Homemade Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract
This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. Learn more in our disclosure.
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.
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 why bother making alcohol-free vanilla? Good question.
Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get healthy living updates too.
Why Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract?
There are a number of reasons why you might want an alcohol-free vanilla extract recipe.
- 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 that's another thing to consider.
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 Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract tastes lovely just as it is. My son LOVES licking the spoon when I bake with it!
Is It Really an Extract?
In reality, this recipe is not truly an extract. Since there's no alcohol used it really is a vanilla flavor or glycerite since alcohol extracts more of the product that is being acted upon than the alternatives. However, if you need to avoid alcohol, this works great.
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.
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, resulting in a clear sticky 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.
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.
Shelf Life
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.
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.
- 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 one-pound 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!
Homemade Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract ~ low carb & AIP
Ingredients
- 7-10 vanilla beans
- 1 pint non-GMO vegetable glycerine
Instructions
- Slice the vanilla beans vertically. Don't remove anything, just toss them (bean and everything) in your bottle.
- Add the glycerine, put the lid on, and put it somewhere out of the way.
- Once a week, give the bottle a good shake (after 4 weeks you can shake it 2-3 times per week). Over time, the glycerine will turn dark. It’s ready when you take the lid off and you’re overpowered by the fragrance. As long as you give it least a few months, you're good.
- Leave the vanilla beans in, and they’ll continue to add flavor the longer it's stored.
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.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is merely an approximation. Optional ingredients are not included and when there is an alternative, the primary ingredient is typically used. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts since they have been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Please let me know in the comments how your
vanilla extract making adventures go!
The glycerin vanilla seems to rather thick and gooey. Have you ever added distilled water to make it more pourable ?
How are you hoping to use it?
like an extract. I use vanilla in almost everything as flavoring in yogurt or oatmeal and the like.
I haven’t done that–I would just be concerned about longevity since water breeds bacteria, but it would think it out! You might not get the flavor you want without using more, of course.
good thought.. thanks
Of course–my pleasure!
Hi! I just made vanilla with glycerin a month ago and it is barely getting darker! Yes I know I have to wait another month or so for it to be ready, BUT, does the glycerin blend stay lighter then the vodka blend?!
Thanks!!
Hi there – I’m not sure. Have you been shaking it? Some of mine looked pretty light to me including the ones made with alcohol.
I need vanilla beans. Where do you get yours?
I bought mine online years ago but sadly the company turned out to be very problematic on a number of levels so I can’t recommend them any longer. I have seen some at Costco but I would bet that buying in bulk would be less pricey. I just found a place that is local to me and have put in a call to see if there’s some kind of better option with them so let’s stay in touch about it!
I just updated the post with some more options–working still on the local one.
Hi again, Connie! Did you find some you like? There are 1-2 co ops on FB that seem to be making a lot of people happy – This is one of them — I met one of the owner’s close connections on FB the other day ;). https://www.facebook.com/groups/848812811970139
How many ounces of vanilla were you able to make with the 1/4 pound of vanilla beans? I’m considering making some for gifts.
I don’t recall but I’m reading that you should be able to make a quart w/ 1/4 pound of beans. Hope that works well for you–I’m sure they will appreciate it!
Can glycerine be used to make other extracts such as lemon and orange? I’ve only made them with alcohol, but am wanting to try making gf extracts.
Yes, you can.
I think you should know that glycerine IS an alcohol. 1,2,3-propanetriol, to be exact. That means that instead of one alcohol group (-OH), it has three. Glycerine (or glycerin) is also known as glycerol to reflect this fact. It also has 3 carbon atoms instead of the two that ethanol has. It is actually rubbing alcohol (isopropanol) with two extra alcohol groups. On the plus side, while our bodies do not need ethanol, they do need (and naturally produce) a number of compounds that include the glycerol molecule, including fats. Thus, glycerol is not a poison to the system, and does not cause the intoxicating effects of ethanol.
would it work better to make an alcohol extract, blend in the glycerine and then heat it over low heat to burn off the alcohol?
I’m not sure what that would do to the resulting product. Interesting idea, though.
The research I’ve done says that it takes 3 hours to burn off the alcohol to a 5% level.
Hi Jill – this article has 2 different statements on the subject. Where did you see the 5%? https://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/AlcoholEvap.htm
It takes a long time for the alcohol to evaporate off. https://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/cooking-cookware/does-alcohol-really-cook-out-of-food/
I would add a reason to your list – taste. Even though I choose to drink, I simply don’t like the taste of alcohol based vanilla.
I actually can speak to the 4-6 year shelf life of alcohol based extracts: I made some vanilla extract using the whole bean, in probably gin or vodka. I put it in an old brown cleaned bottle of what was worchestershire sauce. I “found” it again nearly 20 years (that’s TWENTY YEARS) later and it was so good I almost drank it up straight!!! So, with alcohol, it will last much longer than 6 years! (granted, in a brown glass bottle, in a dark cupboard, so how it is stored does matter…)
I’m going to try with rum, next time, but I may also try this…
I totally understand why someone might want an alcohol free version….so should have some of this on hand just in case.
Wow- that’s amazing! Rum sounds lovely!
For the THM version do you use only the water, salt and beans?
Yes, and I am looking at a xylitol syrup that I think would work as well. I’m thinking just use xylitol made into a syrup but trying to figure that out.
Wondering if you have figured out how to make a xylitol syrup for the vanilla extract? otherwise how do you make the water, salt, and bean version. I am a THM and just trying to cut out alcohol while my liver detoxs. Why should we avoid Glycerine on THM – is it like sugar to our body? Unfortunately i read the comments after i made the glycerine version – OOPS!
I have not but I suspect it would be simple. The glycerine is apparently fine in vanilla so don’t worry about it. I thought I had fixed that in the post? Did I still have that info in there somewhere? Thanks!!
We don’t drink alcohol either, but we do use it in tinctures, etc.. and there is a minimal amount of alcohol in kombucha, water kefir, milk kefir. etc. The BIble says it is okay to use alcohol for specific circumstances, & we don’t use it to excess, so we have no problem using it for more medicinal & health type uses. Just curious… do you also not drink fermented foods & drinks like water kefir, kombucha, & milk kefir because of the minimal alcohol content?
It’s great to have an alternative to the alcohol version of products. That said, I try to avoid glycerin because it can cause dental issues, by coating the teeth which can then not allow teeth to heal naturally should they need to heal, as well as other issues.
Hi there. I have heard of that glycerin issue but I did research on it and can’t tell that it’s valid. I do not avoid alcohol personally but I will ask Erin to chime in on the other question. Thanks for reading!
TY for the info :)!
You are welcome!
I’m with you E on using alcohol for medicinal & health type issues. I’m not an herbalist, but I’m pretty sure it’s basically impossible to make effective tinctures without alcohol and herbal tinctures are so much better for you than the big pharma drugs! The gut healing amazingness of fermented and probiotic food/drink is just fine with me as well and we do consume them.
I agree with Adrienne on the glycerin. I’ve heard about that, but not really convinced if it’s true. I have a dental appointment next month so I’ll ask my dentist to get info straight from the source! I feel like since you usually only use a teaspoonish of vanilla for flavor, you wouldn’t have to worry about it coating your teeth but not sure.
I think I read that the glycerin is easily brushed off. Is your dentist holistic?
No I haven’t ventured into the holistic dentistry realm yet. I do love going to the dentist though and getting my teeth cleaned! We don’t do the fluoride treatment though.
Not sure if you were asking me or not, but we did use a holistic dentist for a while until his rates went to $500 just for a CLEANING, EXAM, & 4 bitewings… AND they STOPPED taking insurance!! Uhmmm, NO WAY!!
Also, he COMPLETELY missed the one kiddo’s teeth that had cavities. He said her teeth were stained & pitted, but NOPE… DECAY!! He told me one of teeth were SOLID & the next day that same tooth BROKE in HALF!! After that we were done there… I figured if we were going to pay $1,000 per YEAR for ONE person to see a dentist, we should just see a traditional dentist for OUR WHOLE FAMILY (& STILL SAVE THOUSANDS of $$$$) in our network that we could afford, & try to find one that was at least not super insistent on fluoride & x-rays no matter what, like many of them are. AND we would spend money NOT on OVERPRICED dentists for doing nothing special that an in-network dentist couldn’t do, PLUS have money left for GOOD food :). Sure, I’d love to be able to afford a natural dentist, but for us it didn’t work out that way & has worked well doing it this way.
Our traditional dentist is great! X-rays ONLY 1x per year unless NECESSARY, no fluoride (or dye for our kiddo with dye allergies) even in the polish if we don’t want it, a parent sits with our young kiddos (or whomever wants Daddy or Mama with them, young or not), & great with kids!
We’ve been blessed so far with the dentist we have had for a couple of years, & are grateful for open minded dentists who work with their patients, when many refuse to do so. I am grateful for our dentist!
I was asking the author, but that’s fine. I appreciate your comment. I personally do not care for the holistic dentist who is local to me and go to an “open minded” traditional dentist. It’s working well for me as well. Thanks for sharing!
TY for your input too. It’s nice to know I am not on the wrong track in using alcohol as we do for medicine & as a result of fermentation in our creations :). I am making sauerkraut right now.,. have to go pound it down. Just shredded about 12 heads of cabbage… even with a food processor, it’s a lot of work, but well worth it.
We have had dental issues with a kiddo so I am super alert when it comes to anything that **may** contribute to dental issues. It made no difference no matter the oodles of super heathy diets, whole foods, great fats, low sugar (& grains, carbs, etc.), alkalinizing, etc. It is enough to drive one bonkers!
We did find out part of it was a BAD dentist who CREATED CAVITIES by doing HORRIBLE dental work previously.. don’t even get me started on that one… but there were issues before he came into the picture… though he created issues after the initial issues were all taken care of.
Anyway, I do think gut flora makes a huge difference, as well as food allergies, & know it can be SO HARD to balance it all (especially with a large family like I have).
I had another kiddo with a cavity that HEALED with BLACK WALNUT extract (the alcohol tincture, not the glycerin version, though I heard both can work; which would then kick out the glycerin & cavities idea… sigh.. lol.. I used the alcohol tinture though JIC after what I read about glycerin). Anyway, we still had to get the cavity itself repaired because the tooth broke (deep cavity that we didn’t catch for a while) & there was not time to wait to see if it would fill in & frow back (I rad that could take up to a year & was not willing to risk my child’s oral health waiting all that time), BUT the DECAY itself was GONE and the gum & all the tissue underneath was all healthy when they went to fix it (previously it was decayed BADLY & they thought it was going to have to be pulled instead of being able to fix it). I certainly wished it didn’t have to be fixed at all, but great knowing the black walnut really helped.
I applied it twice per day directly to the cavity… 3-5 drops per tooth… & then just let it sit (we did it in the AM after eating & before bed). You can take it in water but my kiddo wanted it straight on the tooth instead. I do feel the direct, undiluted application REALLY worked well. We did it for two months before the decay was all gone, but it was deep. That kiddo also fell (not very far either, but a direct hit to the mouth) & injured four upper, front teeth. We were told they would probably all four need to come out, if not the two center ones. One is a very light gray now (it was DARK gray for a while) & NONE of the teeth showed any injury on the X-rays, nor did any have to come out. The black walnut helped save those teeth! I didn’t even know about using the black walnut on teeth until a week after that injury, and it still helped greatly. Oh, the kiddo used to CRY when I would brush the four front teeth so I had to use a hand brush for a long time on those ones & a power toothbrush on the rest. One day when I saw the huge difference in tooth color & after the dentist told me the teeth all looked great minus the slight gray tint to the one tooth, I used the power brush on ALL of his teeth & he didn’t even realize it… NO PAIN! I was SO relieved & thankful to the Lord for the healing!
Then, as if that wasn’t enough stress, another kiddo climbed over a barricade to keep him safe, & injured one of the same front teeth the other kiddo did… there’s a chip in the tooth too. His tooth is STARK white & NO graying at all.. his tooth is FINE aside from the small chip. I applied a few drops of black walnut to his teeth for a couple of months too, anticipating them turning gray, but they never did!
Oh, I do know that I did read the glycerine does get brushed off, BUT that it takes 15 brushings to do so… in which case if you are using glycerin containing paste,, etc. it won’t get brushed off.
I proceed with great caution after our journey. I would think that maybe most people without dental issues would probably be fine, but maybe those with dental issues it could pose an issue for them & to be watchful :).
The glycerine information is very confusing. I think this article is worth reading. What do you think about it? http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/qa/2016/2/11/xylitol-glycerin-fluoride-in-toothpaste.html
I think the article sounds promising, but like anything these days, I have learned not to put all of my eggs into one basket. I think with our bodies & immune systems being complex, unique, etc. that maybe what causes problems for some & not others, is outside the “norm” or “usual”, so it is probably best to keep differing views in mind. I often say that I make the best decision with what I know at the time AND I reserve the right to change my mind if I ever find out that the information I based my decision upon previously was not accurate, not accurate for me or mine (like I used to use peppermint for many things… it is healthy, has many benefits, etc. BUT now I am ALLERGIC to it… & I react to it… so now I know I canNOT use it for ME and MINE.,. without risking MY health, but that doesn’t mean that peppermint isn’t great for those not allergic or sensitive to it), etc.
I like & agree with some of the author’s info about healing tooth decay, but I also feel there are some holes in his views too. I think that is the nature or humanity. There will ALWAYS be another view… and again, I do think that just like no two people are identical, not all things are good for all people (minus Jesus ;0).
I agree. What specifically did you think were the holes in his views? Thanks!
Very helpful. Thank you I have used black walnut for liver cleanses in the Andrea Moritz cleanse. Now I see it’s excellent for teeth. Thank you God bless you.