Home made Vanilla Extract

I believe that the "Bourbon Vanilla" is the variety of vanilla bean rather than being made with actual bourbon. I am making a batch with bourbon liquor to try it though. I have also heard of it being made with rum. So many choices.... so little time.

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edm3rd wrote:

raindove wrote:

rexlion wrote:
My wife got some vanilla beans about 6-7 months back and said she wanted to make vanilla, so I bought a bottle of Absolut. But she never did make the vanilla extract. Now the vodka bottle is almost empty.... (erm, it must be evaporation, right? LOL)

Oops! It's really not hard to make. Score the beans with a sharp knife and pop them in the vodka. I did run my bottles through the dishwasher to sterilize them before I put the goodies in the bottles.

Just get her another bottle to replace the one that "evaporated". :D

Replace with a less expensive bottle of vodka - doesn't "evaporate" as quickly.

I bet you are right about that.

Maybe I should offer to make it for her. But hmmm, vanilla flavored vodka might evaporate even faster..... ;)

raindove wrote:

rexlion wrote:
My wife got some vanilla beans about 6-7 months back and said she wanted to make vanilla, so I bought a bottle of Absolut. But she never did make the vanilla extract. Now the vodka bottle is almost empty.... (erm, it must be evaporation, right? LOL)

Oops! It's really not hard to make. Score the beans with a sharp knife and pop them in the vodka. I did run my bottles through the dishwasher to sterilize them before I put the goodies in the bottles.

Just get her another bottle to replace the one that "evaporated". :D

Replace with a less expensive bottle of vodka - doesn't "evaporate" as quickly.

rexlion wrote:
My wife got some vanilla beans about 6-7 months back and said she wanted to make vanilla, so I bought a bottle of Absolut. But she never did make the vanilla extract. Now the vodka bottle is almost empty.... (erm, it must be evaporation, right? LOL)

Oops! It's really not hard to make. Score the beans with a sharp knife and pop them in the vodka. I did run my bottles through the dishwasher to sterilize them before I put the goodies in the bottles.

Just get her another bottle to replace the one that "evaporated". :D

Made some last fall. Two 1.5 liter bottles Smirnoff Vodka. Don't need real good stuff. About 12+ beans in each. Sliced the beans lengthwise and dropped in the bottles. Kept out on the kitchen counter. Shook bottles daily or whenever we thought of it.Kept getting darker as time went on. We let it steep for about three months. WOW.... good stuff. Put it in 1/2 liter water bottles and keep in cupboard. Going to start another batch soon. I am going to try a bottle of Bourbon this time also. I also read that the longer it steeps, the better it is. Also read that you can use some from the bottle and replace with fresh vodka and keep steeping it. Add additional beans as time goes on. No need to throw remainder away. It is in alcohol, it shouldn't spoil.
Good luck. Let us know how it turns out...

My wife got some vanilla beans about 6-7 months back and said she wanted to make vanilla, so I bought a bottle of Absolut. But she never did make the vanilla extract. Now the vodka bottle is almost empty.... (erm, it must be evaporation, right? LOL)

Have you ever eaten at Texas Roadhouse? They have a cinnamon honey butter that is knockout on their dinner rolls. If it is anything like that, you'll have a winner.

Super_Dave wrote:

raindove wrote:
My vanilla beans were delivered today. I'm getting a late start, so my ppl might have to let it age a bit before using, but I still think it's a cool idea for gifts. I also saw that someone used cherry vodka to make a cherry/vanilla extract. I'm going to give that a try, too.

Don't think I've ever seen a recipe or can even think of one imagined where I would use that flavor in a baking application. If this stuff has an expiration date, make very small bottles.

Super Dave,
I'll only make the cherry vanilla for myself, and one friend who likes cherry flavored stuff. I have a killer recipe for old time sugar cakes like my great grandma used to make. I think the cherry vanilla would be good in some of them just for something different.

I got a couple of bottles started today of the vanilla. I also tried a honey/vanilla butter. The recipe called for a pound of butter. I just cut it down and used one stick to try it. With the price of real butter, I didn't want to risk not liking it and wasting my butter.

I whipped it up at room temp, added some cinnamon, honey, and the caviar out of two vanilla beans. Figured I'd let it sit a while to let the flavors draw through. I think it sounds like it would be good on warm dinner rolls.

raindove wrote:
My vanilla beans were delivered today. I'm getting a late start, so my ppl might have to let it age a bit before using, but I still think it's a cool idea for gifts. I also saw that someone used cherry vodka to make a cherry/vanilla extract. I'm going to give that a try, too.

Don't think I've ever seen a recipe or can even think of one imagined where I would use that flavor in a baking application. If this stuff has an expiration date, make very small bottles.