Make Your Own Vanilla Extract

Start with our extract calculator; it works out the beans and spirit for any bottle size.

Which vanilla to use

• Grade B (extract grade) beans are drier, about 15 to 25 percent moisture, so you get more vanilla per ounce. They're the usual choice for extract.
• The US standard for single-fold extract is 13.35 ounces of beans per gallon of spirit at 35 percent alcohol or more. The calculator scales it to any bottle.
• Madagascar Bourbon makes a classic, creamy extract; Tahitian a floral one with cherry and anise; Ugandan a bold, cocoa-forward one.

Guides and recipes

Uganda Vanilla Extract: How It Tastes vs MadagascarGuide Vanilla Extract Ratio: Beans per Ounce of AlcoholGuide Vanilla Bean Caviar: Scrape Seeds Like a Pastry ChefGuide The Chemistry of Vanilla Extract: What Happens in the BottleGuide How to Store, Age & Refill Vanilla Extract: Long-Term GuideGuide Single-Bean vs Blended Vanilla Extract GuideGuide Reusing Spent Vanilla Pods: 12 Ways to Get More ValueGuide How Long Should Vanilla Extract Age? Month-by-Month GuideGuide How to Make Vanilla Paste, Powder & Sugar at HomeGuide Cold Extraction vs Heat Extraction Vanilla: Why Slow WinsGuide Aging Vanilla Extract: Why Time Improves ItGuide Vanilla Honey, Maple, and Syrup Infusions GuideGuide Vanilla Extract for Gifting: Bottles, Labels, TimingGuide Vanilla Bean Storage: Reviving Dry Beans, Preventing MoldGuide Glycerin Vanilla Extract: The Alcohol-Free AlternativeGuide Cold Brew Vanilla: Extract Vanilla Without Heat or AlcoholGuide Chai Vanilla Extract10 min · Easy Vanilla Bean Honey10 min · Easy Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste15 min · Easy Homemade Vanilla Powder1 hr 40 min · Easy Homemade Vanilla Sugar5 min · Easy Citrus Vanilla Extract10 min · Easy Cardamom Vanilla Extract10 min · Easy Almond Vanilla Extract10 min · Easy

All extract guides · Extract calculator

Tips

• Split the beans lengthwise so the spirit reaches the seeds.
• Keep the jar somewhere cool and dark, and shake it once a week.
• Most makers let it steep six months or longer before they start using it.
• Top the bottle up with spirit as you use it, and the beans keep giving.

Questions

Which alcohol is best for vanilla extract?

Vodka gives the cleanest vanilla flavor. Bourbon and rum add their own warm notes; use at least 35 percent alcohol (70 proof).

Grade A or Grade B beans for extract?

Grade B. They're drier, so an ounce holds more vanilla, and their looks don't matter in a jar.

How long before I can use it?

Give it at least eight weeks; many makers wait six months or longer for a fuller flavor.

The vanilla we'd use

Madagascar Vanilla Beans, Grade B, 4oz bag Uganda Vanilla Beans, Grade B, 4oz bag Tahitian Vanilla Beans, Grade B, 4oz bag Madagascar Vanilla Beans, Grade B, 5 Beans

Explore more

Recipe collections: Dairy-Free & Vegan Vanilla Baking · Gluten-Free Vanilla Baking · Vanilla Custards, Puddings & Crème Brûlée · Vanilla Cookies & Bars · Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream · Vanilla Cakes & Cheesecakes · Holiday & Fall Vanilla Baking

Vanilla guides: Find Your Vanilla Origin · Vanilla for Baking · Make Your Own Vanilla Extract · Oak-Aged Vanilla Extract

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