![]() ![]() Food and Drug Administration requires that the solution contain a minimum of 35% alcohol and 13.35 ounces of vanilla bean per gallon. In order for a vanilla extract to be called pure, the U.S. Pure vanilla extract is made by extracting from vanilla beans in an alcoholic solution. This, of course, will depend on the recipe you are making.Īs you use the extract, you can refill the bottle with more glycerin to continue to get more from the same vanilla beans.Vanilla extract is a solution containing the flavor compound vanillin. Because the flavor may be slightly more subtle, you may find that you may need to use more of it than you would an alcohol-based vanilla extract to get the same strength flavor.īecause glycerin is sweet (around 75% the sweetness of sucrose), you may also find that you want to use slightly less sugar in the recipe. This vanilla glycerite can be used in place of vanilla extract in recipes. So, it normally will take 2-3 months to get a decent strength glycerite. Keep in mind that glycerin doesn’t extract as quickly or as thoroughly as alcohol. With time, the glycerin should take on a stronger vanilla flavor. Ideally, for the first several weeks, you should periodically shake the bottle or at least flip it over to allow the vanilla to infuse throughout the mixture. By slicing the vanilla beans lengthwise, you expose the tiny seeds inside. Making it is as simple as slicing the vanilla beans lengthwise and placing them in the glycerin (or glycerin and water) for several weeks. (I’ve always used the Madagascan vanilla, so I can’t comment otherwise.) Procedure The Tahitian variety is said to have a more exotic tropical flavor. Those from Madagascar (also called bourbon vanilla) are the most common and have a more classic vanilla flavor. You may find several types of vanilla beans when looking to buy them. As we’ll be extracting the flavor in a tincture, we don’t need large, plump vanilla beans. They are a bit smaller in size and often drier. To save money, choose extract-grade vanilla beans for this recipe. For many years, artificial vanilla took over the market, but as more and more people are looking to live a more natural lifestyle, the demand for vanilla has increased. Most vanilla beans come from Madagascar which has suffered lost crops from bad weather. Vanilla beans come from an orchid which can be difficult to grow. Over the last few years, the price of vanilla beans has risen considerably. If you are avoiding GMO’s, you should also choose organic glycerin or glycerin that is certified as GMO free. (It helps draw moisture into your skin and hair.) For this recipe, though, you’ll want to ensure that you choose a food-grade glycerin. Vegetable glycerin is often used in cosmetics as a humectant. ![]() I’ve had my bottle of homemade vanilla glycerite for several years now and it hasn’t shown any signs of rancidity yet. By keeping the glycerin concentration high, you ensure a long-lasting vanilla glycerite. ![]() I don’t recommend using much more than 1 part water to 3 parts glycerin. If you decide to dilute the glycerin with water, keep in mind that adding too much water can make it so that the mixture becomes prone to microbial growth and could go bad. Because glycerin is a bit sweet and syrupy, you can dilute the glycerin slightly with some water. To make a glycerin-based vanilla extract, you only really need 2 ingredients, glycerin, and vanilla beans. This is actually a vanilla glycerite, or a glycerin tincture. If we must be technical, a true “extract” has at least 35% alcohol. Those two qualities make glycerin an ideal alternative to grain alcohols for making a vanilla extract that can be used for cooking and baking and kept long-term. When used at over 55%, the resulting product is generally self-preserving. That makes it safe for alcoholics and those that avoid ethanol alcohol.Īnother great thing about glycerin is that like alcohol, glycerin has preserving qualities. While it does contain both sugar and alcohol groups, it does not contain ethanol, the alcohol that can make you drunk. Glycerin is what is called a sugar alcohol. Just like alcohol, vegetable glycerin can be used to extract the flavor, color, and aroma of vanilla. Luckily, for those cases, there is another option… Glycerin extractions It’s very difficult to find a pure, natural vanilla flavoring that doesn’t use alcohol. Either they can’t legally buy alcohol in their country or they choose to avoid alcohol for religious or health reasons. Over the years, though, I’ve received comments from people looking to make an alcohol-free version. It’s simple to make and is the perfect way to add a touch of vanilla flavor to your recipes. Alcohol is perfect for making vanilla extract because it quickly and thoroughly extracts the vanilla color and flavor. Several years ago, I shared a recipe for making homemade vanilla extract using vanilla beans and alcohol. ![]()
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