Did you know a lot of commercial vanilla extracts or essences can contain corn syrup, glycerin, fructose, propylene glycol and preservatives? There are some better ones on the market but you need to read your labels well!
However making your own is simple, and cheaper too- it costs a little to get the first one going but the price of 3 beans and some vodka gives you a full 250ml good quality vanilla extract! A true vanilla extract will impart a more beautiful flavour too- and I’m all about flavour in cooking!
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Ingredients:
3 medium vanilla beans, or 1½ fat ones 1 cup vodka (or rum for richer flavour)
Method:
Have ready a 1-cup glass jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Pour boiling water into it, let rest for 10 minutes to sterilize, and pour out the water.
Using a sharp knife, slice the beans open lengthwise to expose the seeds. Tuck the beans in the jar and fill with liquor. Close the jar, shake it a few times, and place it in a cool, dark cabinet. Let the jar rest in there for 8 weeks, shaking it again once or twice a week, or whenever you remember to. The mixture will get darker and darker over time.
You can start using your extract by the end of the eighth week. After you’ve used around a quarter of the jar top it up with a little more vodka or rum (whatever you used initially).
Add more beans every once in awhile when it seems to be losing is strength of flavour or when you have a leftover vanilla bean from another recipe (like my cardamon panna cotta). Remember to rinse off and dry it if it’s been steeped in milk or cream first.
If you continue to “feed” it this way, the extract will keep forever; just remove some of the older beans if the jar becomes too crowded.
Can't get enough of that sweet vanilla flavour? Empty vanilla pods can also be placed in your sugar jar, olive oil bottle, or tea tin to flavour them, too.
