HOMEMADE VANILLA
Several years ago, I was at the store around the holidays and needed some vanilla extract. I stood in the baking aisle and looked at my options. There was Pure Vanilla Extract that was incredibly expensive. Vanilla Beans. Also very expensive. “Imitation” Vanilla, which……. huh? I had purchased it one hundred times before, but never really paid attention to the “Imitation” part. It was cheap, we were on a budget, so I bought it. Never really stopped and wondered WHY it was so cheap.
So, how do you make “Imitation” Vanilla Extract? What’s in it? If vanilla beans are THAT expensive, how can it be so cheap? Is that the “Imitation” part?
After a quick Google search, I now know.
It’s not great.
Turns out Imitation Vanilla has NO VANILLA BEANS in it at all. The vanilla flavor in Imitation Vanilla Extract comes from something called Guaiacol (which is derived from wood-tar of Guaiacum Trees) or Lingin (which is woody pulp). According to a Huff Post article, one source of Lingin is pulp waste from the paper industry. Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh………
Gross.
So I started to wonder how hard could it be to make REAL vanilla extract myself? Is it really that expensive?
Turns out, it is easy. Embarrassingly easy. And when you break it down, the price is completely manageable.
And best of all?
It’s delicious!
RECIPE
INGREDIENTS:
750 ml Vodka (Smirnoff is just fine)
10 Vanilla Beans
You will also need a quart size canning jar with lid.
PROCESS
STEP 1:
Add the entire bottle of vodka to a stainless steel pot and heat over medium-high with the lid on until you start to see bubbles forming at the bottom.
You can also heat the vodka by pouring it into your mason jar and microwave for 2 to 3 minutes.
Either way will work.
NOTE: No need to use the best quality Vodka. Save the Tito’s for mixed drinks.
STEP 2:
While you are waiting for the vodka to heat up, take 5 of the vanilla beans and slice them down the center and cut in half. Leave the other five whole.
Drop them all into the mason jar.
I like this method because the split vanilla beans will add flavor to the vodka faster. After soaking for about 6 weeks, the whole beans can be used for recipes where you want the vanilla seeds to be tasted and seen - think homemade vanilla ice cream. You can simply cut off the tip of the bean and squeeze the seeds out into the custard. Make sure to save the vanilla bean skins when you do this. You can dry them out (completely) and add them to a container of sugar to make vanilla sugar. They can also be finely ground in a coffee grinder and added to coffee grounds when brewing for a little extra flavor.
STEP 3:
Add hot vodka to a 1 Quart Mason Jar and allow to cool before putting on the lid and collar.
Shake the jar and place it in your pantry for 6-8 weeks before using it. It will get darker as the weeks go on.
I keep a jar full at all times, occasionally adding more beans and vodka so I never run out. You can see the jar on the right is loaded and the jar on the left is our new batch.
In addition to being a staple in your pantry, this can also make a great holiday or housewarming gift. You can buy 4 oz. glass bottles (Amazon has 12 for $13.99) and fill them up! Tie a festive ribbon around the neck, slap on a custom label and the receiver will be impressed! I’ve done it a few times and it was a hit!
At the beginning of this post, I mentioned the cost of this. So here is a quick breakdown:
McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract 4 oz.:
Total: $9.69
OR $2.42/ounce
Homemade Vanilla Extract 25.4 oz.:
750 ml (25.4 oz) Vodka = $12.99 + 10 Vanilla Beans (Amazon) = 10.99
Total: $23.98
OR $.94/ounce
Easy, affordable, and there is ZERO “wood pulp waste from the paper industry” involved!
Enjoy!
#grayhaircooking