Homemade Christmas Gift #25: Homemade Vanilla Extract
Do you have a friend who loves to cook? This homemade vanilla is a perfect gift. You only need two ingredients to make it, Vodka and vanilla beans
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It is actually very easy to make, but it takes a few months to turn into vanilla so make it now and save it for Christmas. Find out how to make it here.
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Stacie says
Awesome!! I had no idea it took two ingredients to make Vanilla. I love to bake so this would be cheaper for me to make my own. Thanks for posting this.
tamyra murray says
This is so cool! Real vanilla is so expensive at the grocery store. I love the homemade gifts!! Thank you
Kathy says
I tried this about a month ago, but I used Bourbon because when I buy “expensive” Vanilla extract, it always says ‘Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla’…so I figured you’re ‘supposed’ to use bourbon — by the way, I actually used Jack Daniel’s Whiskey because apparently you can only call your ‘Mash’ bourbon if it’s from a particular place in Kentucky. So, what I actually have waiting for me is: Jack Daniel’s Vanilla 😀 lololololol ! ! !
April says
Dumb question…Where would one get vanilla beans?
April says
Nevermind the tutuorial finally loaded. I see now
Sandra says
trader joes
Mandy says
Most grocery stores carry vanilla beans in the spice section.
Connie says
I was super excited to see this! BUT then I saw on the other websites that it takes FIVE to SIX MONTHS for the vanilla to be made!!! 🙁
So if one makes it now for Christmas, they need to put a label or tag on the bottle that says not to use until March or April 🙁 Thought you’d want to know…
Nicole says
So vanilla has alcohol in it? Wow…will not be letting my kids have it now…
Lisa Boschma says
You should check your other extracts! So far, I’ve found that Peppermint is the WORST with 89% alcohol!
LORI says
NICOLE AND LISA, IF YOU COOK OR BAKE WITH ALCOHOL, THE ALCOHOL COOKS OUT LEAVING THE GREAT TASTE BEHIND.
Michael Harding says
Excellent gift. You might want to peruse another blog that addresses vanilla extract production even more thoroughly:
http://farmwifeatmidlife.blogspot.com/2011/09/t-alk-about-putting-things-off-ive-had.html
Nicole says
While I used to agree with all the alcohol cooking out, its actually been scientifically proven that all the alcohol doesn’t. I won’t fret about feeding it to my kids up till now, but after today I will not be using it in cooking until they are “of age”. :-p Thanks anyway! I can still make this for my “adult” friends! 🙂
Kathy says
Do you have a link to that research? I’d like to investigate further; I’m actually a culinary chemist and I have not heard the research of which you speak. If it is true, then the FDA should have labels on everything with any type of extract, because they ALL use some sort of alcohol–pregnant women need to be warned! BUT, on the other hand–2 tsp of Vanilla in an entire batch of cookies isn’t going to hurt anyone (unless you had the whole batch yourself.)
Flounder says
Making extract for Xmas gifts this year. The 6 month wait time bugged me.
But, I found a recipe on “Cooks Illustrated”!! They tested and found this:
1 bean per 3/4 cup of vodka (cheap is fine), heat the vodka til hot, add the split beans and seeds. Let it cool, then cap it and shake it. The recipe says its ready to go in 1 week!
And I get my beans from http://www.indrivanilla.com. Only $0.50 each!! And I like that they’re a fair trade sorta operation!!
The extract is awesome.
Whitney says
Kathy, it’s the USDA who did that research. One more thing–regarding the “bourbon” in bourbon vanilla: it’s called that because the vanilla beans are the bourbon varietal, or Vanilla planifolia, not because the alcohol is bourbon. 🙂 Tahitian vanilla beans, for instance, are not bourbon vanilla beans. Bourbon vanilla beans are known for their delicious potency and rich vanilla aroma and flavor–they’re considered the best of the best.
Lady says
I started my bottle in January (saw tutorial last christmas on a different site) and has been brewing for 10 months. It smells divine! You really have never had good vanilla until you’ve tried homemade, it’s THAT good!
Also, ladies, give Nicole a break, it’s her choice what she feeds or doesn’t feed her children. It’s not our place to judge 🙂
ashley says
kathy here are just a few links for you to check out. being a food chemist, i thought you would know this information. not trying to be rude, but a simple google search would have given you the info.
http://www.3fatchicks.com/does-alcohol-burn-off-food-during-cooking/
http://brokensecrets.com/2010/07/26/alcohol-does-not-completely-burn-off-in-cooking/
http://cookingquestions.myrecipes.com/2010/04/does-the-alcohol-cook-completely-cook-out-when-you-use-it-in-recipes-.html
Darla says
@Nicole….if you are concerned about the little bit of alcohol left behind in cooking….check out what sugar does to our bodies. I’m attaching the youtube link from UCSF called “Sugar: The Bitter Truth”. It’s worth sitting thru.