Learn how to make vanilla extract! Very detailed instructions to give you all the information you need. Homemade vanilla extract is easy and fun to make!
About 10 months ago, I made some extracts and I wanted to write a follow-up post on how they turned out! The short version: they turned out really well! I made 2 bottles of vanilla, 1 bottle of mint, and 1 bottle of lemon.
When I made my homemade vanilla extract {and the other extracts} I used a cheap vodka for the base. I let it sit from August until December {5 months} in a dark area, shaking every so often. I found it to have a pretty raw, alcohol flavor after 5 months. It wasn’t apparent in my baked goods, but the vanilla flavor wasn’t as strong as I’d have liked it to be. I used the second bottle of vanilla about 8 months after I made it and it was much better! It has a much stronger flavor and smells a lot less like alcohol and a lot more like vanilla.
I also had a friend gift me some vanilla she made using bourbon and I LOVED the flavor edge the bourbon gave it. She lets hers sit for a very long time, I can’t remember exactly what she told me but it was close to 9 months or longer.
I thought the mint and lemon extract turned out fantastic as well. Those seemed more ready at the 5 month mark, but did get better by the 8 month mark as well. I haven’t used store bought mint or lemon extract enough to know how potent they are, but these homemade extracts were pretty darn potent! I need to purchase some to compare.
Here are my main takeaways:
- Let extracts sit in a dark area, shaking periodically, for a minimum of 8 months.
- Vodka quality is not important.
- Vodka is best for extracts like lemon and mint.
- Vanilla extract turns out well when made with vodka, but for additional flavor use bourbon or rum.
- I still love the swing top glass bottles I used!
- The ratios of vanilla beans, lemon, and mint I used worked well, I’ll put them in the recipe card below!
Here is what I plan to test in the future:
- Making my own bourbon vanilla extract.
- Rum vanilla extract {any takers on the leftover bourbon and rum?! 🙂 }
- Reusing the vanilla beans I have in my vanilla bottles currently – I have read this works but I don’t really understand how they continue to give flavor after being used to make vanilla previously.
- Different types of vanilla beans.
I don’t think I’ll ever buy vanilla extract again! It’s so easy to make and really cost effective. And if you’re wondering why my bottle is partly empty in the photos…it’s because I kept meaning to snap pictures but kept forgetting and I use it all the time! So it really was full when I made it 🙂 .
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How to Make Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Slice vanilla beans open by running a sharp knife down the length of the bean.
- Place 4 beans in 1-8 ounce bottles with a tight sealing lid.
- Pour in 8 ounces of vodka, or enough to mostly cover the vanilla beans.
- Repeat with second bottle.
- Store in a dark place and shake every few days.
- Let sit at minimum 8 months before using.
Alli says
Homemade extracts are so fun to make!