generally desired for extracting the vanilla seeds, also known as the "caviar".  Sounds fancy, huh? If you are looking to get the vanilla caviar to add to a dessert such as a creme brûlée, than you might want to buy Grade A because they will infuse quickly into a dessert. While you can certainly use Grade A beans for extract, it makes the most sense to use Grade B.

Grade B beans are the better choice for extract because they contain less moisture than Grade A and therefore have a higher concentration of flavor. However, because they are dry, they require a longer period of time to transfer the flavor. Sometimes, Grade B will be labeled as "split". This is because Grade B are more dry, and they are more susceptible to splitting during the drying process. This has no impact on the extract itself, so go ahead and use Grade B split vanilla beans.

The Different Names of Vanilla Beans

Beyond the grade of the beans, vanilla can be labeled with several different names. The name often refers to the region where they come from.

Regardless of the label, vanilla beans can generally be divided into two different varietals: Planifolia beans (commonly listed from Madagascar or Mexico) and Tahitensis beans (commonly listed from Tahiti or Indonesian).

Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans have that classic vanilla flavor that most store-bought vanilla beans have. Tahitian vanilla beans have a more nuanced, floral flavor. All varietals will work for vanilla extract.

Vanilla is precious and therefore expensive, and there is no way around it. However, it's more cost-efficient to purchase vanilla beans online, instead of buying them in the store. They can cost upwards of $10 for one vanilla bean when you purchase them in a store.

Here are two brands of vanilla beans that I personally use (affiliate links):

Vanilla Products USA

Slo Food Group

What Type of Alcohol To Use

Alcohol in this recipe is the "solvent," or the substance that will transfer the flavor from the vanilla beans.

The most important thing to note is the proof of alcohol used. It should be at least 80 proof alcohol. The most common type of alcohol to use is vodka. Vodka is flavorless and odorless, so it really lets the vanilla shine through. However, don't buy flavored vodka, as it will take away from the delicate vanilla flavor.

I would not recommend buying the absolute cheapest brand of vodka, but instead, buy one that you would be okay with actually drinking. If you don't drink and aren't sure which brand to buy, go on the safe side and buy a medium-priced brand. This advice is contrary to what most other recipes recommend. My mindset is this: I wouldn't use a type of wine to cook with that I hated the taste of, so I don't want to use a vodka in an extract that would be horrible to drink. I know this from experience. I've made that mistake of using the cheap stuff, and that batch of the extract wasn't very good... especially when used in no-bake desserts.

Can You Use Alcohol Other than Vodka?

Yes. You can also try making extract with other alcohol such as rum (either clear or spiced), bourbon or brandy. But do know, the flavor of that alcohol can come through in the final product, so try to pair it with a baked good that would be enhanced by it.

How to Make Vanilla Extract

Very simply put, to make vanilla extract you must infuse the solvent (in this case, it is the alcohol) with the vanilla beans.  There are a few different ways to do this, but the most important thing to keep track of is the ratio of vanilla beans to extract when you make it for the first time (more on that later).

There are many different recommendations out there for the number of beans to alcohol, but I recommend actually paying attention to the weight of the beans vs. the count. Vanilla beans can vary in size and therefore, one bunch of smaller beans will yield an extract that is weaker than one bunch of bigger beans.

To begin a batch of extract, use a minimum ratio of 1 ounce of beans to 1 cup (8 ounces) of alcohol. How many beans that actually is will vary but it is most commonly 5-8 vanilla beans. Kitchen scales come in handy here!

Once you have chosen what jar you are using, you want to figure out how many ounces of alcohol it will hold, then determine how many beans by weight you should include.

How to Prepare the Vanilla Beans to Make Extract

There are a few different ways to prepare the beans to make vanilla extract, and over the years I've tried different ways to all with great success.

When I first started making extract, I used to carefully split the bean down the center and scrape out the caviar, and then place the vanilla bean and the caviar in the jar. Later on, I trimmed off the ends, split the beans and then stuck them both in the jar. But lately, I've just been trimming the beans with a pair of kitchen shears and putting all the pieces in the jar.

Pro-tip: if you beans are extremely dry, it may be too difficult to split them down the middle, and you'll be safer just to chop or snip them into ½" pieces.

Regardless of how you prepare your vanilla beans, the most important aspect is that you somehow get the caviar exposed to have contact with the alcohol, which helps it infuse better. Plus, you'll get those beautiful vanilla specks in your finished product.

How Long Does it Take to Make Vanilla Extract

Once the beans and the alcohol is in the jar, cover and store it in a cool and dark place for at least 6 weeks at a very bare minimum. Shake the jar when you can remember to, at least once a week. It is better to wait for 6-12 months to use the extract, as it will be more fragrant.

There is a photo below showing vanilla extract on day 1, week 6 and month 8. As you can see the 8 month infused extract is much darker, which means more flavorful.

To Strain or Not to Strain

It is optional whether or not you want to strain your extract before using, or whether or not you want to keep the beans inside of the extract while using.

It is recommended that you do keep your beans submerged at all times though, so keep that in mind if you keep them inside of the jar while you are using.

How to Have an Infinite Supply of Vanilla Extract

The one downside to making vanilla extract at home is that it takes time for the vanilla to steep. But if you are strategic, you can always have ready-to-use vanilla extract on hand. And, one of the best parts about using vanilla beans to make vanilla extract at home is that you can reuse the beans!

Once you've used up the extract from a batch, you can reuse the beans (with added fresh ones) to make a new batch of extract. There are a few ways to do this, and depending on how often you go through extract will determine which method works for you.

But first, here are a few facts to understand:

1. Once the vanilla beans have been infused for a period of time, some of the flavor from the beans has been transferred to the alcohol. This means that the longer you reuse a bean, the less aromatic it becomes. Because the price of beans is high, I choose to reuse the beans a few times before tossing them out. I know when it's time to take out the bean because the bean will start to break down in the extract and the bean will significantly lighten in color.
2. To keep the vanilla beans "fresh", make sure they are always submerged in the alcohol. The alcohol is what stops any growth of mold or other unwanted substances. Cut the vanilla beans short if you choose to keep them in the jar while you are actively using the extract.

To keep an endless supply of extract, start by making at least 2 batches of extract at once. Once they have matured, begin using one of the jars. When you have used up half of the jar, go ahead and add a few more fresh vanilla beans to it, and top it off with alcohol. Set that jar aside to mature until you are ready for it. Now begin using the other matured extract. At this time, you should also make a new fresh batch with fresh vanilla beans.

This will mean you have three jars in total:

1. One new batch working to mature
2. One batch that is halfway ready
3. One batch that is ready-to-use.

This way, when you have finished one batch, you have one that is completely ready (and one that will be ready by the time you finish up your second batch). Rotate these three jars, making sure to start a new batch when you finish one.

How Long Can I Re-Use Beans to Make Extract?

It is up to you when you want to discard the old beans and start fresh. I choose to use them 2-4 times, depending on the quality of the beans, how long the extract has been sitting and if I've been careful about making sure the beans stay submerged at all times.

If I'm ever questioning whether the beans are good to use, I'll go ahead and discard and start fresh.

Generally speaking, when my jar gets very full of beans, I know it's time to discard them entirely and start fresh. To do this, I'll strain the ready-to-use extract into a fresh jar, and then start a new batch of vanilla extract with fresh beans in a clean jar.

Frequently Asked Questions

The text above is very full of information. However, I've pulled out some commonsly asked questions about making extract!

Recipes to make with homemade vanilla extract:

• Chocolate Cream Pie
• Homemade Vanilla Pudding
• Malted Milk Chocolate Pie
• Mile-High Apple Pie
• Simple Whipped Cream by Hand

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