DIY Vanilla Extract

Step 3 Bottle, label, gift.

After the two month wait is finally over your extraction phase has completed, now on to bottling!

I did a little taste/smell test, comparing the home brew extract to a bottle of McCormick’s Real Vanilla Extract. The homemade stuff smells sweeter and looks a little lighter. I find the McCormick extract to have a bit of a chemical odor when compared to the home brew extract.

I started with two handles of vodka (added one the next day after seeing how easy it was!) and ended up with 12 8-ounce bottles of extract. Considering the cost of the ingredients I’d say it was a pretty good deal. I included a split vanilla bean in each bottle to continue extraction. This way the extract will continue to age and darken over time.

In addition to labeling all the bottles I also numbered and dated them. Beyond just being OCD the dates are on there because according to my original recipe the extract should continue to improve for the next 4 months.

The extract smells and tastes great, considering the price difference I can't imagine I'd ever buy vanilla extract from the store again. In general I’d say this is a pretty easy project worth trying. A++ would extract again.

Comments

[deladybex]

I have made Vanilla for many years myself and enjoy the process of being able to make a quility item. It is fun to do this and it gives the self satifaction of being creativly simple. deLadyBex

[chuckyd]

I have bought vanilla extract overseas, and the best has actually been distilled, not just soaked in vodka or rum.

The last time I purchased vanilla beans, I could have bought several jars of extract for the same price.

[Molinos]

For a twist on this, I used a 75-25 mixture of Vodka/Amaretto, it gives an interesting flavor.

[uncbill]

Love it, great for ice cream and baking. Vanillin is the primary flavor note in vanilla, and is usually used to label synthetic, artificial vanilla products. Your extract will have many natural notes other than the vanillin.