Can I Make My Own Vanilla Extract?

Decorating By aminaz Updated 7 Sep 2007 , 4:43am by nutcase68

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aminaz Posted 5 Sep 2007 , 1:51pm
post #1 of 14

i want to make my own without using alcohol, is it possible? i wish someone can say "YES"!

13 replies
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projectqueen Posted 5 Sep 2007 , 2:19pm
post #2 of 14

I just did a quick google search for you and it seems that any true "extract" is going to be made with alcohol.

Here is an interesting summary of the different vanillas that I found during my search. It looks like you could use vanilla powder if you didn't want the alcohol found in the extract.

It looks pretty interesting...

http://www.vanilla.com/html/facts-extracts.html

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aminaz Posted 5 Sep 2007 , 3:48pm
post #3 of 14

thanks for your help very interesting

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projectqueen Posted 5 Sep 2007 , 3:54pm
post #4 of 14

You're welcome! thumbs_up.gif

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sugarlove Posted 5 Sep 2007 , 5:21pm
post #5 of 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by aminaz

i want to make my own without using alcohol, is it possible? i wish someone can say "YES"!




Yes, but it will take a lot of vanilla beans, clear vodka (not the cheap stuff), and time and patience I'll say 3-6 months to get an acceptable vanilla strength. The longer it sits the better.

There have been numerous discussions on egullet.org about making your own vanilla.

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mgdqueen Posted 5 Sep 2007 , 5:35pm
post #6 of 14

Homemade vanilla is very good as long as you start with good vanilla beans. Some beans are NOT very good-watch those you might find on Ebay and other places, as you do not know what you're getting until they are shipped essentially. I do not care for Mexican vanilla beans-they are more "flowery" in aroma and flavor, but that is my personal opinion. My brother prefers them-go figure.

All you have to do is throw the beans in with your vodka and let it sit for several weeks or a few months, shaking around every now and then. Store in a cool dry place. You cannot make clear vanilla however, as clear vanilla is only synthetic.

Edited to say: I just realized you asked to make it without alcohol. I do not think that is possible. Maybe we'll both be enlightened.

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leily Posted 5 Sep 2007 , 5:38pm
post #7 of 14

I used this topic by Dragonwarlord to make my homemade vanilla.

Unfornately I have never seen homemade vanilla w/o alcohol.

HTH

http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-663-vanilla.html

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Ladivacrj Posted 5 Sep 2007 , 5:38pm
post #8 of 14

Yes, you can. I have some down now. I ordered my beans off of ebay.

Found a smaller version of the olive oil bottles.

Used some Absolute Vodka put the bean in and corked the bottle. I have had them down for about 4 weeks now. The color is really dark and the smell is awesome.

And just like a previous poster I guess I should have read better. I don't think you can make it without using some kind of alcohol.

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projectqueen Posted 5 Sep 2007 , 5:39pm
post #9 of 14

It was my understanding that aminaz was trying to find a way to make the extract without using any alcohol.

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Ladivacrj Posted 5 Sep 2007 , 5:43pm
post #10 of 14

Maybe you can make a simple syrup and add the vanilla beans to it.

I think you would have to get it up past a certain temp so the bean wouldn't mold while they sat in the syrup, once stored to take on more of a vanilla flavor.

Normally anything you make would need some sort of sugar so it may work.

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sugarlove Posted 5 Sep 2007 , 5:46pm
post #11 of 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by aminaz

i want to make my own without using alcohol, is it possible? i wish someone can say "YES"!




No, alcohol is the main component or ingredient in an extract...without it then it will not be an extract per say. If the alcohol is a problem then use the vanilla bean (well the seeds in them) instead of the extract you'll get a better more pronouced vanilla flavor than you would with extract anyways.

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Ursula40 Posted 6 Sep 2007 , 3:36am
post #12 of 14

In Germany we use vanilla sugar to flavour cake batter. I make my own. 250 gr sugar, 2 vanilla pods cut in half and sliced open. Put them in a tupperware, close and shake thoroughly. Keep in a dark place, shake daily. You can use it after 6 weeks. For one cake you would need 2 - 3 teaspoons of it. You can refill the tupper with sugar 1-2 times, although the second time I do that I add one more pod

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cassi_g16 Posted 7 Sep 2007 , 3:38am
post #13 of 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ursula40

In Germany we use vanilla sugar to flavour cake batter. I make my own. 250 gr sugar, 2 vanilla pods cut in half and sliced open. Put them in a tupperware, close and shake thoroughly. Keep in a dark place, shake daily. You can use it after 6 weeks. For one cake you would need 2 - 3 teaspoons of it. You can refill the tupper with sugar 1-2 times, although the second time I do that I add one more pod




I have seen Ina from Barefoot Contessa, make vanilla sugar, this was going to be my suggestion also! She used the pod itself after removing the "inside" to use for something else. She just nestled the pod into her sugar and added more pods and more sugar as she needed!


Quote:
Originally Posted by Ladivacrj

Maybe you can make a simple syrup and add the vanilla beans to it.

I think you would have to get it up past a certain temp so the bean wouldn't mold while they sat in the syrup, once stored to take on more of a vanilla flavor.

Normally anything you make would need some sort of sugar so it may work.





I don't know if this would work I would be afraid it would spoil.

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nutcase68 Posted 7 Sep 2007 , 4:43am
post #14 of 14

[quote="Ladivacrj"]Yes, you can. I have some down now. I ordered my beans off of ebay.

Found a smaller version of the olive oil bottles.

Used some Absolute Vodka put the bean in and corked the bottle. I have had them down for about 4 weeks now. The color is really dark and the smell is awesome.

Hi I have 2 vanilla beans I bought at Trader Joes. What size bottle of Absolute will I need to put them in? You know, the old bean to vodka ratio please. I never made my own flavorings before.
Thanks
Mary

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