Homemade brandy vanilla extract made by steeping vanilla beans in brandy. 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.
Brandy Vanilla Extract
Pantry
Vanilla extracts infusions
Origin: Madagascar
Vanilla: Beans
Easy
Homemade brandy vanilla extract made by steeping vanilla beans in brandy. 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
Ingredient amounts change with yield. Follow the recipe instructions for times, temperatures, and equipment.
- 8.0vanilla beans, split
- 1.0 cup (240.0 ml)brandy (80 proof)
Make it at home
-
The vanilla
Madagascar Vanilla Beans, Grade A, 5 Beans
$15.00 · Shop now ›
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Instructions
- Split each vanilla bean lengthwise, leaving the halves attached at one end.
- Place the beans in a clean glass jar and pour in the brandy until they're fully submerged.
- Seal the jar and keep it in a cool, dark cupboard, shaking it once a week.
- Steep for at least 8 weeks, until the extract is deep amber and richly fragrant.
- Top up with a splash of brandy as you use it to keep the beans covered.
Tips
- Brandy's fruity character pairs especially well with apples, pears, stone fruit and holiday baking.
- 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 brandy vanilla extract?
Plan on 10 minutes of prep, then 8 weeks to steep. The recipe makes 48 teaspoons.
How should I store brandy 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
0.1g
Carbs
0.0g
Protein
0.0g
Sugar
Whole recipe (48 servings): ~48 cal · 0g fat · 5g 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.
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Recipe Rating
1 commentI love using brandy when making extract – it goes well with the Tahiti varieties – very floral thx !!
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