Make your own homemade alcohol free vanilla extract in one afternoon with the miracle worker that is the instant pot. If you read this post, you know how I feel about vanilla and its impact on the flavor of our food! Nothing can elevate your cooking and baking like using a high quality vanilla. This recipe is raising the standard of vanilla!
Why use the instant pot?
Not everything benefits from being cooked in an instant pot, but a few things sure are! I was never successful with homemade yogurt until I tried it in an instant pot. Brown rice is now ready in a mere 20 minutes!
Vanilla is another thing that makes me so thankful for this invention! I do still like making vanilla extract the traditional way with no heat, as that retains more nutrients. (I can’t say that vanilla extract is a big punch of nutrition, per se… but typically, food without a ton of heat retains more of its original nutrient properties.) However, for last-minute gifts or a sudden hankering, this is the way to go!
Instead of taking 4 weeks to make vanilla extract with the traditional method, we are utilizing an electric pressure cooker, and the high pressure will extract all the vanilla goodness in a tiny fraction of the time! In under two hours, you will have beautiful, alcohol-free vanilla to gift to someone or use right away!
Shouldn’t we use grade a vanilla beans?
No. Use grade b vanilla beans for making extract. According to the Vanilla Bean Kings, “Grade B vanilla beans are referred to as an ‘extraction-grade.’ The flavor is somewhat diluted in comparison to the Grade A option, but it can be easier to transfer the flavor of the bean when cooking. More often than not, the extraction grade is what is used to make vanilla extract. Because of the lower levels of moisture, it can help achieve a more concentrated vanilla flavor. The lower moisture rating means you are paying for “less water weight” and more actual vanilla goodness!” Thankfully for us, grade b are much more affordable than grade a!
I love using grade b Madagascar vanilla beans because some of our closest friends were missionaries in Madagascar, and they are friends with some vanilla farmers. She even brought me some vanilla directly from her friend’s farm! I love thinking of the people I’m supporting when I buy them. (I don’t think I’m getting beans from her friend, but as a people group, the Malagasy hold a special place in my heart!)
Tools needed to make alcohol-free vanilla extract:
- Instant Pot
- Trivet
- Two pint mason jars with lids and rings
- Vanilla Beans
- Glycerin
- Optional: funnel
- Optional: pretty glass bottles
How to make homemade alcohol-free vanilla extract in an instant pot:
Using a very sharp knife or strong kitchen sheers, cut about 12 vanilla bean pods into one-inch chunks and load into a pint mason jar. *This package of whole vanilla beans came with 25, so I divided them between two pint jars. On top of the cut up vanilla, fill the jars with organic food-grade glycerin. I like this brand.
(*Note on the discrepancy between my instructions and those on the package: they recommend using one ounce of vanilla beans for every 8 ounces of liquid. Ours is more like one ounce of vanilla beans for 16 ounces of liquid. I don’t see in any way that my vanilla is diluted, and I’m happy to have my dollars stretch a little further!)
Place the canning lid and ring on the jars, just finger tight, and set on top of the trivet inside the instant pot. If you have a 6 quart instant pot, add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the pot. If you have an 8 quart, use 1 1/2 cups of water. Set to high pressure for one hour. For best results, let it do its full natural release. Carefully remove the hot jars from the instant pot. I place them on towels so that the cold, hard countertop doesn’t create any hazardous conditions for our precious contents!
Bonus: Using an instant pot actually cans the vanilla in a sealed jar, so it can be stored at room temperature with a shelf life longer than it would ever take you to use it. Store your finished alcohol-free vanilla extract in cool dark place. Enjoy your own homemade
Why use glycerin instead of alcohol for vanilla extract?
People who are trying to stay away from alcohol appreciate still being able to make their own vanilla extract without having to go near liquor. Even people who don’t struggle with alcohol are mortified at the thought of being seen with a bottle of vodka! (I cannot imagine my mom ever, under any circumstances, being willing to be seen with any kind of alcohol! Even if it is for innocent vanilla!)
I like having both varieties of vanilla extract. I use the traditional vodka method for baked goods. Vodka is significantly less expensive than organic coconut oil glycerin. But when I’m making homemade whipped cream, ice cream or frosting, the flavor of the alcohol overpowers the vanilla. I use far less than vanilla than I would prefer because of the alcohol flavor. But with this alcohol-free vanilla… I get to load up! I get to have the vanillaiest vanilla ice cream without the slightest taint in the flavor.
Glycerin is a sugar alcohol, (non-alcoholic) meaning it is sweet, yet sugar free! So in whipped cream, I don’t add any sweetener if I’m using this alcohol-free vanilla extract. (I usually add about a tablespoon of honey if I’m not using this vanilla.)
Unique Gift Idea
This homemade extract is a perfect last-minute gift! The fact that you can make this in less than 2 hours, and the fact that amazon delivers the ingredients needed to make this to most people within 2 days, this is a great last-minute gift idea. Relatively speaking, of course. What I mean is, you don’t need to be thinking about making your kid’s teacher this homemade vanilla extract for Christmas, long before Thanksgiving. The traditional method for vanilla extract requires letting the vanilla and glycerin meld together for four weeks in a dark cupboard.
Using a small funnel, pour your final product into pretty glass bottles. I like using small bottles with a cork or flip-top lid. Tie a note around the neck with some twine… who wouldn’t be happy to receive such a gift!?
Variations:
Regular Vanilla Extract:
You can use these same portions to make regular vanilla extract. Cut up about 12 whole vanilla beans and place in a pint jar. Top with vodka. Place in a cool, dark place for 4 weeks, or use this instant pot method.
Traditional Alcohol-free Extract:
Follow the instructions in this pot, but instead of putting them in the instant pot, put in a cool, dark place for 4 weeks. Give it a good shake every couple of days to evenly disperse the vanilla.
Get one more use out of those vanilla beans!
I like to strain out most of the vanilla beans when I pour it into pretty bottle, and save them for one more round of extraction. If you use the same glycerin that I do, you’ll have enough glycerin left over to do another cup and a half or so. I put all the vanilla beans from both pint jars into one, top with the left over glycerin, and put in a dark cupboard. You can absolutely use the instant pot again, but since I’m not in a hurry for more, I’m happy to save the energy and just put it in my pantry, shaking it every few days. It is okay for it to extract longer than 4 weeks, but you’ll want it to soak for at least that long.
Let me know if you try this alcohol-free vanilla extract, and how you like it! What are your favorite uses? My daughter and I just shared a frothy vanilla milk by shaking some milk in one of the empty, glycerin-lined pint jars. SO GOOD!
18 responses to “Homemade Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract in an Instant Pot”
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Thanks for the great tutorial! This is something I’ve been wanting to try for a while.
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You’re welcome, I hope you enjoy!
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I didn’t realize it was possible to make vanilla extract without alcohol! Thanks for the recipe
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You’re welcome, I hope you love it when you make it!
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OMWorddd, thank you for this recipe. A. I had no idea you could make vanilla extract without alcohol. B. I had no idea you could make it soooo much quicker using an instant pot. Woo hoo! I am definitely going to save this recipe. Thank you again!
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Thank you, glad to put something fun on your radar!
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Vanilla extract has gotten so expensive! Pinned for later. Thank you!
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It sure has! The vodka variety is much cheaper, but I like to keep this on hand for special treats!
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WOW! I can’t wait to try THIS method! I have one almost ready in my pantry!
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Oh, yum! It’s always so fun to bust into a freshly-ready bottle!
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This is so cool! I didn’t know it’s possible to do this without alcohol. I’ll have to look into the glycerin.
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I know! I would never put regular vanilla in my coffee, but I find endless ways to enjoy vanilla this way!
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This is amazing! I have an Instant Pot and I’ve always wanted to make my own vanilla extract. I will have to try this recipe!!
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Oh man, you need to get on it! It feels so special making your own— and the little flecks of vanilla make things so pretty!
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Wow thats so easy! Makes me wonder why i pay so much at the store haha thank you!
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Right!? The flavor is INCOMPARABLE to what we get pre-made from the store.
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Can I use salt or Organic raw coconut sugar, organic maple syrup, or is organic local honey instead of glycerin? Thanks for your response ASAP. Want to make as Thanksgiving gift✝️
Praying the Lord help me thru you as I read a homemade site with vanilla beans/salt/filtered water, but not sure about what salt and it took 9 wks. If I can do with my Comfee pressure cooker, no glycerin that is an answer to my prayer. Trusting God for your response. Proverbs 3:5-6 Love in Christ Jesus, Karen Sue-
Hi Karen, I think honey or maple syrup would be a great alternative!
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Homemade Alcohol-Free Vanilla Extract in an Instant Pot
Make your own homemade alcohol free vanilla extract with no alcohol in one afternoon with the miracle worker that is the instant pot.
Ingredients
- 24-25 Vanilla Bean Pods
- 1 qt Organic Food-Grade Glycerin
Instructions
Using a very sharp knife or strong kitchen sheers, cut about 12 vanilla bean pods into one-inch chunks and load into a pint mason jar. On top of the cut up vanilla, fill the jars with organic food-grade glycerin.
Place the canning lid and ring on the jars, just finger tight, and set on top of the trivet inside the instant pot. If you have a 6 quart instant pot, add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the pot. If you have an 8 quart, use 1 1/2 cups of water. Set to high pressure for one hour. For best results, let it do its full natural release. Carefully remove the hot jars from the instant pot. I place them on towels so that the cold, hard countertop doesn’t create any hazardous conditions for our precious contents!
I like to strain out most of the vanilla beans when I pout it into pretty bottle, and save them for one more round of extraction. If you use the same glycerin that I do, you’ll have enough glycerin left over to do another cup and a half or so. I put all the vanilla beans from both pint jars into one, top with the left over glycerin, and put in a dark cupboard. You can absolutely use the instant pot again, but since I’m not in a hurry for more, I’m happy to save the energy and just put it in my pantry, shaking it every few days. It is okay for it to extract longer than 4 weeks, but you’ll want it to soak for at least that long.
Notes
-This method works with vodka instead of glycerin if you want to have both on hand.
-You can skip the instant pot and just let the glycerin and vanilla beans meld together for 4 weeks in a cool, dark place.
-If you strain the glycerin, put the vanilla beans from both jars into one jar and top off with more glycerin. Repeat process in instant pot, or tuck away in a cupboard for 4 weeks.
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