Vanilla Essence
Transform your baking and dessert creations with this homemade vanilla essence recipe, a simple yet luxurious staple every kitchen needs. Crafted with just two ingredients—fragrant vanilla beans and high-quality vodka—this DIY vanilla extract offers unparalleled depth of flavor that mass-produced versions can’t match. In just 10 minutes of prep and a waiting period of 6-8 weeks, you’ll have a rich, aromatic essence perfect for elevating cookies, cakes, custards, and more. Plus, this recipe yields 250ml of vanilla essence that only gets better with time as the vanilla beans continue to infuse their flavor. Ideal for bakers looking for a natural, premium alternative, this vanilla extract stores indefinitely in a cool, dark spot, ensuring you’ll never run out of this must-have ingredient.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 5 pieces Vanilla beans
- 250 ml Vodka (or another neutral spirit)
Instructions
Using a sharp knife, carefully slice each vanilla bean lengthwise to expose the tiny seeds inside.
Cut the vanilla beans into smaller pieces, about 2 inches in length, to fit easily into the container.
Place the vanilla bean pieces into a clean, sealable glass jar or bottle.
Pour the vodka over the vanilla beans, ensuring that the beans are completely submerged.
Seal the jar or bottle tightly and give it a gentle shake to combine the ingredients.
Store the jar in a cool, dark place like a pantry or cupboard. Let the mixture steep for at least 6-8 weeks to develop a robust vanilla flavor. Shake the jar gently once a week during this period.
After steeping, the vanilla essence is ready to use. You can strain the liquid into another clean bottle for a smoother texture, or leave the beans in for continued flavor infusion.
Store the vanilla essence in a cool, dark place, and it can last indefinitely as long as the beans remain submerged in alcohol.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
639 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 0.5 g | 1% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 5 mg | 0% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 2.5 g | 1% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.5 g | 5% | |
| Total Sugars | 0.5 g | ||
| Protein | 0.5 g | 1% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 5 mg | 0% | |
| Iron | 0.5 mg | 3% | |
| Potassium | 30 mg | 1% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
