How to Make Vanilla Extract

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If you're thinking about doing some DIY presents for Christmas this year your period of thinking is over - today you're going to learn how to make vanilla extract.

Smirnoff vodka, amber bottles and vanilla beans laid out for making vanilla extract.

I know - Christmas talk. Calm down, it'll only take you two minutes to make homemade vanilla extract and the longer it sits the better it will be - so there's no need to get anxious.

Unless you accidentally forget to put clothes on when you run to the grocery store for a vanilla bean. That's something to get a bit anxious about. Especially if they're out of vanilla beans.

6 vanilla beans laid out on wood board beside glass vial.

Homemade vanilla extract requires 2 ingredients.

A Vanilla Bean
Booze

Table of Contents

Types of beans

There are 2 main types of Vanilla beans: Tahitian and Madagascar.

Tahitian vanilla beans are apparently more "floral" tasting and smelling than the standard Madagascar vanilla bean.

Where are Vanilla Beans Grown?: Madagascar (75% of all beans grow here), Mexico and Tahiti (the other 25%) Little bits come from other countries but not a significant amount.

How do Vanilla Beans Grow? On a tree? A vine? : Vanilla beans are actually pods that grow on a rare ORCHID. That's right. Vanilla beans grow on orchids. Orchids that can only be pollinated by hummingbirds or some other rare, weird bird. So any commercially grown vanilla orchids have to be hand pollinated. That partly explains the expensive price of the bean.

Which should you buy?

Madagascar vanilla beans are the most readily available.
Tahitian vanilla beans apparently have more floral notes.
Mexican vanilla beans are hard to find but it is delicious with heavy chocolate, earthy tones.

All this to say you should just go with whatever beans you can find and afford.

The great thing about homemade vanilla is it's the gift that *literally* keeps on giving. I've been topping up the vodka in my own vanilla extract for years.

What booze to use?

You can use anything, but the standard is Vodka because it doesn't interfere with the vanilla flavour.

Instructions

Slice a vanilla bean in half lengthwise, exposing the soft, seed filled interior.
Place the bean in a 4 oz (118 ml) glass bottle. (amber bottles are best)
Fill the jar with a neutral tasting alcohol. I use Vodka.
Allow the vanilla bean to steep for 4-6 weeks before using.

Fingers dropping a sliced vanilla bean into an amber bottle.

The longer the vanilla steeps the stronger the extract will be. You can also use 2 vanilla beans instead of one to make it stronger. There's no need to remove the vanilla bean from the jar once you start using it. Keeping it in there just improves the flavour and allows you to top up the jar with more vodka without diluting the flavour.

Vodka being poured into an amber bottle containing a vanilla bean.

Don't use the good vodka! Just the cheapest stuff you can buy or steal. If you're storing your vanilla in a cupboard you can use clear glass bottles but if it's out in the open you should keep it in a amber or brown bottle to prevent light from reducing the quality.

Supplies

AMERICANS!

Buy your amber glass bottles → on Amazon. ← here.

Buy your Tahitian Vanilla beans → on Amazon. ← here.

CANADIANS!

Buy your amber glass bottles →on Amazon ← here.

Buy your Tahitian Vanilla beans → on Amazon. ← here.

An amber jar of homemade vanilla extract with a custom label.

If you want to make the bottle fancy head on over to the Graphics Fairy which is where I got this Vanilla label that I personalized a bit.

Get your → Vanilla Extract Paper Label ← here. If you're computer/Photoshop savvy you can customize it that way, otherwise you can just print the label and write in your name and the date in the space provided at the bottom of the label.

Sliced vanilla beans on a wood cutting board showing thousands upon thousands of seeds inside.

Cost

The price of each bottle of pure vanilla extract will vary depending on the cost of the bottles, vodka and eans but generally assume cost you anywhere from $5-$10 to gift including the vanilla bean, the bottle and the vodka but any of these things could change price by the time you read this.

2 side by side amber bottles of homemade vanilla extract.

The vanilla on the left had been steeping for a couple of months. The vanilla on the right was just made the day I took the photo. As it infuses the liquid will get darker and darker.

Obviously the darker it gets, the more flavourful it will be. If you taste it on day one it'll taste like vodka. if you taste it on day 90, it'll taste like really good vodka. Like a dessert vodka. Just kidding, it'll taste like vanilla.

A teaspoon filled with homemade vanilla extract and whole vanilla pods nearby.

Looking back on this post it's a whole lot of words to say - if you want to DIY some homemade vanilla extract, cut a bean in half, stick it in a little jar and the fill it with a few ounces of vodka.

And don't forget to get dressed before you go to the grocery store.