Make Vanilla Extract Yourself – That’s How it Works

Making your own vanilla extract has a number of advantages. On the one hand, you only use natural ingredients and on the other hand, the production is cheaper than buying flavors.

Make liquid vanilla extract yourself

The self-made aroma is long-lasting and tastes intense. You will need 200ml of 40% alcohol (e.g. Korn or Vodka), 6 vanilla beans, and a sealable bottle for storage.

1. Cut the vanilla pods in half and scrape out the pulp with a knife or a teaspoon.
2. Cut the pods into small pieces with a knife so that they fit into the bottle.
3. Pour the pulp and the broken-up pods into the bottle.
4. Douse the container with alcohol. The pods must be completely covered with liquid.
5. Seal the bottle and let the vanilla extract infuse in a cool, dark place for 14 days. It is best to shake the container every day. This is how the aromas of vanilla unfold.

Use of the vanilla flavor

When dosing and storage, you should consider a few points:

1. Keep the bottle cool and dark.
2. You don’t have to strain the extract. The pods and kernels do not go bad because of the alcohol and can be kept for years.
3. Due to the alcohol, the aroma is not suitable for small children. If you use the aroma for baking, most of the alcohol will evaporate. Therefore, pastries are usually safe for older children. If the extract is used without heating, older children should not be given these foods either.
4. Dose carefully at the beginning, as the aroma is very intense. Try a small amount first and add a little more extract if needed.
5. Every time you open the bottle, a little more aroma evaporates. Therefore, after a while, you may need a little more extract for flavoring than right after making it. It is also important to test here.