Homemade Vanilla Extract...taste testing

You may remember back in February when I made Homemade Vanilla Extract.  You can find the recipe here . 

Well today is three months it has been sitting in my pantry.  I had no idea I could wait for something that long!!!!  The wait is over.....it is ready!!!!!

Back in 2011 I did lots of research on making vanilla extract.  And lately did a little more. What I have found out just recently is you should scrape the inside yumminess of the vanilla bean into the jar as well as adding the whole bean.  I did not do that in this jar.  But the pulp=yumminess did make it's way out. And I have lots of it.  I am sure there is plenty more in those beans though.  Maybe I'll take them out now and scrape what is left in.  You'll see the pulp every time you shake the bottle(you shake the bottle about once a week).  It is edible so I will leave it in.  You could easily strain it all out with cheesecloth. 

One thing I have noticed is it is not as dark as store bought vanilla.  Not sure if I did not use enough beans?? 

When I originally made it I was going by about 2-3 recipes I had found.  And used the amounts they were calling for.  Since then I have seen other recipes that state to make it darker use more beans.  I'll try that next time.

All in all it turned about pretty well.  Now I just need a taste tester!!!

Or TWO!!!!

Homemade Vanilla Extract Taste Testers

I wanted it to be tested on something you could really taste the vanilla.  I had the perfect idea......Vanilla Milk. 

The boys love homemade vanilla milk!!  So last night night after 3 long months of waiting on the vanilla the boys let me know how it compared to store bought.

That would be a thumbs up for both.  They also said they could not tell a difference in the way I usually make it with store bought vanilla extract.

SCORE for homemade!!!!

Homemade Vanilla Extract ingredients:  Vodka and vanilla beans.

Adams Best Vanilla Extract ingredients: a blend of water, propylene glyol, alcohol, sugar, glycerine, vanilla and other artificial flavors, caramel color and natural flavors including vanilla bean extractives.

Hmmmm, maybe mine isn't as dark because I didn't use other artificial flavors AND caramel color!

It is not hard for me to decide which one sounds better.  And for someone who uses vanilla several times a week it is SO worth it!!!!

I plan to make cookies this week so I can be a taste tester too!  I'll let you know what "I" think.  BUT if the boys could not tell a difference in the milk, so few ingredients, well I felt that was a pretty good idea of how it compared.

And they LOVED it!!!