Vanilla Extract (Cooks Illustrated)

I chose this recipe because it was from Cook's Illustrated- and these people know what they are doing! I noticed that of the few similar recipes on 'zaar, this is the only one that requires you to scrape out the vanilla bean. While this step might seem tedious, it makes all the difference with regards to a faster maturation date. As an experiment I made two jars simultaneously- one with a scraped bean and one with an unscraped bean cut into 1" pieces. The first is much darker than the 2nd already with a much stronger aroma! Very happy to find such an economical recipe for Vanilla extract as I do a lot of baking. Thank you!

3 people found this review Helpful. You can only vote others' reviews helpful or not helpful... Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No We don't know who you are. Sign in or create an account

I love to save money, and this recipe appeals to my saver instincts! I used Smirnoff, and after heating and mixing, decided to add the scraped bean pod in too. I can just pull it out, as need be, and it isn't wasted. Thanks for sharing a satisfactory, homemade, staple recipe, duonyte!

2 people found this review Helpful. You can only vote others' reviews helpful or not helpful... Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No We don't know who you are. Sign in or create an account

This is a simple and inexpensive way to make a good quality vanilla extract! It was ready to use after a week and had the same delightful effect as store-bought extract. Thanks for sharing the recipe! Made for the Best of 2010 Event (recommended by mersaydees)

2 people found this review Helpful. You can only vote others' reviews helpful or not helpful... Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No We don't know who you are. Sign in or create an account

What a wonderful recipe! I've been making homemade vanilla extract for years, but this beats all. Heating the vodka and scraping out the seeds makes all the difference in the world, for a quick maturation time (mine was ready in just one week, and it just gets better). Be sure to heat the vodka until very hot, but do not boil. And, don't strain out the seeds, they are packed with the most delicious vanilla flavor. Thanks, Duonyte!

0 people found this review Helpful. You can only vote others' reviews helpful or not helpful... Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No We don't know who you are. Sign in or create an account

I used the cheapest vodka at the liquor store. The seeds are the black goo in the bean, there are no big things in there. The better you scrape the less you have to strain, and the faster your vanilla will mature. I heated the vodka on low just until the first bubbles started to rise from the bottom of the pan. I used jelly jars to store mine. You can get the beans fairly cheap for 10 online, but even the more expensive ones make cheaper vanilla than store bought.

0 people found this review Helpful. You can only vote others' reviews helpful or not helpful... Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No We don't know who you are. Sign in or create an account

This is just so simple to make. Why pay those high prices for commercial vanilla extract! This would be a great gift idea, perhaps as part of a basket of goodies. Thanks for sharing, duonyte. Made for Newest Zaar Tag.

0 people found this review Helpful. You can only vote others' reviews helpful or not helpful... Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No We don't know who you are. Sign in or create an account

I have been wanting to try this recipe for a long time and I am glad I finally did. It smells wonderful! I used some in our french toast this morning and have added it to smoothies but have not yet baked with it, although I am sure it will be wonderful. The flavor continues to intensify the longer it sits. Made for Zaar Stars tag game.

0 people found this review Helpful. You can only vote others' reviews helpful or not helpful... Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No We don't know who you are. Sign in or create an account

What a cool, simple way of making your own vanilla extract! Who would have thought it could be this simple. From now on I will alternate two bottles of extract - one to be used and one 'in the making'

0 people found this review Helpful. You can only vote others' reviews helpful or not helpful... Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No We don't know who you are. Sign in or create an account

WOW!! This was so easy to make and much better than store bought. Used it for chocolate chip cookies, and some pancakes. Many good uses for this too. Made for 1-2-3 hits.

0 people found this review Helpful. You can only vote others' reviews helpful or not helpful... Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No We don't know who you are. Sign in or create an account

Great stuff! And so easy to make! I'll have to invest in some cheaper Smirnoff next time! Meanwhile, Finlandia rules! I'll have to make some cardamom cookies with this and ship it overseas to my Finnish relations! :) Thanks, duonyte, for a staple recipe. Going into my Best of 2010 cookbook. Made for 123 Hit Wonders tag game.

0 people found this review Helpful. You can only vote others' reviews helpful or not helpful... Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No We don't know who you are. Sign in or create an account

So economical and fun to watch the vodka changing color (darkening) as time passes and the vanilla infuses into the vodka. Thank you so much for posting this! It really is as good if not better than storebought.

0 people found this review Helpful. You can only vote others' reviews helpful or not helpful... Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No We don't know who you are. Sign in or create an account