Homemade Flavourings?

Alison_Funnell

I just came across something in my inbox that suggested making vanilla extract by splitting vanilla pods and adding them to vodka for a couple of months.

So I was wondering has anyone done this or anything similar? How did it turn out.

What other home made flavourings/extracts has anyone tried?

This one pressed my curiosity button. :rotfl:

Seakay

That would certainly make vanilla flavoured vodka, but I'm not sure that it would be concentrated enough to replace extract.
I have put things in sugar to flavour it (vanilla pod, lavendar, ginger)
And also flavoured vodka with various things (chillis, sunflower seeds, pepper, lemon peel, jelly beans)

Raspberry_Swirl

I have flavoured sugar with a split vanilla pod and also made chilli vodka. The vodka was left a bit too long and was rather firey!!

I know you can disolve certain sweets (skittles, pear drops and the like) in vodka but haven't tried it.....yet

ChocClare

Was it this that you saw, Alison? I got something similar from one of my yahoo groups a while back and they had loads of ideas for different flavourings. I'm off to buy pizza, but I'll look it up for you later and see if I can find the ideas. I thought I'd bookmarked it but that would be too easy...;)

rachbc

I make vanilla extract -20 vanilla pods in a bottle of vodka for 6 months - its amazing and despite the cost of vanilla pods still cheaper than buying the quality extract. I got my vanilla online. I also make my own flavouring syrups like the ones you buy for coffee - current fav is gingerbread syrup!

tori.k

i used to make a jar of vanilla sugar for when i did custard told the kids they were spiders legs...to no surprise walked into the kitchen one day to find my lad showing half a dozen kids the spider jar :rotfl:soon scarpered when i asked them if they wanted to see the kids fingers i kept in the freezer

Seakay

Wow rachbc that sounds fantastic - I had no idea. Could you give us the recipe for some of your syrups as well?

[Deleted User]

I also make vanilla extract by soaking vanilla pods in vodka, and use the extract as a straight substitute for the commercial extract.
Also have 1/4 of a pod taped to the door of my pantry, gives a beautiful smell every time you open the door!

mummyjane

Raspberry_Swirl wrote: »

I have flavoured sugar with a split vanilla pod and also made chilli vodka. The vodka was left a bit too long and was rather firey!!

I know you can disolve certain sweets (skittles, pear drops and the like) in vodka but haven't tried it.....yet

Try werthers originals - it makes beautiful toffee flavoured vodka

rachbc

The ginger bread syrup is 1 cup of water, 1 cup brown sugar, 2cm piece of fresh ginger, 10 cloves, 10 allspice, 1 cinnamon stick and a grating of nutmeg boiled up til syruy then strained. Lovely in hotmilk, on ice cream, in coffee, brushed in cakes or muffins.

Make berry syrups by steeping the fruit in sugar, smushing about a bit and leaving overnight then straining - if its too runny I reduce a bit. I keep this in the freezer - great for milkshakes!

dannie

Boil dried peppermint or boil ground up dried licorice.