home made vanilla help plz

frugalk15

Hi back in August I looked up making our own vanilla as we use so much I went out and bought a bottle of vodka, rum and brandy (I don't drink!!) And vanilla pods the pods have been in small jars of the alcohol since August but don't taste anything like vanilla what have I done rong do I need to boil it down or something there disgusting?! Il be gutted if iv wasted so much money on them.
thanks

lindens

Isnt that back to front? Haven't you just made vanilla-flavoured vodka, rum and brandy?

NewShadow

I assume you followed instructions like these: http://www.beanilla.com/blog/homemade-vanilla-extract

Can't help much as I've never made it, but have you left it long enough/ shaken it vigorously?

I'm actually surprised theirs no sugar to add - Its the main ingredient in most bottles I've bought from the supermarket.

natlie

Hi


What was the recipe you used? I used 7 vanilla pods (split lengthways) to 250ml vodka and left it for 3 months - it will taste horrible as the alcohol burns off during cooking


Nat

frugalk15

I'm not sure the exact recipe as was so long ago! Lol mabe il add some sugar and boil it down to try and make a syrup?

honeythewitch

I would just drink the vodka and buy a bottle of vanilla in alcohol from Costco.

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Have been doing this for ages since I read about it on this forum. I have an original natural vanilla essence bottle and have put a whole vanilla pod folded into it filled up with vodka. I shake it from time to time and top up when used. Never had any problems. Smells of vanilla and has small bits of vanilla in it when I pour it out.

Seakay

The vodka is the best to use for vanilla essence as it has little taste of it's own. Yours should be ready to use now.
Like any other essence, what you make will be much to strong to have on it's own - you only use a few drops or a teaspoonful in a whole recipe.

The flavoured brandy and rum could be used in recipes or cocktails which call for rum or brandy, where they will add a little vanilla to the mix eg brandy butter, Christmas pudding, mincemeat

nuatha

Did you split the vanilla pods? (Slit them lengthwise with a knife).
I make my own using vodka - remove a third of the vodka from a bottle, split 5 or 6 pods and insert them into the bottle. Top up the vodka until the bottle is full - the rest of the vodka is stored to top up the bottle as its used. The bottle is stored in a dark cupboard and shaken daily for the first 14 days, after a couple of months the liquid is a rich dark brown, and the smell is the best vanilla I've come across. (I do buy organic Madagascar AAA vanilla pods paying about £10 for 25). I do not buy extraction grade as these are too dry for making vanilla sugar or bean paste and for general cooking.

My preference is just for vodka in making essence, though I've flavoured rums with vanilla beans and other spices.

Shereen

I used this recipe and found it worked really well: http://www.northsouthfood.com/homemade-vanilla-extract/