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How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is used in almost every baking project you could think of. It is also one of the most basic ingredients needed to make that perfect dessert for the weekend.

One of the reasons you’d want to make your own extract is that many if not most commercially produced vanilla extract can consist of artificial colors, corn sweeteners and sugar. All of which is allowed by the definition given by the US FDA. If you make your own you know exactly what goes into it.

Making your own vanilla extract can be as simple and easy as cutting up your vanilla beans, putting the pieces in a glass bottle, topping it off with vodka*, sealing it and waiting for just one to two short months, two to be on the safe side. Even more, because the bottle of homemade vanilla extract has the vanilla beans still in the bottle**, the vanilla extract, like wine, will age continue to get better, waiting for the next time you need the wonderful homemade concoction. Just one technical point, for the vanilla extract to be called ‘vanilla extract,’ the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that the solution contains a minimum 35% of alcohol and 100g of vanilla beans per liter (13.35 ounces per gallon).

So here it is, “How to Make Your Own Vanilla Extract.” (Free download here)

Instructions

Metric (liters, grams and centimeters)

Step 1 : Weight total amount of vanilla beans in grams

Step 2 : Slice vanilla beans lengthwise

Step 3 : Cut the sliced vanilla beans into 2 – 3 cm pieces

Step 4 : Put vanilla beans in the bottle

Step 5 : Multiply the number of grams of vanilla beans by 10

Step 6 : Add 35% vodka equal to the product in gallons

Example :

100g of vanilla beans

100 x 10 = 1000

∴ 1000 mL

50g of vanilla beans

50 x 10 = 500

∴ 500 mL

Step 7 : Close lid and store in shaded/dark area

Step 8 : Slightly shake once a week for about 2 months

Step 9 : Enjoy~~!!!

English (gallons, ounces and inches)

Step 1 : Weight total amount of vanilla beans in ounces

Step 2 : Slice vanilla beans lengthwise

Step 3 : Cut the sliced vanilla beans into 2 inch pieces

Step 4 : Put vanilla beans in the bottle

Step 5 : Divide total amount of vanilla beans in ounces by 13.35

Step 6 : Add 35% vodka equal to the quotient in gallons

Example :

10 ounces of vanilla beans

10 ÷ 13.35 = 0.74

∴ 0.74 gallons

25 ounces of vanilla beans

25 ÷ 13.35 =1.87

∴ 1.87 gallons

Step 7 : Close lid and store in shaded/dark area

Step 8 : Slightly shake once a week for about 2 months

Step 9 : Enjoy~~!!!

* You can use any other 35%+ spirits but vodka, is used more commonly because it will not add any additional flavors to the vanilla extract.

** The vanilla beans have to be completely submerged in alcohol.

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