Rum Vanilla Extract

Jul 14, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Pantry Vanilla extracts infusions Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Beans Easy

Bottle of homemade rum vanilla extract with vanilla beans

Homemade rum vanilla extract made by steeping vanilla beans in aged rum. 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

8.0vanilla beans, split
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)aged rum (80 proof)

Make it at home

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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 rum 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 dark and smells more of vanilla than of rum.
Top up with a splash of rum as you use it to keep the beans covered.

Tips

Aged or amber rum adds molasses and caramel notes that are great in banana bread, eggnog and caramel desserts.
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 rum vanilla extract?

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

How should I store rum 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.