Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract

Sep 18, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Pantry Vanilla extracts infusions Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Beans Easy

Bottle of homemade alcohol-free vanilla extract

Homemade alcohol-free vanilla extract made by steeping vanilla beans in food-grade glycerin, with no alcohol. About 10 minutes of hands-on time, then at least 8 weeks to steep. Best vanilla for this: Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic), or Tahitian (floral, cherry, anise). Any pure vanilla works.

Prep 10 min

Cook —

Steep 8 weeks

Total 8 weeks

Yield 48 teaspoons

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

teaspoons

5.0vanilla beans
¾ cup (180.0 ml)food-grade vegetable glycerin
¼ cup (60.0 ml)distilled water

Make it at home

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Instructions

Cut the vanilla beans into 1-inch pieces, then split each piece lengthwise so the seeds are exposed.
Stir the glycerin and water together in a clean glass jar until evenly blended.
Add the vanilla pieces, pressing them down so they're fully covered by the liquid, and seal the jar.
Store in a cool, dark cupboard and shake every few days for at least 8 weeks; glycerin extracts flavor more slowly than alcohol, so 3 months gives a fuller result.
Use it cup-for-cup in place of alcohol-based extract; it's slightly sweet and thicker, so stir it in well.

Tips

Glycerin extract suits kids' treats, frostings and no-cook desserts where you don't want any alcohol flavor.
Keep the beans in the jar as you use it; the flavor keeps deepening.
Choosing vanilla: Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic) is our pick here; Tahitian (floral, cherry, anise) is a great alternative.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make alcohol-free vanilla extract?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep, then 8 weeks to steep. The recipe makes 48 teaspoons.

How should I store alcohol-free vanilla extract?

Store in a cool, dark cupboard. Homemade extract keeps indefinitely and keeps improving as it ages.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 48 servings this recipe makes.

1 Calories / serving

0.0g Fat

0.0g Carbs

0.0g Protein

0.0g Sugar

Whole recipe (48 servings): ~48 cal · 0g fat · 0g carbs · 0g protein · 0g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 1 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 1 min·0.1 mi·~100 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 1 min·0.1 mi·~100 steps
Moderate cycling 1 min·0.2 mi
Swimming laps 1 min
Jogging 1 min·0.1 mi·~150 steps
Stair climbing 1 min·~100 steps
Dancing 1 min
Bodyweight circuit training 1 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 1 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.