McCormick® All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract. Derived from the finest quality imported vanilla beans, its rich, sweet and subtle flavor is the perfect way to enhance desserts like cheesecake, cookies, and cupcakes – or even take breakfast, like French toast, to the next level. Find out where to buy vanilla extract below …

Vanilla extract falls mostly under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration as a food product and not the stricter governmental regulations for spirits or liqueur, even though an alien chemist might be hard pressed to tell you what the physical difference between the two is.

Vanilla extract and vanilla flavor are both made with real vanilla beans. The difference between the two is that vanilla flavor is not made with alcohol and therefore cannot be labeled as extract.

You need to check with your ag dept to see if you can sell homemade vanilla extract (I don’t think you can). If you can’t, then you’ll just need to give them away if you don’t want to break the law. Loretta, I am too wanting to sell vanilla extract and possibly other extracts.

The ratio of vanilla beans per ounces of alcohol is imperative, but so is the amount of time the vanilla infuses the alcohol. We discussed ratio above, so let’s chat about how long to infuse the vanilla. Homemade vanilla extract tastes better and becomes darker in color the longer it sits.

To make homemade vanilla extract: Split or cut open vanilla beans lengthwise. Soak in alcohol (we recommend grain alcohol, like Everclear) for at least eight weeks, but preferably 6-12 months, using a ratio of six vanilla beans per eight ounces of alcohol. Shake every day (or as often as you remember).

Why is vanilla extract so expensive? Over 80% of the world’s vanilla is grown on the island of Madagascar, which has been recently hit with terrible weather. Failed crop yields have caused the prices of vanilla beans to soar to nearly $600 per kilogram, which is 10 times more expensive than it was a few years ago.

The FDA doesn’t only require that vanilla extract contains alcohol. The federal organization also requires that all extracts, including artificial extracts, contain a minimum of 35 percent alcohol. This means that for most vanilla extracts, four to five ounces should be enough to get a person drunk.

What Kind of Alcohol is Best for Making Vanilla Extract? You can use any alcohol as long as it is 80 proof. The best and most popular choices are vodka, bourbon, brandy, or rum. Vodka is the most versatile because it has a neutral flavor.

McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract is 35% alcohol.

Vanilla Substitutes

• Maple Syrup. My go-to substitute for vanilla extract is maple syrup.
• Almond Extract. Almond extract is significantly more potent than vanilla, but it will provide a similar flavor profile if you use it sparingly.
• Bourbon, Brandy or Rum.
• Other Spices.
• Instant Coffee or Espresso Powder.
• Citrus Zest.

Vanillin, a primary component of vanilla bean extract, has anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antitumor properties.