How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
I know it’s hard to think about the holiday gift-giving season when it’s 1000 degrees outside, but if you’re the type that likes to be prepared, I suppose it’s never too early. Here’s a fun little project to undertake the next time you find yourself trapped indoors this summer: homemade vanilla extract.
To start, you’ll need some vanilla beans. IndriVanilla, supplier of Fair Trade bourbon vanilla beans at beyond reasonable prices, is a great source. Since discovering them back in January, I have reintroduced vanilla beans to my pantry and have never been happier.
Next, a little alcohol. I made two batches with what I had on hand — vodka and rum — but the type of alcohol can vary from Frangelico to butterscotch schnapps to spiced rum to amaretto, all of with which Whitney Olsen, owner of IndriVanilla, has experimented. With 50+ variations of extract now bottled, Whitney has learned a few things, namely that the longer the beans steep and the more that are used, the stronger the vanilla extract will taste. And, moreover, because sugars in lower-proof alcohols can inhibit steeping, the higher the proof of the alcohol — 80 or above is ideal — the better the extract will taste.
And that’s really it. With vanilla beans and alcohol on hand, you are all set to start making homemade extract. The process couldn’t be more simple: heat alcohol just to its boiling point; pour it over split vanilla beans; let the extract steep for at least six weeks.
If you feel like turning your homemade vanilla into gifts, here’s what you’ll need:
• Bottles. I, for once, was practical (thanks to guidance by Whitney) and didn’t order cute cork-topped bottles, which leak and apparently can impart unpleasant odors. I ordered 4-oz. amber glass bottles on Uline. Each bottle holds about 7 tablespoons (just under 1/2 cup) of liquid. At $1.05 a piece, my 24 bottles cost $25.20 and shipping brought the total to $36.81, making the ultimate cost per bottle $1.53.
• Labels. There are lots of great resources for printing labels at home, but I love Moo.com, so I ordered my labels there. If you like the look of these, I’ve enclosed links to the files below, which you can download and order from Moo, too. There are three color options, and depending on when you get around to making the vanilla, you can choose a label with the appropriate 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-month-aged stamp.
Got it? Get crackin’. At the very least, order some beans and pick up some alcohol. The bottling and labeling can wait for a day this winter when you might find yourself trapped indoors again with any luck snow falling outside your windows.
Homemade Vanilla Extract
- Total Time: 45 minutes
Description
Recipe adapted from Cooks Illustrated; much guidance sought from owner of IndriVanilla, Whitney Olsen, who happens to be the nicest person on the planet and is always willing to offer advice with anything vanilla related. Check out her FB page for recipes and ideas.
Whitney’s notes:
- For the Indonesian vanilla beans (the variety IndriVanilla supplies), Whitney believes that rum complements the flavor of the vanilla best.
- For strong extract ready to use in 6-8 weeks, you’ll want to use a minimum of 3 luxury vanilla beans or 4 ultra-premium vanilla beans or 5 gourmet vanilla beans per 8 oz. of alcohol.
- Steep for a minimum of 6 weeks, but the longer the better.
- Cheesecloth or coffee filters work well for straining if you wish to do so.
Ingredients
Cooks Illustrated proportions:
- 1 vanilla bean
- 3/4 cup alcohol of choice (Cooks Illustrated used Smirnoff vodka; Whitney recommends something with a proof of at least 80)
Instructions
- Split a fresh bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Place the seeds and split pod in a sealable container such as a mason jar. Meanwhile, heat the alcohol just to a boil, then pour over seeds and pod. Let the mixture cool to room temperature. Seal the container and store at room temperature for at least 6 weeks. Strain the extract, if desired (I didn’t), and store in a cool, dark place. The extract should keep indefinitely.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
Labels for Download:
Order a pack of 50 on Moo for $16.99
**LABELS ARE CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD … TRYING TO LOCATE THE FILES. STAY TUNED**
Box of Moo labels:
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
65 Comments on “How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract”
Hi Alexandra! Could you share which Avery template you can use to print labels at home? I love your labels!
Erin — I actually haven’t found an Avery label that is quite the right size. I have been in touch with several other Readers regarding this and have passed along some PDFs using the template I found (https://www.onlinelabels.com/OL3043.htm?src=dlc-49), which seemed to be a little more similar in size to the Moo labels. If you need labels in a specific color/month, please let me know, and I will create the appropriate PDF. And, if you find an Avery template that you think will work for the labels, please let me know, and I can make an appropriate label based off that template. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
After falling in love with your labels this morning and trying to remedy the situation with them not being quite the right size for any Avery models out there, I may have come up with a solution that might work for some people. Avery does sell a clear full sheet label that is 8-1/2″ x 11″ (10-pack or 25-pack). I played around with it in Word and you should be able to fit 8 labels per page. After they are printed you could use either scissors or a paper cutter to cut the labels out. I centered the document and put 5 spaces between each column and 1 return between each row. The labels are clear, so you shouldn’t have to worry about making sure all the white is cut off.
10-pack: Avery 18665 ($10.28 on Amazon, so roughly $0.13 a sticker if you use every sheet for stickers, but I’m sure you could find other uses for different kinds of labels.)
25-pack: Avery 8665 ($20.14 on Amazon or roughly $0.10/sticker)
Dana — thanks so much for this. I think this is a great solution for people not wanting to splurge on the moo labels, which definitely are on the pricier side. I should set up a file like this myself and upload it in PDF form so people can print it at home if they wish. I think cutting is totally manageable, especially if you have a paper cutter, and if you have a round corner puncher, that would help with the edges, though lining it up might be tricky. Anyway, added to my to-do list! Thanks for the idea.
Where do you get vanilla beans? Is there a store/web site that sells beans in bulk and at a good price?
Kassie: here you go! https://www.indrivanilla.com/ Cheap and Fair Trade to boot!
I looked at your vanilla beans and have never seen a pod with that many vanilla beans inside .
Dora, well these very beans can be yours for the low low price of $13.50. Yes! 19 beans for $13.50. Isn’t that the deal of the century? Here is the link: https://indrivanilla.com Your comment just inspired me to place an order for 19 of the small ($0.50/each) vanilla beans.
I just sent a link but did not see it, anyway, I have never seen that many beans inside a vanilla pod.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on homemade vanilla extract.
Regards
I love this idea for all the cooks in my circle of friends and family. Can I order the bottles and Labels from Canada? I’m from Toronto.
Amy other great edible gift ideas?
Lori
Lori — hi! People were thrilled to receive this gift this past holiday. I don’t know for sure, but you would have to check with Moo (for the labels) and Uline (for the bottles) to see if they ship to Canada. And as for other edible gift ideas, the easiest place to find them all is on my pinboard: https://pinterest.com/alexandracooks/homemade-gifts-for-foodies/
Hope that helps!
Alexandra–Thanks for such a detailed tutorial on homemade vanilla extract–I’ve referenced your fantastic post on my blog this morning. Thank you again!
Erin
http://www.francoisetmoi.com
Awesome! And beautiful blog! I am going to explore more when I’m not so tired 🙂 Thanks for writing in!
This article is great!!! I want to buy vanilla beans. Can I buy them?
Yes, of course, I recommend IndriVanilla Beans: https://www.indrivanilla.com/
I’m making the vanilla now, but the links to the labels don’t seem to work anymore! Do you still have the templates?
Could you make labels that say 12 months and 15 months? In the vanilla co-op I’m in we’re given the guidelines of 1oz beans to 8oz clear alcohol (like vodka or white rum) for one year for single fold vanilla (2oz beans for double fold like many pro bakers use) and 15 months for darker alcohol (like bourbon or dark rum). Please and Thank you <3
PS: Don't throw your beans away when you are done – you can make more extract or use for other things 🙂