6 Quick Steps To Make Your Own Homemade Pure Vanilla Extract

Did you know you can make your own pure vanilla extract at home with just a few ingredients? It’s not a mystery any longer and it’s a lovely gift to give to your favorite baker. As with any homemade product, there are several benefits to making your own. For one, you get to choose the quality of ingredients and know exactly what is in your vanilla extract. This means, you will have the highest quality vanilla extract available without anything artificial.

A few years back we decided as a family to give handcrafted gifts for the holidays instead of purchasing them. I was in search of what I could make that would be both fun and practical. That’s when I learned that I could make my own pure vanilla extract. Why had I not thought of this before?  Considering that nearly everything that is mass produced now were once made at home, it’s not that crazy of a thought that I could produce a gift that my family and friends would enjoy.

So what is pure vanilla extract? It is simply the extract (flavor and aroma) from the vanilla beans that have been immersed in alcohol (usually vodka because of it’s neutral flavor, but sometimes brandy or rum) over a period of time. The FDA requires;

“In vanilla extract the content of ethyl alcohol is not less than 35 percent by volume and the content of vanilla constituent, as defined in 169.3(c), is not less than one unit per gallon.”

So that means the vanilla extract you’ll find in the store, is 70 proof (35% alcohol) and it contains 13.35 oz of bean per gallon of alcohol which would produce a single strength vanilla extract. After more research I found that some bakers prefer a double strength vanilla extract and others do not. I am guessing it is a matter of preference.  I lean toward loving the scent of vanilla and enjoy baking with it so my recipe may have a wee bit more vanilla than others but since I’m making my own and not planning to sell it I can follow whatever guideline works for our baking needs and that is a nice pure vanilla extract that flavors our baked goods without overpowering them.

The vanilla bean grows from a kind of tropical orchid. The fruit starts out as a hard green pod and the greenish white flowers (missing in this photo) and in a natural setting are dependent on bees to pollinate them, but now in modern times they can be artificially pollinated.  These vanilla beans are picked unripe and then submerged in hot water to remove their protective cover and allow for the natural liquids to seep out. They are then allowed to dry in the sunlight and ferment. When they have turned brown and covered with a layer of vanillin crystals the vanilla beans are ready.

Unripe vanilla bean pods on the vine in Kauai

Cut vanilla beans to fit your jar of choice

Homemade Pure Vanilla Extract Day One

Homemade Pure Vanilla Extract Day 30

Beans:

When looking for beans there are two types I’ve run across Grade ‘A’ and ‘B’.

Grade ‘A’ vanilla beans are the beautiful cream of the crop ones. They contain more moisture and oil and are reserved for the gourmet. These are great for baking and easier to scrape the beans out. Perfect for recipes that call for vanilla beans.

Grade ‘B’ vanilla beans or ‘extract beans’ are just what you need for making pure vanilla extract.  These beans contain less moisture and are therefore less beautiful and harder to slice and remove the beans. This however, doesn’t affect their flavor qualities and are then great to use for extraction methods.

Certified organic vanilla beans can be found at:  Amadeus Trading Company , The Vanilla Company , The Boston Vanilla Bean Company

Another option for finding vanilla beans: Beanilla

Bottles:

A few ideas of where to find bottles:

Specialty Bottle Company , SKS Bottles or Beanilla

Now all you have to do it be patient and let your creations do their thing. If you are going to gift these then planning two months ahead is key. However, these are fun to keep a few on hand to bring as a hostess gift or to add with some sweet treats you’ve made.

Rachelle @ Caramelize Life

“Making Life a Little Sweeter through Food, Travel and Community”