Saturday, June 20, 2009

Homemade Vanilla Extract

I've been waiting, waiting to put this up since two months back. But I had to hold myself back until the time is ripe, that is, about now? Since early March when my sister gave me a bunch of Madagascar Vanilla pods, I knew I had to try to "preserve" them as long as possible. I was rather careful and stingy about using them. Then I found a way to use them carefully - make vanilla extract!

Gina had taught me how to make them into vanilla extract by soaking them into Vodka. I followed her method closely from Kitchen Capers, and the extract was really good! This was the result of weeks and weeks of shaking and "standing". In one of the sites, I read that Vanilla Extracts matured over time, just like wines. That will mean that I can keep them for a long long time without them "expiring", isn't that great?





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16 comments:

  1. Honey Bee SweetsJune 21, 2009 at 8:06 AM

    Hey Jane, you know I have been wanting to make my own vanilla extract for the longest time too! But somehow getting the vodka and bottles kind of hindered me from going. *sigh* But seeing you got it made me all motivated! Great work my friend, now you have plentiful of vanilla extract for your baking. ;)

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  2. Passionate About BakingJune 21, 2009 at 9:53 AM

    Hi Honey Bee Sweets,
    Hey, you really got to make one yourself. Nothing beats having any homemade stuff right? Furthermore, I think it'll definitely be cheaper than buying any vanilla extract.
    Oh ya boy, I've been using my homemade vanilla extract for all my baking now!
    In fact, my friend, I'm thinking of making orange extract and lemon extract now! Hahaha... The satisfaction I get from this extract - speechless! ;)

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  3. Passionate About BakingJune 22, 2009 at 8:18 AM

    Hi mr.sound and mrs.sound,
    Thanks. I think making vanilla extract commercially is rather different from home. In this link: http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Vanilla-Extraction/, the vanilla extract is also kept for months and years. So it's also considered long term. I checked the ingredients of Nielsen-Massey Vanilla extract, it contains sugar & other stuff. So I'm not very sure what other ingredients are added to the extracts commercially. Sorry if I didn't answer your question, I'm not too sure too!

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  4. LingApril 5, 2010 at 3:16 PM

    Hi can i check with you, do you have any idea where to get fresh vanilla pod in jakarta?

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  5. Passionate About BakingApril 5, 2010 at 8:51 PM

    Hi Ling,
    I'm not very sure. Do you know where to get your baking supplies? I supposed you can try to get fresh vanilla pod from your baking supplier. I know most of our baking suppliers sell vanilla pod from Indonesia. Sorry, I can't help much here. :(

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  6. mr.sound and mrs.soundMay 19, 2011 at 5:49 PM

    Nice share here. But I heard and seen in one page that they make their vanilla extract in long term. Is there a difference?

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  7. Honey Bee SweetsMay 19, 2011 at 5:49 PM

    Hey Jane, you know I have been wanting to make my own vanilla extract for the longest time too! But somehow getting the vodka and bottles kind of hindered me from going. *sigh* But seeing you got it made me all motivated! Great work my friend, now you have plentiful of vanilla extract for your baking. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. JasmineOctober 11, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    Hi Jane, can i check with you, how many pods you use to how much vodka? can you pls teach me? (: im tinking of making it. and i excitedly bought the jars already :D thank you! (:

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  9. passionbakerOctober 26, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    Hi Jasmine,
    Sorry for the late reply. I used 7 pods to about 500g vodka. That should be able to produce rich and good extracts. When the extract ran low, I just topped them up with vodka again. After 1 round, I add in a few pods. Good luck with your vanilla extract!

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  10. jasminelimJanuary 20, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    Hi Jane, what do you mean by after one round? Thanks (:

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  11. passionbakerJanuary 25, 2012 at 9:48 AM

    Hi Jasmine,
    After one round means you used up your vanilla extract, you add in more vodka and more vanilla pods. And you can use it again. I usually topped up with some vodka after I used half of it. I hope this clarifies.

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  12. TailsApril 30, 2012 at 7:32 PM

    Hi you can also use your pods to make vanilla sugar after your extract is done :)

    Vanilla Extract (homemade) is best after 6 months but can be used after 2 months.

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  13. passionbakerMay 1, 2012 at 7:09 PM

    Hi Tails,
    Thanks for the information. I added the pods into the extract too!

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  14. AnonymousMay 14, 2012 at 10:30 AM

    hi, can i check with you if i can just put throw the beans and pods into the vodka bottle itself instead? or i need a bigger opening bottle so that i need to take out the pods or something? tks!

    Chloe

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  15. nmbakerFebruary 24, 2015 at 5:48 AM

    I thought you had to make it with bourbon?

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  16. Passionate About BakingFebruary 24, 2015 at 7:38 AM

    Hi nmbaker,
    Not necessary with bourbon. However, I was told bourbon produced more intense vanilla flavour. You can try with bourbon though.

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