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How to Make Homemade Barrel Aged Vanilla Extract

This homemade barrel aged vanilla extract gives your homemade vanilla extract a pop of bourbon barrel flavor. Easy to make and packed full of vanilla flavor.

This homemade barrel aged vanilla extract gives your homemade vanilla extract a pop of bourbon barrel flavor. Easy to make and packed full of vanilla bean flavor.

If you saw my post on Monday about my tour of Tuthilltown Spirits you will love this post too!  While I was on my tour I bought a little kit that includes one empty bourbon bottle and a piece of the charred honeycomb stave.  It’s supposed to help bring color and flavor your favorite clear cocktail but instead I used it to make homemade vanilla.

This homemade barrel aged vanilla extract gives your homemade vanilla extract a pop of smoky bourbon barrel flavor. Easy to make and packed full of vanilla flavor.

Making homemade vanilla is simple and takes almost no time at all.  A few vanilla beans and some vodka and you are set.  You let it sit for a awhile and will see it turn a beautiful shade of dark brown.  When it gets low you just add some more vodka.  You never have to buy vanilla again!  Plus you can use it to make vanilla bourbon ice cream….you know you want that in your life!

This homemade barrel aged vanilla extract gives your homemade vanilla extract a pop of bourbon barrel flavor. Easy to make and packed full of sweet vanilla flavor.

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Homemade {Almost} Barrel Aged Vanilla Extract

This homemade barrel aged vanilla extract gives your homemade vanilla extract a pop of bourbon barrel flavor. Easy to make and packed full of vanilla flavor.

Yield: 1 bottle vanilla extract

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 3 vanilla beans – halved and sliced down the center (don’t cut all the way through just enough so the beans flavor can get out)
  • 1 barrel aged infusion spiral
  • 1 (16 ounce) bottle or jar with lid
  • Vodka

Directions:

Cut vanilla beans in half and put into bottle. Add vodka to bottle and fill till full. Let sit in a cool, dark place for at least 1 month before using. Shake the bottle once a week to help combine the vanilla. When bottle gets half full refill with more vodka and and let sit for another month before using.

*In the first picture you will see I need to refill my vanilla. That is about the lowest level you will want your vanilla to get before refilling.

Note: Don't want to buy a barrel aged infusion spiral? You can make traditional vanilla extract by just adding the beans and vodka together in a 16 ounce bottle or jar.

Brandy

About Brandy!

I am a food lover and recipe developer bringing you delicious recipes that taste great and are easy to make! My food is inspired by travels around the world and my love of flavorful food. A list of things that make me happy: cats, Coke Zero, houseplants, and travel. Read more...

christina

Thursday 3rd of May 2012

Please don't laugh at this comment/question!

I've got two Ball jars of vanilla beans+alcohol in my cabinet - one of vodka, one of rum - and I'm afraid to try them for fear of food poisoning. They've been soaking since March 3rd, I've swirled them several times, and I've opened them to test the odor along the way. When I started, I boiled my jars for about 10 minutes, but I didn't have the patience to do it properly in the dishwasher. If I didn't sufficiently sterilize my jars before adding the beans and alcohol, and there hasn't been a perfect seal on the jar, do I risk food poisoning? Or because we're talking about ALCOHOL, am I in the clear?

Many thanks!

admin

Tuesday 8th of May 2012

Hi Christina,

No laughing here :) Because of the alcohol you do not run the risk of food poisoning. Plus you only really need to worry about perfect sterilization and seals when you are canning a food product (jam, jelly, vegetables, etc.) Also, boiling your jars is just as safe as sterilizing them in the dishwasher. In fact I always just boil mine. I find it way easier when I'm canning. Hope this helps! Oh and enjoy that vanilla...it's going to be amazing!

ChiWei

Tuesday 1st of May 2012

Hi Brandy! I was wandering around http://thenymelrosefamily.blogspot.com and saw you are probably also a neighbor of mine in the Hudson Valley, and so stumbled on over to your blog, and this idea is so cool! My husband had 3 empty Hudson Whisky bottles and I didn't have a single idea of what to use them for, I should now go see if he actually threw them out! It's always nice to meet a blogger living so close by :-)

admin

Tuesday 8th of May 2012

Hi! I'm so glad to find another local blogger :) I hope your hubby kept the bottles....they are perfect for vanilla!

Becky

Friday 6th of April 2012

I think this is so awesome and interesting. I saw this somewhere and couldn't find it again.. Thanks for the help! Please link up to Foodie Friday

Scott C.

Wednesday 4th of April 2012

Hello,

Does it matter at all what vodka you use?

admin

Wednesday 4th of April 2012

Hi Scott,

You just want to make sure you use an unflavored vodka. No need to use expensive vodka, I generally choose a mid priced bottle.

Hope you enjoy the extract!

nicole @ I am a Honey Bee

Tuesday 3rd of April 2012

I love homemade vanilla extract! I could not imagine not using it. I have been making it for years.

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