Did You Know – How To Make Vanilla Extract
I have posted how to make PURE VANILLA EXTRACT before, however, I had to share my best batch ever with you! Look at how dark it turned out this year and when I smell it I want to make an air freshener with it.
This year I bought vanilla beans on sale so I added 25 that were 6”- 8” long, twice as many as I have before. I added them to the bottle after I sliced them open to expose the vanilla bean seeds. Then I poor vodka into the bottle and close it tight with the lid. I store mine in a brown paper bag and keep it in the basement. About once a week I shake the bottle.
Once the color and smell are where I want it to be, this batch took about 3 months, I strain the extract, clean out the bottle and refill it with the strained vanilla extract then it’s ready to use. I keep a small bottle in my pantry but after making all my Christmas cookies it is gone.
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
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Categories: Alcohol Based, Did You Know, Vanilla Extract
Yes, I make it all the time
I definitely decided you can’t put too many vanilla beans in the bottle.
Agreed
Oh brilliant, had no idea it was pretty easy to make like this. Will have to give it a go next year.
It is fun watching the color change each time you shake it, not to mention the aroma!
I heard on the radio yesterday, that smelling vanilla extract eases anxiety by 70%. Have you experienced that?
No but I should start smelling it more! Lol
<3
🥰
I never thought to make my own, I will have to try this one day. I love the smell of vanilla
Because it is alcohol, it never goes bad. I make a vodka bottle full because I go through that every year, however, you can make a smaller quantity if you want.
Thanks Diane😊 and merry Christmas to you and your family 🎄
Homemade vanilla is the best!
It sure is!
What size bottle of alcohol do you use for this year’s 25 vanilla beans and the recipe’s 15 to 20 vanilla beans?
I need to edit the original post. Now that I added the extra vanilla beans to 25 this year I will always recommend that amount. However, you can use less but as I figured out, it won’t be as dark or fragrant as 25 beans are. Thank you for drawing that to my attention Katelon.
The smells filling your home from the new kitchen when you open the oven door will be tantalizing. Merry Christmas Diane.
It sure was Linda, more so than before we remodeled because now it’s all open air. Thank you for your nice comment!
You’re welcome Diane. Did you have a hood over your stove? I don’t recall from your pictures. One thing that bugged my mom about this house (which he bought when he came over and interviewed for the job and my mom was not with him and didn’t see it ’til the day we moved in) was having no hood and any smells traveled throughout the house. Fine if it is sweet smells, but a roast or something on the stovetop that cooks for hours took forever to get rid of the smell. Something funny – everything cooked that might smell the back of the house, my mom closed the rooms where the bears were so it did not smell their fur – hard to get rid of the smell. Baking treats was fine.
The microwave is above the stove, however, it has a light and 3 speed fan just like a hood would have. I love the aroma of food cooking, unless it is green peppers! I think living in a small house, as we both do, the aroma can really travel. When Terry was still working he would walk in and try to guess what was for dinner. Lol
Yes, the smells do travel. I did the same thing with my mom, especially if she was making a warm dessert. She often did hot peaches and gingersnaps in the Winter. She mashed up the gingersnaps and put them into canned peach halves then put whipped cream and cinnamon on top of them while they were hot. It was so good and I’d guess it coming in the door.
Your mom enjoyed cooking for you as I do Terry.
Yes she did – probably why she never taught me how to cook! She enjoyed doing it too much, same as you!
That is so true Linda.
Sounds like a very concentrated and potent batch, Diane. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Thank you Ab!
Very cool, thanks!
You’re welcome!
I really need to try this. I use so much vanilla during the year.
Me too Carla, that’s why I started making it years ago.