Making this sous vide vanilla extract recipe will give you homemade vanilla extract in less time. This easy vanilla recipe is perfect as a homemade gifts to give, a foodie gift or even as a hostess gift. Always have homemade vanilla in your cabinet for all your baking recipes.
If you are looking for more sous vide recipes to make infusions in less time be sure to make sous vide grapefruit infused gin, sous vide limoncello, cold brew coffee and lilac infused alcohol.
Sous Vide Vanilla Extract
Using the sous vide method of cooking to infuse your alcohol to make homemade vanilla extract not only cuts your infusion time from weeks to hours, in my opinion it gives it a deeper depth of flavor. By gently warming the alcohol, the flavors and colors of the vanilla beans are quickly drawn into the infusion.
Sous vide vanilla extract recipe
- In a mason jar place 2 cups of your chosen alcohol and 4 split vanilla beans,
- Secure them with clean lids and bands.
- Heat your sous vide to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Carefully submerge the jars in the heated water, ensuring they covered by at least an inch of water.
- Process for a minimum of 1 hour.
- The longer you sous vide the vanilla extract, the richer and deeper the flavor will become.
- I sous vide for 4 hours to achieve the vanilla in this photos.
- Remove from the sous vide bath and allow to cool completely before storage.
What kind of alcohol is used to make vanilla extract?
There are a few alcohols that can be use to make vanilla extract. Vodka has the most neutral flavor, and can be the most cost effective, but bourbon, brandy, or rum would be different alternatives to vodka. Each different alcohol will give your homemade vanilla extract a unique flavor profile. Leave the top-shelf or high-proof alcohol on the shelf when choosing your alcohol for making vanilla extract. An simple 40% (80 proof) alcohol will do the job.
DIY Vanilla Extract ingredients
- 2 cups vodka
- 4 split vanilla beans
How do you make vanilla extract?
To make vanilla extract combine 2 cups of vodka and 4 vanilla beans that have been split to reveal the vanilla bean seeds inside the pod. In a closed canning jar, submerge the vanilla in your chosen alcohol.
Close the container and wait 3-4 weeks until the infusion is complete.
How will I know know the vanilla extract is ready?
Your homemade vanilla extract will be ready when the fragrance of the alcohol no longer smells of alcohol and smells strongly of vanilla. The color of the alcohol will be golden to amber in color.
Why use amber jars for homemade vanilla extract?
I have started to use amber jars when making my homemade vanilla extract because the amber canning jar provides excellent UV protection for the vanilla extract. This is important because UV rays can sometimes change the components of the vanilla infusion. By blocking the UV rays your DIY vanilla extract will retain the gorgeous amber flavor and color. This is not due to the color of the canning jar but due to the fact that the color amber blocks out the damaging UV rays.
Homemade vanilla
Can you get drunk off of vanilla extract?
It is possible to get drunk off of of this recipe for vanilla extract. With the high alcohol content it is possible if you drank the right serving for your body mass. I do not recommend trying to get drunk off of this vanilla extract or any alcohol, for that matter. Drunkenness is not one of the things I savor. Keep this vanilla extract out of reach of children and use it in appropriate proportions in recipes and cocktails.
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Sous Vide Vanilla Extract
Ingredients
- 2 cups vodka
- 4 split vanilla beans
Instructions
Sous vide vanilla extract recipe
-
In a mason jar place 2 cups of your chosen alcohol and 4 split vanilla beans,
-
Secure them with clean lids and bands.
-
Heat your sous vide to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
-
Carefully submerge the jars in the heated water, ensuring they covered by at least an inch of water.
-
Process for a minimum of 1 hour.
-
The longer you sous vide the vanilla extract, the richer and deeper the flavor will become.
-
I sous vide for 4 hours to achieve the vanilla in this photos.
-
Remove from the sous vide bath and allow to cool completely before storage.
So glad I found your recipe as vanilla extract is getting so expensive ! Never would have thought to sous vide a homemade extract !
I have always wanted to make my own vanilla. I think I’ll try this for all of my holiday baking coming up! THANKS!
It it super easy for when you need a lot of vanilla!
Home made is the way to go! Sous vide get you there faster.
What is the advantage of using the sous vide verse an instant pot for vanilla extract? TIA
Emily, I don’t have an instant pot so I can’t speak from experience but I know that with the sous vide version you have to the .10 degree control of the temperature. By having a specific temperature I know the alcohol is far below the boiling point of 173.