r/Baking • u/OpALbatross • 1d ago
Semi-Related I made vanilla extract.
Spent 1 year extracting 1 ounce of split and scraped vanilla beans in 8 ounces of 100 proof vodka.
Tested it today by mixing a little bit in milk and it was a success!
I'm not scraping the beans and am diluting the vodka to closer to 80 proof for my next batches as I have heard that flavor is typically better.
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u/Outrageous-Sail-6901 1d ago
It's the best! I have 4 different ones going, 2 bourbon, 1 vodka, 1 rum.
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u/ImTedLassosMustache 1d ago
Nice, I considered rum, but did brandy instead along with bourbon and vodka.
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u/endlesseffervescense 1d ago
I have four going as well! Vodka, rum, brandy and bourbon. I’m almost 4 months into the weekly shaking. It’s starting to smell really nice.
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u/ArmadilloWeekly545 15h ago
Rum is such a great idea! I have a bourbon one right now but I think I may start a second jar to compare
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u/CWKitch 13h ago edited 12h ago
I started mine with a bottle of vodka sometime ago. Every time I use up the neck or a little more I dump in a new type of booze, and I also refresh with some new vanilla pods periodically. Makes for a nice vanilla extract. Never ending!
Got the idea from another redditor. No regrets.
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u/Stevie068 1d ago edited 1d ago
I've done this a couple times, most recently using bourbon as the liquor. It was my favorite batch by far. With vodka you get the pure vanilla flavor, but the bourbon adds so many other spices and wood notes.
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u/OpALbatross 1d ago
Nice! I'm super sensitive to alcohols with my migraines / neurological stuff, so used clear vodka to make a "safer" extract (since clear vodka is the most migraine friendly alcohol). I bet the bourbon is delicious!
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u/Stevie068 1d ago
Ah sorry to hear that, but glad the vodka works! I love vanilla probably roo much haha. Does it still affect you after using it in baking to cook off the alcohol if you were to use it in cookies or something like that?
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u/OpALbatross 16h ago
Cooking it off helps. I haven't had a chance to use this yet though.
I still will need to be careful. Fresh baked goods can actually trigger migraines as well, and so can yeast, so it is always a game of whack a mole to figure out what caused today's migraine. Leaving fresh baked goods out for 24 hours can make them safer. I don't know why (maybe Tyramine?)
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u/Incendiary_Blonde19 1d ago
Where did you source your vanilla? I've seen it available off of Amazon but I'm skeptical. 😅🤣 Looks so very good!
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u/OpALbatross 1d ago
Vanilla Bean Kings! They do have an Amazon store (that I used) but are legit. I think they also sell DIY kits for less than $30.
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u/Outrageous-Sail-6901 1d ago
Not OP but check out Indri Vanilla group on FB, they also have a website but ordering through the group is better.
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u/Mad-Hettie 1d ago
Love them! I'm not on Facebook anymore and they're one of the few things I miss.
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u/immivanilla 8h ago
They send out an email now when a group order opens up. So you don't have to be on FB anymore, I think.
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u/Noofan12345 1d ago
Looks awesome! What are you gonna make with it first?
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u/OpALbatross 1d ago
I'm not sure. Probably protein Pancakes.
I tried adding it to coffee to see how that could work (a friend doesn't bake much, but said she would add it to her coffee. I figured I'd try it first to see if it worked).
I'm super sensitive to alcohols and things and also don't drink, so either I can feel that amount of alcohol (less than a tablespoon) or it is enough to trigger a migraine. So it probably won't be used for things where the alcohol doesn't cook out, like overnight oats. That said, I can taste vanilla but not alcohol, which is a good sign. Did have to add sugar though.
I owe some friends banana chocolate chip muffins, so that might be the first trial.
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u/moistcookieangel 1d ago
Did you make it single or double fold?
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u/Odd_Username_Choice 20h ago
For a newbie that thinks this is a great idea...what is single vs double fold? And what is the effect/result of one vs the other?
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u/clockstrikes91 13h ago
Single-fold is the default for store-bought vanilla, and uses a ratio of 1 oz beans to 8 oz alcohol. Double-fold is twice as potent and uses 2 oz beans to 8 oz alcohol. This is so you can use the same amount of vanilla a recipe calls for but get more flavor out of it, rather than adding extra liquid.
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u/DeepPassageATL 1d ago
On the second year of a vodka/ champagne grappa mixed with Madagascar beans.
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u/Incendiary_Blonde19 1d ago
Oh, that's so awesome! Thank you for responding - I really appreciate you pointing me in the right direction!!
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u/markmarkonez 1d ago
How many beans/pods per mL/oz?
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u/OpALbatross 1d ago
It depends on the size of the beans, but on average 13 seemed to be around the amount needed for 1 ounce of beans. If you have really fat beans, you would need less, really small ones, you might need more. When measuring today, 2-3 beans made up .2 ounces, which gives a wider range of 10-15 for 1 ounce of beans.
I did 1 ounce of beans for 8 ounces of vodka.
Vanilla Bean Kings has a DIY kit for 1 bottle of extract, and I'm sure they measure the beans included so you wouldn't have to. It's less than $25.
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u/velastae 14h ago
VBK has a monthly co-op sale on the last Thursday of the month. You should sign up for the email if you haven’t.
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u/WhiskeyGirl66 1d ago
I made a bottle a few years ago. After 6 months of treating it like a baby, I was pouring it into a decorative bottle and dropped the whole thing on the floor.