Homemade Vanilla Recipe - Sous Vide Extract - Savoring The Good® (2024)

FAQs

How can you tell if homemade vanilla extract is good? ›

You can learn a lot just by looking at your extract. Visually, is it a dark, amber color? If it was made with a light spirit (like a vodka or a white rum) you will be able to see through it when you hold it up to a light source. It should be a beautiful amber color.

You only need 2 ingredients for homemade vanilla extract: vanilla beans and vodka. Let the vanilla beans infuse the vodka for as little as 8 weeks, but for optimal flavor, wait at least 6-12 months before using. Homemade vanilla is more cost efficient than store-bought options.

If I added too much vanilla by mistake, I would balance it with a contrasting flavor. A pinch more salt (not enough to make the recipe salty, some citrus zest (vanilla and citrus are excellent companion flavors), maybe something dark and slightly bitter like buckwheat honey or molasses.

Answer #2: Alcohol is normal. Remember that all "Pure" extracts are required to have a minimum 35% alcohol content, which is just as much alcohol that is in hard liquor.

When stored properly, vanilla extract will keep indefinitely, but using it within five years will allow for best flavor and aroma. Do not refrigerate or freeze, even after opening. What is the shelf life of my vanilla beans? When stored properly, two years.

After some time has passed, give the jar a shake once or twice a week, until the alcohol turns a rich brown and smells of fragrant vanilla essence. The total time will depend on how many beans and how much vodka you use. For the most potent final product, let your extract bloom for 6–12 months before breaking into it.

If your jar is larger than 8 ounces, use more beans and alcohol so that the alcohol will cover the beans. Just remember this ratio: 6 vanilla beans per 8 ounces of alcohol. So if your jar is 12 ounces, use 9 vanilla beans. If it's 16 ounces, use 12 beans.

You can use vanilla beans for extract more than once, which makes them a gift that keeps on giving. Just know that the flavor will get weaker over time. Many recommend using them no more than four times. Once you've created your first batch of vanilla extract, feel free to reuse them in the next few batches.

Vodka is the preferred alcohol for extractions like this, as its flavor is neutral and does not compete with that of the vanilla beans.

Don't be fooled by extracts that claim to be pure, imitation and clear vanilla utilize artificial flavors. Pure vanilla extract should be dark brown; the color of Vanilla Beans used in the extraction process.

What is the best vanilla bean for making vanilla extract? ›

Madagascar vanilla is a great choice vanilla bean for making vanilla extract. The aroma of vanilla from Madagascar is just what most people expect when it comes to vanilla beans. Rich, buttery, creamy, with little notes of smokiness and soft cocoa undertones.

Pure maple syrup has a rich, delicious flavor that both compliments and replaces the vanilla flavor in most baked recipes. It also has the added benefit of adding moisture to baked goods, so it's a great alternative for cakes, pound cakes and muffins.

If you've just added a little too much, you can counteract it by sweetening the recipe. The sweetness will mask any bitterness from the alcohol and enhance the floral sweetness of the vanilla. Another option, if you've added more than a little too much vanilla extract, is to dilute the whole recipe.

So, yes, it's very common for alcohol-free vanilla extracts to be based on glycerin, and it's normal for glycerin (which is bitter) to taste like alcohol (which is also bitter). As a side note, there may be other ways of extracting vanilla than with alcohol and with glycerin, and not all of them will taste the same.

Pure vanilla extract must contain vanilla beans, water, and alcohol. Alcohol is used to "extract" the flavor from the vanilla beans. Per the FDA's definition of "vanilla extract," it must contain at least 35 percent alcohol by volume and at least 100 grams of vanilla bean per liter.

To make your own vanilla extract, you'll need 6 whole vanilla pods and 8 oz. alcohol (70-proof or above). At 12.5% concentration, this homemade extract is slightly stronger than single-fold vanilla extract; use it wherever a more prominent vanilla flavor is desired.

Extracts without any additional ingredients have a longer shelf life. Imitation Vanilla is made using (you guessed it) imitation ingredients which often contain chemicals. “While imitation vanilla is less expensive, it often leaves a slight chemical aftertaste which reminds me of cheap candy,” said Chef Eddy.

Best Overall: Penzeys Single Strength Vanilla Extract. Best Value: Simply Organic Pure Vanilla Extract. Best for Baking: Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract. Best for Using Raw: Singing Dog Pure Vanilla Extract.