Homemade Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract

If you're avoiding alcohol but want to use vanilla in your recipes, this Homemade Alcohol-free Vanilla Extract is just what you need. It's simple to make, requires only 2 ingredients and works just as well as the real thing.

In this post you'll learn to make alcohol-free vanilla extract using just vanilla beans and vegetable glycerin. This easy homemade vanilla extract without alcohol is perfect for baking, gifting, and special diets.

Vanilla adds so much to baked goods and so many other recipes, but it's pricey. So if you're like me, saving money is motivation enough to make your own vanilla extract. But there are some other great reasons for making alcohol-free vanilla.

Why Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract?

• addiction issues – those who have a history of alcohol addiction need to avoid alcohol in all forms, including extracts
• religious reasons – some religions ban the use of alcohol strictly
• dietary reasons – some diets limit or don't permit alcohol. The candida diet is one such diet, as is the AIP (autoimmune protocol, or autoimmune paleo) Diet. If you're heating a recipe using alcohol, then it will burn off, but if not, avoiding alcohol is required with such diets.
• health concerns – there is evidence connecting alcohol and breast cancer. While the amount in baked goods and other sweets isn't likely a concern given the research, some might feel that total avoidance is something that they would like to do.

If you want an alcohol-free vanilla extract, you need vegetable glycerine for steeping the vanilla beans.  However, often glycerine is made from corn or soy, so making your own alcohol-free vanilla extract is the way to go so you can source your glycerine without GMOs.

Another bonus for vegetable glycerine-based vanilla extract is that it tastes amazing.

Glycerine is naturally sweet, so this Homemade Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract tastes lovely just as it is. One of our sons LOVES licking the spoon (and of course so do I) when I bake with it!

Is Alcohol-Free Vanilla Really an Extract?

Technically, alcohol-free vanilla extract isn't a true extract because alcohol is the standard extraction medium. A more accurate term is vanilla glycerite. However, most people search for “alcohol-free vanilla extract” or “vanilla extract without alcohol,” so that's the term used throughout this post.

Why Avoid Store-Bought Vanilla Extract

Like most grocery store items, the story is in the ingredients. Like other food labels, the labels on vanilla extract aren't exactly honest.

Most of what Americans buy at the store is the imitation vanilla. It's much cheaper than true vanilla extract, so it's appealing that way. But the ingredients are far from natural, often containing artificial flavors, caramel coloring, and corn syrup. No thanks, especially for something that doesn’t taste anything like true vanilla.

The next option is to buy pure vanilla extract. This is a better option for non DIYers, but there are drawbacks. For example, McCormick brand vanilla extract carries a price tag of $23.20 for a pint. Not exactly budget-friendly.

Caution: even if the label says ”100% pure vanilla extract,” there can still be extra ingredients (like corn syrup!). Shockingly, the term “100% pure” only means that the vanilla flavoring comes from vanilla beans rather than from artificial flavors.

What is Vegetable Glycerine?

Glycerine comes from palm, coconut, corn or soybean oil (that’s why we always buy organic) that’s gone through a process called hydrolysis. The oil is heated under pressure with water until the glycerine splits from the fatty acids and is absorbed by water. Then it’s further distilled to enhance purity.

It’s commonly used in food manufacturing because of its sweet flavor with fewer calories than table sugar. Our bodies also metabolize glycerine more slowly than sugar, preventing a blood sugar spike. Glycerin is used in extracts/glycerites like this, in sugar-free treats, and also in personal care products like this Foaming Soap and in toothpaste.

How Alcohol-Free Vanilla Is Different From Regular Vanilla

Sweetness: Alcohol-free vanilla tastes sweet due to glycerine being sweet. Some people love it while others prefer the “pure” taste of regular vanilla.

Shelf Life: Shelf life information for vanilla extract is a little confusing. There are valid sources online stating that the shelf life of vanilla extract is indefinite.

While the shelf life for alcohol-free vanilla extract isn't as long, some say it will last only a year, whereas other sources state that the glycerine acts like a preservative and that it should last about 4-6 years. I've personally found somewhere in the middle or the longer length to be more accurate.

Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract: Perfect for Gifting

Alcohol-free vanilla extract is the perfect holiday gift because it's a great heartfelt gift and you don't need to wonder if the recipient (or someone they're baking for) might be avoiding alcohol.

But, remember, the extract takes 2-3 months to make, so if you'd like to make this for gifting, get a head start!

You will need a nifty bottle that holds a pint of liquid. Beanilla has some snazzy bottles, but we bought these bottles off of Amazon.

Recipe Notes

• Vanilla beans: You can use up to 14 vanilla beans for a stronger flavor. It will cost more of course. See the Money Saving Tips that follow for ways to save.
• Types of vanilla beans: Madagascar (Bourbon) vanilla beans have the classic vanilla flavor most people expect. Tahitian beans are more floral and fruity. Either works in this recipe.
• Alcohol version: Use alcohol instead of glycerine if you need to avoid glycerine for any reason. Some say you can use filtered water instead of alcohol or glycerine and store in the fridge to steep, but I'm not at all comfortable with that as bacteria would likely grow very quickly.

Money Saving Tips

• Reuse Vanilla Beans: Let's face it; vanilla beans aren't cheap. But thankfully, you can re-use them. After you use them for one batch, simply start a second one. For the best flavor, consider adding a few fresh beans to the second or third batch as the original beans gradually lose potency. After three batches, the flavor isn't as strong as I would like it to be. You could of course use it for recipes and just use more vanilla that usual. If you aren't ready to start another batch right away, store the used beans in a small jar like these with about 1 inch of vegetable glycerine in the jar to keep them from drying out.
• Buy in Bulk: You can also save money by buying bulk. If you plan to make vanilla extract regularly, I would buy at least 1/4 pound. Here is a one-pound option as well.
• Use Extract Grade Vanilla Beans: Extract-grade vanilla beans (also called Grade B vanilla beans) are less plump, drier, and can have cosmetic imperfections, but they cost less and work well for extracts.
• Add Some Water: You can substitute some of the glycerine with filtered water, but don't make it any thinner than 3 parts glycerine to 1 part water, or you will substantially reduce the shelf life. You may notice that some alcohol-free vanilla recipes use a mixture of vegetable glycerin and water, often around 3 parts glycerin to 1 part water. Normally, adding water to a DIY product would require a preservative. However, glycerin has preservative properties when used at a high enough concentration, which is why many glycerite recipes use this ratio. I prefer using all glycerin for simplicity and maximum shelf life, but a small amount of water can make the extract thinner and easier to pour.

No Time to Make Vanilla Extract?

If you're short on time and NEED vanilla now, try these vanilla extract substitutes on for size!

Please let me know in the comments how your
vanilla extract making adventures go!