Renthead Mommy Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 I just came up with the idea to make vanilla. How long does it take for it 'cook'? Looking on the internet I've seen 30 days to 3-4 months. Orginally I was thinking I'd do it for next (2011) Christmas, but now I'm wondering if it would be doable to make it for this christmas? Anyone have any tried and true recipes or advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 what do you mean by "make vanilla"? Vanilla WHAT? Vanilla is a bean pod. you can use it to flavor sugar by putting the pod into a jar of sugar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaffodilDreams Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Mine took about 6 weeks. And, it's AWESOME!!!!!!! LOVE IT! I will never go back to store bought. So easy and so yummy in recipes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangerine Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 I am stewing mine for 4-6 months, since that was what the bottle said to do. You could always give them as gifts with a "ripe by" date on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 My first batch took about 2.5 months of steeping and probably could have gone a teeny bit more, but I was too impatient. :D It was pretty darn good, though. All I did was slit two vanilla beans lengthwise and open them up a bit. Then I dropped them into a bottle of vodka (375ml) and let it sit at the back of the cabinet for a few months. Yummy! Right now, I am testing 40% vs 50% vodka (I used 40% last time) just to see if there is a quality/ taste difference, and after one month the 40% is much darker and has a much stronger vanilla smell than the 50%. I am planning to let them sit for 3 months minimum for making a final judgment, though. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheBugsMom Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 This is going to be a silly question but where can I get good vanilla beans? I would love to make my own vanilla. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paintedlady Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 (edited) You could make it for this Christmas. The longer the beans sit in the alcohol though, the better it will be. You could have decent stuff if you do it right now. I've got a few bottles that have been soaking for a year that are amazing, and some others that have been soaking a couple months that are good. I put about 6 beans, cut up, into a bottle of vodka and put in a dark place. Shake occasionally and enjoy! :001_smile: Edited October 15, 2010 by Paintedlady Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 This is going to be a silly question but where can I get good vanilla beans?I would love to make my own vanilla. I would try Penzey's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Okay, what about the vodka? Does it have to be a good brand like Grey Goose or will the store brand (or whatever a generic brand is) do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Okay, what about the vodka? Does it have to be a good brand like Grey Goose or will the store brand (or whatever a generic brand is) do? I had actually read a few news snippets that said that Grey Goose is not that great and since I don't drink alcohol I was clueless about what to try. I asked the man at the liquor store which vodka was closest to odorless (apparently odorless = good vodka). He showed me a couple then I went with the cheapest (in my case, it was Taaka). (Embarrasingly, I will admit that I was glad Taaka was one of the ones he suggested because it has a really pretty bottle with raised flowers on it. :tongue_smilie:) I was able to find inexpensive, organic vanilla beans at my local farmer's market, so I bought up as many as I could, but I found out later that beans can be used over and over again. I have a bottle currently going using used beans and I am interested to see how it tastes compared to fresh beans. It is definitely taking longer to steep than the bottle with fresh beans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renthead Mommy Posted October 15, 2010 Author Share Posted October 15, 2010 Okay, what about the vodka? Does it have to be a good brand like Grey Goose or will the store brand (or whatever a generic brand is) do? I was just going to ask this. I can't remember if I was told it comes out better with really cheap vodka or really good vodka. And how many vanilla beans do I use in a pint of vodka? (Is it a pint? The small flatter rectangle shaped bottle?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paintedlady Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 (edited) I would try Penzey's. I bought some beans from Penzey's and found the quality surprisingly lacking. I placed my next order from this seller on Amazon and thought the quality was terrific. I'm ordering from them again soon. I also use the cheap vodka. I wait until they go on sale and couple it with a rebate to get the cheapest prices. This time around they went on sale for $9.99 a bottle. If you bought 6 or more they took 10% off in the store. I also had coupons for $5 off of 2 bottles, and a mail in rebate for $50 off of 8 bottles. I bought 8 and after all coupons/discount/rebates, paid around a $1 a bottle. It's worth paying attention to if you think you'd like to make vanilla to give away as gifts. hth! Edited October 15, 2010 by Paintedlady Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlgaLA Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 I have vanilla from http://www.myspicesage.com right now, and the quality is great. Right now they are having a promotion on vanilla beans - 8 beans free with any purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarcyB Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 I've purchased from HERE (and was really happy with them!) and have heard awesome reports about THESE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarcyB Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 I was just going to ask this. I can't remember if I was told it comes out better with really cheap vodka or really good vodka. And how many vanilla beans do I use in a pint of vodka? (Is it a pint? The small flatter rectangle shaped bottle?) The top shelf vodkas aren't necessary. A good mid-price brand is good. Here's a good tut :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jann in TX Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 It already has a nice dark color and incredible aroma! Still I will refrain from using it until (Maybe) Christmas because I like to let it 'stew' for 6 months if possible. I'm almost out of last year's supply... so I may have to snitch some a bit earlier. I buy my beans on Ebay--seller is 'vanillaproducts' and item icon is a green box with the words 'fast ship'. I like the 'free' beans I get--I order the Madagascar ones and get the Tahitian ones free--so my vanilla has the best of both worlds (flavor AND aroma). This is the second time I've ordered from this seller--I've been pleased both times--great value too! Today I took some 'organic cane sugar' and started a batch of vanilla sugar for Christmas Gifts... it will be WONDERFUL by then--but pretty good in as little as 2 weeks. I put 3 pods (split) of each bean type in 2 pounds of sugar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renthead Mommy Posted October 15, 2010 Author Share Posted October 15, 2010 It already has a nice dark color and incredible aroma! Still I will refrain from using it until (Maybe) Christmas because I like to let it 'stew' for 6 months if possible. I'm almost out of last year's supply... so I may have to snitch some a bit earlier. I buy my beans on Ebay--seller is 'vanillaproducts' and item icon is a green box with the words 'fast ship'. I like the 'free' beans I get--I order the Madagascar ones and get the Tahitian ones free--so my vanilla has the best of both worlds (flavor AND aroma). This is the second time I've ordered from this seller--I've been pleased both times--great value too! Today I took some 'organic cane sugar' and started a batch of vanilla sugar for Christmas Gifts... it will be WONDERFUL by then--but pretty good in as little as 2 weeks. I put 3 pods (split) of each bean type in 2 pounds of sugar. What do you do with vanilla sugar? I've never heard of that before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jann in TX Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 I use organic cane sugar because it has a beautiful warm beige color...any granulated sugar would do... just split a few beans and put them in a sealed container of sugar for a few weeks...I shake every day or two. My step-mother grew up with always having a vanilla bean in her sugar canister... I usually buy cute ceramic jars that hold about 1cup of the sugar for gifts. Uses... I've used it as a nice topping for muffins. I like a spoonful in my tea--my sister uses it in her coffee. Last year I made banana bread and after I greased my cake pan I sprinkled on some vanilla sugar--the crust was extra tasty! You can put it in anything that you put regular sugar in... Mine is usually pretty concentrated with vanilla--you definitely notice the flavor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Thank you for the advice on the vodka, DarcyB, Paintedlady, and Tutor. Now, does anyone know how long vanilla lasts? Years and years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaffodilDreams Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 I use Rum instead of Vodka when I make vanilla. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 I made the big (cheap) bottle with 6-8 beans. If you start it before Thanksgiving it will be fine. I leave the split/scraped with a knife in the big bottle for myself, but place one or a half a bean in any little bottled gifts. I think they look cute with a bow and the recipient can remove it to use or keep it in there to continue the mellowing. I love the beans in fresh made vanilla ice cream;). They're also great in homemade yogurt.:D I purchased my beans on e-bay from an organic dealer. They will dry out if you don't use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renthead Mommy Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share Posted October 16, 2010 Well I've decided to wait on the vanilla till next christmas 2011. I feel like I'm going to be rushed getting beans to get it started in time plus finding 'the right' bottles to put it in, plus the other biggie is if I make vanilla this year, for some people it will end up being just too many gifts to give them. ( I already have the little gifts planned out and some ordered/purchased so I can't change those.) I know that sounds strange, but it is just how it works. Hard to explain with out knowing the people and seeing my "List". But I definately want to do it for 2011! And I dont' want to forget till late in the year next year and then again feel 'rushed' finding just the right bottles and such. So while I'm in vanilla making mode, would it be okay to start vanilla a year early? Would that make it too strong? Does it go bad? Have shelf life? I don't want to start it now, find out it's not good next year when it's too late to make more! Plus next christmas will our last one here, near so many of the recipients, before we PCS to the next base and I'd have to mail things. Which I don't like doing in cute glass jars! So yes I'm already planning things for Christmas 2011! More than just the vanilla even, I've got a whole second set of gifts planned 2011 already! But they are things that take time (think months!) so I'm glad I'm plannign them now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paintedlady Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 I've got a couple bottles that have been sitting about a year and they're wonderful! No problems with them at all. You might consider buying the vodka in the plastic bottles if you think moving will cause problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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