How did the homemade vanilla turn out?

[Cathy]

I copied the previous thread on how to make it but never got it done for the holidays. How did yours turn out? Any tips?
It sounds absolutely wonderful. Will have to get my act together by Christmas 2001. :-)

[mlou]

I made the vanilla for Christmas gifts this year. I let it sit two weeks longer than was said in the recipe and it came out very light in color, I also used one extra vanilla bean. I was totally a wreck over it and my hubby suggested we do a taste test. Luckily I have to say mine tasted way better than the commercial brand I had on hand!! So, if you want to do it, go for it the taste is unbelievable!!!! I packaged it nicely and the people I gave it to really enjoyed it. It is very rich while the other brand was almost bitter http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Jeanne G]

Hi Cathy & mlou!!
My sister Connie made it and gave it as Xmas gifts. It smells & tasted delicious. And it was so beautiful the way she put it in a pretty bottle with the beans, I'm just bummed it can't be left out in my kitchen for the visual http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif . Apparently, it should not be exposed to too much light.
I recommend it!!
Jeanne

[RunnerKim]

I was a little disappointed in my vanilla. It was definitely lighter in color and when I did a taste test (making vanilla cookies) several people agreed that the Spice Islands (bourban) vanilla had a stronger flavor. I did make mine with vodka so perhaps that's not a fair comparison. I didn't taste the vanilla directly though and might try that tonight. (I started mine the beginning of Oct. and put in 2 beans in a 750ml bottle of vodka)

I still gave it out as gifts and it was very well received.

Kim

[Cathy]

Thanks for the feedback. I may just try making two small batches, one with vodka and one with rum. I bought some vanilla beans from Penzeys. Are those going to be okay?

[debg]

I have the same complaint about my vanilla. I let it sit for extra time and used extra vanilla beans and yet was disappointed in the light color. My hubby suggested not a taste test, but a "smell" test so I blind folded him and we never got around to it!!!! Just kidding http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif for the better smell he picked the homemade. So like everyone else, I packaged it in bottles and still gave it as gifts. VERY WELL RECEIVED! We decided that next year we would try it with bourbon and think that will help deepen the color.

Good luck!

[Melman]

I've been using/making homemade vanilla for quite a few years. I still have the original bottle I made LOTS of years ago. (I just add additional vanilla beans or additional vodka as needed....yes, there are lots of beans in this bottle!!) I've finally decided it's time to start over with a new bottle! :-)

About the second week of December, I bought a bottle of rum, and added two fat, juicy brand new vanilla beans. The color started changing within 2 or 3 days. It's a beautiful dark color...like vanilla should look. I haven't used it yet (all that holiday baking was done before the vanilla was ready to go)...but it smells terrific.

Quick comparison on beans: I order LOTS of spices from Penzey's...love that company..love those products....don't like the vanilla beans. They're small and puny and almost to the point of being too hard to use. Just Herbs (I've posted this info in one of the original homemade vanilla conversations) has EXCELLENT vanilla beans. When they were in town at a Christmas show, I bought beans from them then. SUCH a huge difference in the two kinds of beans. The alcohol (rum or vodka) just doesn't turn color when the vanilla beans are inferior. If anyone tries this again, I highly recommend Just Herbs as a place to buy the vanilla beans.

[Cathy]

Thanks, Mellman, I appreciate the feedback. I printed the original post so I'll add this post to it. I'd be interested in knowing how the vanilla tastes with the rum. Would you post your opinion when it's ready?

[Melman]

Definitely. I'm sure it's ready now...but now *I'm* not ready to bake anything!! Yikes! Too much gorging over the whole month of December.

By the way, the "rum" vanilla smells wonderful! When I bought the vanilla beans from the owner of Just Herbs, she said she likes the rum-based vanilla better than the vodka-based vanilla. We'll see!

[bijoux22]

Well, I guess I don't feel so bad now that I know everyone elses vanilla was quite light also. However, I did not give it the smell and taste tests that you all did. It appears that I should have. When I lose my holiday pounds I will give it a try.

[phantomcg]

I made both the vodka and rum based vanilla's although I've only used the vodka one. It is a little light colored, but smells wonderful (actually, the rum based one looks ok, it will be 2 months old on the 18th). I used the vodka based vanilla and some homemade Kuhlua to make a cheesecake for our office party and it turned out wonderful!

Cheryl

[RunnerKim]

I wondered if my vanilla beans were inferior - I certainly would not have called them plump. I've been reading vanilla ice cream recipes that say to scrape out the insides of the bean and I don't think that would be very easy with the beans I've used.

Next time I'll try ordering them (found them at my local health food store).

Kim

[Cyn]

Would someone repost the vanilla recipe please?

[maccmedia]

My Vanilla extract was pretty light in color too. I used vodka. But I have a bottle with a few beans in it that I have been using for a few years which is really dark - also made with Vodka. I added a bean to each bottle so that it would become darker with age. With some of my left over beans I made some vanilla sugar by cutting up the beans and covering with sugar in a jar. This smells great and was good sprinkled on top of some scones I made!

[Cathy]

The vanilla sugar sounds wonderful. Wouldn't that be good in hot chocolate? Hmmmmmmm, I could probably think of lots of ways to use something that yummy. Thanks for sharing.

[Melman]

Homemade Vanilla:
Buy 2 of the fattest juiciest vanilla beans you can find. (I get mine from Just Herbs...a mail order company)
Buy a 375 ml bottle of either vodka or rum.

Slice the two beans lengthwise and drop them in the bottle of alcohol.

It takes about a month for the alcohol to turn into vanilla. Turn the bottle upside down every couple of days. Use it just like vanilla you've purchased at the store. If the liquid goes below about halfway, just top it off. If the vanilla "strength" seems to go away, slice another bean and drop it in the bottle.

[SusanL]

Melman-I have been trying to get the Just Herbs website, the yahoo address is invalid. Are they up yet? Thanks from a soon to be vanilla maker.

[HARRYET]

Just thought I'd check in as well. I made one each of the vodka and rum vanilla, although the rum is richer in color then the vodka one. I did taste them both when this thread came up, and they tasted to much like alchol still (after 2 months). My vanilla beans I do believe were inferior, so I think I'll try and get some big fat juicy ones and add to what I've already got, I'm sure it will improve it tremendously.

Ann