Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (2024)

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This frugal recipe is a guest post from Rachel!

The Instant Pot(AKA Instapot) is pretty amazing! This lovely little kitchen appliance is always blowing my mind. I’ve thought about making vanilla extract a handful of times. The normal process for making vanilla extract is incredibly simple. You fill a jar with vodka, throw in some vanilla beans, and screw on the lid. Then let it sit for forever while you forget you even made it! Luckily, when you make vanilla in the Instant Pot you have ready to use vanilla extract in under an hour! Plus, your house smells amazing! That makes it a pretty perfect recipe in my book! If you have an Instant Pot, youhave to try this recipe for Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to Amazon and/or Etsy, which means that I may earn a small commission from some of the links in this post. Please see our Disclosure Page for more information.

Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (1)

When you’re finished making your homemade vanilla extract, you’ll want to find some ways to put it to use! You could always bake with it, like in this yummy cherry vanilla bread. Or you could use it in homemade beauty products, like my homemade vanilla whipped body butter!

Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot

Ingredients

Vodka – 40% alcohol
4 Madagascar vanilla beans
1 cup water
Quart canning jar
Scissors

Directions

Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (2)

1. Toughly wash and dry your canning jar and scissors. Cut the vanilla beans in half and place them in the jar.

Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (3)2. Fill the jar with vodka to the thread lines. Leave the lid off.

Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (4)3. Put the trivet on the bottom of the Instant Pot and pour in 1 cup of water. Next, position the canning jar on the trivet.

Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (5)Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (6)Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (7)Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (8)4. Lock the Instant Pot’s lid into place and turn the pressure valve to sealing. Cook the vanilla extract using the manual button on high pressure for 40 minutes. To release the pressure, use a long utensil to turn the pressure valve to the open position. Be careful, steam will shoot out.

Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (9)Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (10)5. Use oven mitts to remove the jar of vanilla from the Instant Pot. Let the extract cool completely before screwing the lid on the jar. Putting the lid on the jar while it is still warm will cause it to vacuum seal. Your homemade vanilla extract is now ready to use right away! Leave the beans in the jar to allow the flavor to strengthen over time.

Store in a cool dry place. The alcohol smell will lessen over the next week.

As mentioned in the recipe, I left the vanilla beans in the jar so that the flavor can continue to strengthen as it sits. When the vanilla is gone, I’ll use the beans to make something else. I see some homemade vanilla bean paste in my future!

I didn’t test this vanilla for shelf life, alcohol level, or anything else. Normally vanilla extract has a shelf life of a couple years. This homemade vanilla extract may or may not keep that long. From what I have read it seems it will last at least a year, but I won’t have it long enough to find out! This recipe made 1 quart of vanilla extract, but I do so much baking that it will only last me about 2 months.

This recipe was adapted from TIDBITS pressure cooking vanilla extract.

Have you ever made homemade vanilla extract using the traditional method?

Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (11)

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Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (12)

Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot

  • Author: A Cultivated Nest
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Description

Easily (and quickly!) make your own delicious homemade vanilla extract in your Instant Pot!

Ingredients

Scale

  • Vodka – 40% alcohol
  • 4 Madagascar vanilla beans
  • 1 cup water
  • Quart canning jar
  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. Toughly wash and dry your canning jar and scissors. Cut the vanilla beans in half and place them in the jar.
  2. Fill the jar with vodka to the thread lines. Leave the lid off.
  3. Put the trivet on the bottom of the Instant Pot and pour in 1 cup of water. Next, position the canning jar on the trivet.
  4. Lock the Instant Pot’s lid into place and turn the pressure valve to sealing. Cook the vanilla extract using the manual button on high pressure for 40 minutes. To release the pressure, use a long utensil to turn the pressure valve to the open position. Be careful, steam will shoot out.
  5. Use oven mitts to remove the jar of vanilla from the Instant Pot. Let the extract cool completely before screwing the lid on the jar. Putting the lid on the jar while it is still warm will cause it to vacuum seal. Your homemade vanilla extract is now ready to use right away! Leave the beans in the jar to allow the flavor to strengthen over time. Store in a cool dry place. The alcohol smell will lessen over the next week.

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. Please see our Disclosure Page for more information.

About Rachel:Rachel is a big believer in living life as your best self. She likes her coffee black and loves to curl up with a good book. At HyperHypoMama.com she writes about creating a healthy life with Thyroid Disease through food, yoga, and love.

You might also be interested in: 10 Yummy Instant Pot Recipes You Have To Try!

Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What is the best alcohol for homemade vanilla extract? ›

Choosing an Alcohol
  • Vodka will give you the smoothest, purest, most unadulterated and well-balanced vanilla flavor and is my preference.
  • Grain alcohol has more of a bite to it and typically pulls the flavor from the beans faster than vodka. ...
  • Bourbon will yield a smooth, warm extract with caramel undertones.
Sep 19, 2023

Can you speed up making vanilla extract? ›

One trick we've long relied on to speed up the vanilla extraction process is gently heating the alcohol. The only problem is that this is a delicate process—you can't let the alcohol get too hot. Heat can damage the volatile flavor compounds in vanilla and vaporize the liquor if it reaches 170 F.

How long does it take to make homemade vanilla extract? ›

You only need 2 ingredients for homemade vanilla extract: vanilla beans and vodka. Let the vanilla beans infuse the vodka for as little as 8 weeks, but for optimal flavor, wait at least 6-12 months before using. Homemade vanilla is more cost efficient than store-bought options.

Is DIY vanilla extract worth it? ›

All you need are fresh beans and cheap booze to make an ultra-flavorful extract at a fraction of the cost. All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Should I use vodka or Everclear for vanilla extract? ›

Vodka is the preferred alcohol for extractions like this, as its flavor is neutral and does not compete with that of the vanilla beans.

How many vanilla beans for 8 oz of vodka? ›

For best flavor you'll want 4-5 vanilla beans for every 8 ounces (1 cup) of vodka. The quality of the vanilla beans is more important than the quality of the alcohol, so you don't need to buy an expensive bottle. Alcohol: 80 proof Vodka, (or brandy, rum, or bourbon, if preferred, for different flavor).

What happens if you don't shake homemade vanilla extract? ›

Every few days give your bottles of vanilla extract a good shake. Since both the vanilla bean pods and their seeds tend to sink to the bottom of the bottle, shaking moves the infused alcohol around, allowing for better and faster extraction.

Why is my homemade vanilla not dark? ›

As the vanilla extract sits, it will get darker. You want the beans to soak in the alcohol for at least 2 months before using it. The flavor will only get better with time. Make up several batches of vanilla extract at once so you never have to wait for a batch to brew.

Should you remove the vanilla beans for extract? ›

There are two primary reasons to cut the beans:
  1. When you are making extract, you want the bean fully submerged in alcohol. Some beans are simply too big for the bottle and need to be cut.
  2. Extract making takes a long time. Cutting the bean may decrease the time it takes for your extracts to be ready.

Why does my homemade vanilla extract still taste like vodka? ›

Answer #2: Alcohol is normal. Remember that all "Pure" extracts are required to have a minimum 35% alcohol content, which is just as much alcohol that is in hard liquor. Alcohol is needed for extraction.

What are the rules for making vanilla extract? ›

It must be at or above 35% ABV. This means that at minimum you should be looking at 70 proof spirits to ensure you're getting the best results. Vanilla Extract Calculator: Pure Vanilla Extract needs to be made using (at a minimum) 13.35 oz / gallon (100g / liter) of real vanilla beans, at a moisture content of 25%.

What is the best vanilla bean to use to make vanilla extract? ›

Grade B is typically recommended for making homemade vanilla extract. These beans are supposed to be drier and perfect for long soaking in alcohol. I've used both – and maybe I've been lucky but both beans were easy to cut open and use.

Why is vanilla sold in dark bottles? ›

Many bakers recommend choosing brown or darkly colored bottles to minimize the amount of light hitting the extract. We've found that clear bottles are fine as long as they are stored in a cool/dark place. Confirm that the bottle is closed tightly and will not allow leaks before moving onto storage.

How many times can you reuse vanilla beans to make vanilla? ›

Yes. Because a vanilla bean has a great deal of flavor, it can usually be reused several times before its aroma and taste are depleted. A great way to recycle a bean is to make vanilla sugar. Simply wash and dry the used bean thoroughly.

Is homemade vanilla stronger than store bought? ›

Method: To make your own vanilla extract, you'll need 6 whole vanilla pods and 8 oz. alcohol (70-proof or above). At 12.5% concentration, this homemade extract is slightly stronger than single-fold vanilla extract; use it wherever a more prominent vanilla flavor is desired.

What percent alcohol should vanilla extract be? ›

According to the FDA, vanilla extract is a mixture of vanilla scent and flavor characteristic, and alcohol. To be exact, the FDA requires an ethyl alcohol content of at least 35% for a product to be considered vanilla extract.

Does it matter what vodka you use for vanilla extract? ›

But BEWARE the trap of buying flavored vodkas for vanilla extract. They don't always marry well with vanilla beans and the result can be disheartening. Stick with plain Smirnoff and you'll do just fine. Ciroc - A five-times distilled French vodka will deliver a beautiful, pure extract.

What kind of alcohol is used in Mexican vanilla extract? ›

So, you would need 75 grams of vanilla for a 750 mL bottle of alcohol. Vodka that is 80 proof contains 40% alcohol by volume, which makes it a great choice for a base for your vanilla extract.

What is the highest alcohol content in vanilla extract? ›

Vanilla extract may contain up to 35% ABV, which is the equivalent of a shot of hard liquor like vodka or bourbon. This means vanilla extract can get you drunk, but it also puts a person at risk of alcohol poisoning.

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