I've finally taken the plunge and made a large batch of Vanilla Extract. It has been something that I wanted to do for years now and I never got around to it. I started the extract on January 7th and can already smell the vanilla aroma in the jars.
I found these Madagascar Vanilla Beans on Amazon and they had great reviews. When I opened the package the vanilla beans smelled amazing.
Vanilla Extract
6 - 10 Organic Vanilla Beans
2 cups of Bourbon, Brandy, Rum or Vodka
- Split the vanilla beans lengthwise with a sharp knife and cut them in half to fit into your jars.
- Place the equivalent of 6 beans or more into each jar and cover them completely with your choice of Alcohol.
- Place a cap securely on the jars and put them on the counter. You will want to shake the jars daily for a few weeks.
In a pint-sized jar, I put the majority of the beans and filled it with Vodka. The Vodka will make the truest Vanilla Extract that can be used in any recipe.
I combined White Rum and Brandy with 6 beans sliced and cut in half into a half-pint jar.
In another half-pint jar, I used only Brandy with 6 vanilla beans. It is recommended by the FDA to use 8 ounces of alcohol per 4-6 beans for safety measures.
I opened the jars after two weeks and the extract has turned a nice golden color and has a delightful aroma already. I put the jars in the window so you could see the color and the tiny beans floating in the alcohol. I am so excited to finally have some #homemade extract for my pantry.
- Once the extract has reached the desired strength, Strain the liquid through a coffee filter and put the extract into dark jars for storage. Perhaps you could use the tiny beans and put them into ice cream or yogurt. I will certainly find something to use them on.
When researching how to make the #extract, many sites said to remove the Vanilla Beans from the liquid within 2 years for the best flavor. Also, the extract can be stored for 5 years without going bad.
With the high cost of pure Vanilla Extract in the markets it was time to make an initial investment and make my own. All I need to do now is be patient while the beans create a wonderful extract for far less than what I would spend at the grocery store. ;-)
Until next time, this is Sunscape
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