Homemade Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract ~ low carb & AIP

With the price of vanilla extract skyrocketing, making your own homemade vanilla extract is a great thing to do. This Homemade Alcohol-free Vanilla Extract requires only 2 ingredients and tastes great.

It's perfect for gifting (for yourself and for others) and for special diets too!

Today we're sharing a fabulous recipe for Homemade Alcohol-free Vanilla Extract.

Most vanilla extracts on the market, and more homemade vanilla extract recipes call for alcohol. So why alcohol-free?

Why Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract?

There are a number of reasons why you might want an alcohol-free vanilla extract recipe.

Reasons to Avoid Alcohol:

• 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. (source) 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 that's a whole other problem.

So making your own alcohol-free vanilla extract is the way to go. Then 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 Vanilla Extract tastes lovely just as it is. My son LOVES licking the spoon when I bake with it!

Before we get to the recipe, I should explain something.  In reality, this is not truly an extract.  Since there is no alcohol used it really is a vanilla flavor since alcohol extracts better than the alternatives. However, if you are needing to avoid alcohol, this works great.

Homemade Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract

Some of my most memorable cooking experiences involve vanilla. For me, measuring a teaspoon meant filling it until it overflowed into the cookie dough - or not using a measuring spoon at all.

So “1 teaspoon” really meant 2--minimum.

And, the smell? LOVE it. If you don’t take at least a quick whiff whenever you're baking, I’m not sure you’re human.

Unfortunately, stores mostly sell cheap imitation vanilla, or "pure" vanilla extract with added ingredients and a hefty price tag.

Instead let’s make it ourselves - especially with Christmas nearly here. What better gift than world-class homemade vanilla?

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!). That label just means that the vanilla flavoring comes from vanilla beans - not artificial flavors.

Why Alcohol-Free Vanilla?

The term “extract” means that the product carries 35% alcohol. When you buy pure vanilla extract, most of it contains vodka, bourbon, brandy, or rum.

We don’t like to use alcohol for religious reasons. However, alcohol may affect probiotics. So if you use vanilla made with alcohol to flavor your yogurt, you might reduce the benefits of the yogurt.

So today I'm going to show you how to make your vanilla with glycerine instead - aka vanilla glycerite, or with water if you can't have glycerine.

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. Glycerine is a clear, sweet, thick syrup.

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.

This "extract" is great, however, there are a few drawbacks to using glycerine as opposed to alcohol--flavor and shelf life. We love the flavor of this, but others swear by the alcohol versions, especially when they are based in rum or bourbon vanilla.

What Is the Shelf Life of Alcohol-free Vanilla Extract?

Shelf life information for vanilla extract is a little confusing as there are varying thoughts on it. 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 that 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 think that the latter is likely more accurate.

Homemade Vanilla Extract--Perfect for Gifting

This Christmas, we’re making this extract to give as gifts. Who wouldn’t appreciate their own bottle of delicious homemade vanilla extract? Especially when they take the lid off and get that first smell - it’s almost intoxicating!

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.
• Alcohol version: Use alcohol instead of glycerine if you need to avoid glycerine for any reason. Some say you can use filtered water 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 Tip

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.

If you aren't ready to start another one right away, store the beans in a small jar like these with about 1 inch of vegetable glycerine in the jar to keep them fresh.

Of course, you can also save money by buying bulk. I would buy at least 1/4 pound. Here is a 1 lb option as well.

No Time to Make Vanilla Extract?

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

There!

You’ve made your own vanilla for much cheaper than the store-bought good stuff. Plus it's healthier and tastier than the imitation versions.

Enjoy - and let me know how it went!

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