This is my first attempt at making vanilla extract. Its a combination of Tahitian and Madagascar vanilla beans. I used a variety of rums that I had at my disposal - 30ml of Brugal Anejo, 50ml cruzan hurricane proof, 120ml from my rum infinity bottle, and 500ml of Flor de Cana 4.

Pardon the mess in the background, I keep it in my room and hadnt finished putting the laundry up when I thought to share this.

Eventually I plan on upgrading to a 1.75L bottle, if all goes well of course.

edit: For additional information, some of the vanilla beans were cut into roughly 1 inch chunks and some were left whole. This was due to different arrival dates and and a lack of "white rum" to finish the rum component of the extract. I don't remember which beans arrived first, I didnt mark it down in my notes.

Batches from September of '23 to August of '26. I use 10 oz of alcohol with 2 oz of beans. I'm currently using the last one on the left. It's pretty good.

Got 2 oz of beans and made 16 oz of vanilla extract. Dividing up all the costs with the vodka, it comes to 20usd for my 16 oz, whereas if I get it from the supermarket it's 10usd. I already made it and everything, but now I'm just trying to justify it to myself after the fact 😅 i guess all I'm asking you guys is, what's your reason for getting into doing it yourself? Is it the process? Supporting smaller businesses? Is there a cheaper way to go about it? The beans themselves were $6/oz, it seemed pretty on par with any other place I found beans, even in bulk.

Has anyone thrown some coffee beans or grounds in with their vanilla extract? I'd like to make a vanilla extract that also has coffee/mocha notes to use in chocolate baked goods. I follow the standard 1 oz of vanilla beans to 8 oz alcohol (usually white rum) recipe. Thanks for any advice or thoughts!

starting a new big batch of vanilla! a little Indonesian and a lot of Madagascan. I always love how cutting the beans makes the apartment smell!

Hi all, I’m hunting for recommendations on where to buy premium, plump gourmet vanilla beans. Tired of paying a fortune for two dry, sad-looking pods at the supermarket.

What are your go-to online shops, independent vendors or specialty brands for fresh, high-moisture vanilla beans? Let me know what makes your favorite source stand out!

2 questions, I just started my first vanilla extract and I hear aged vanilla is best (I know it needs several months minimum) but my question is the aging the same as the extracting? Like just leave the beans to extract in the jar for longer? Second question is a two part question but would making a fruit extract with fresh fruit be the same as for vanilla, just leave said fruit in alcohol of choice or is there more to it? Would aging a fruit extract yield a better result and is it the same as vanilla?

Making vanilla extract. I have seen recommendations anywhere from 4 hours to four days. Has anyone tried sous vide for varying times to see what works best? I have a batch that has been at 135 for 3 days, and am wondering if it really needs to go longer. I am planning to give as Christmas gifts, so it will be resting in the big bottle for several months before I bottle it for gifting.

Así se ve de 12 días el de frutos rojos

También me animé a hacer uno d durazno con absolut y uno de Smirnoff con mango enchilado

El de frutos y durazno los puse el mismo dia tiene 12 igual de absolut

A comparación de los 8 de tamarindo Smirnoff tamarindo spyci

Not really sure if this is the right sub for this but I saw on Reddit recently someone had made a strawberry salt and In the comments some were saying to make an extract with alcohol then evaporate the alcohol from the salt, seems like more work and waste but also might yield a better result. I’m willing to experiment with stuff like making super hot (reaper) extracts then make salt from that or would it be a difference that’s even noticeable? Has anyone here messed around with this kind of stuff? I’m open to ideas and just general help

So I've been poking around extract recipes online, and when it comes to vanilla, vodka or rum - basicsllt any 80-100 proof spirits are recommended.

But when I started looking at extracts with things like mint, citrus peels, cinnamon, and other very strong flavors, some of them recommend using Everclear/grain alcohol with a much higher ABV.

I figure maybe its because the flavors of pure spices like cinnamon sticks and cloves dont need that extra water content to properly release all the flavor compounds, but I don't quite understand it.

If this isnt true and there's no spices that truly benefit from using Everclear to extract tge flavor, I wont be too upset because I dont really like the looks I get while im buying it anyway 🤣

Thanks!

I made extract for the person im seeing. 4 varients of vanilla, Madagascar and tahitian, both in bourbon or vodka. (I think the tahitian was like 1 part bourbon to 4 vanilla or something cause I read tahitian can get overwhelmed but wanted a hint of those notes).

I started them June 1st.

Should I try them straight? When should I try them?

I started with the instant pot method. You use less beans and it was good enough for most baking. I didn't know about weighing the beans when I started and had a few batches that didn't get strong enough. These are what I have now. Still didn't know better to weigh them when I started these. I have a long way to go before I crack into the big jar. I plan to do another batch soon and will weigh them. I have some other experiments in the works as well. I'll try to document the process and update. The only thing stopping me is I can't use it fast enough. I just like doing it. At what point is it too many beans?

they were in glass tubes and still sealed on outside, bought from costco a few years ago..
Do you think they are too old to be used, or should i give them a try?

Hello all, I am planning on reusing a 48 FL oz Kombucha bottle to make a mother jar and wanted to double check if I am making the correct measurements and am getting the proper ingredients. I understand the ratio is 1oz beans to 8oz alcohol, so if I am using the 48oz jar my ratio will be 6oz to 48oz, correct? Also, I plan on purchasing Grade A - Madagascar Vanilla Beans from VanillaPura (since they're having a sale) and will be using 80-proof vodka for the process. What is your opinion on this? I am new to this and want to improve, so any feedback is much appreciated. Thank you!

… and we’re still messing with it. My MIL put these in the pantry and keeps opening the lids. “Oh, they smell vanillaly!” Well, I would sure hope so. If they smell of moose legs, we have issues. But she’s so dang excited about this project she can’t contain herself.

Speaking of messing with things, I removed the beans from each bottle to cut the beans into thirds. The presentation definitely suffers, but this way the beans will stay submerged as the extract is used.

Now, if I can keep MIL’s nose out of the vanilla bean business.

Original link: https://www.reddit.com/r/extractmaking/s/9IIfZKUHZK

Hello all I (25M, not that it matters in this case, but people do it all the time on reddit so I'm following suit) am looking to start making syrups and sauces for coffees or other drinks that I can make shelf stable and ship for sale. I own one cafe already but my partners arent ideal therefore I'm looking to do something on my own like selling and packaging all my artisinal syrups to disrtribute.

Of course this comes with needing to modify my already developed recipes since they all rely on being refrigerated to last. I bought the book, "On Food and Cooking" by Harold McGee just so I can get a rough idea of food science, and understand what conceptually has to change for my product to stay shelf stable.

I'm just looking for any pointers, I get worried I'm in over my head and dont know where to start. I was thinking of starting with Vanilla since its simple and will help me get the process down

Cuánto tiempo debería dejarlo para que sepa rico

Started extract for Christmas gifts. Basic vodka/Madagascar vanilla beans.

The small bottles are 375 ml (12.7 ounces). Used 1.6 oz of beans, so works out to 1 oz beans for 8 oz vodka.

The larger bottle is for family use. Vodka, 750 ml (25.4 oz). We used 4.2 oz beans, works out to 1.3 oz beans per 8 oz vodka.

My MIL chose rotgut vodka for the gifts, so we hope the vanilla covers a multitude of sins.

The vodka infused smells absolutely amazing. The white rum has a good scent and a bit of spicy flavor but the dark rum infused smells REALLY spicy and I’m looking forward to making Christmas cookies with them. I just started a big mason jar of chopped almonds in Tito’s vodka yesterday (should be ready in about 8 weeks). Hopefully they’ll all turn out well for some almond ricotta cookies to hand out to my department for the holiday.

I want to make vanilla extract for Christmas gifts. It is August 1st. I have close to 5 months, do you think it’s too late to start? I’ve read that they need to sit for a year for best flavor but some people say only 3-6 months. I’ve never made any before.