Recipes

[coffee drinker]

Do you think I could use Citron Vodka to make vanilla extract?  I have an almost full bottle, don't really use it and don't want to buy another bottle of "plain" vodka.  Once this is settled, I'm going to attempt making the extract in my Instant Pot.  Saw it on You Tube and it's a lot faster than letting it "brew" for many months.

[deepwaterdotter]

I think it would be a tasty addition to many baked goods.

[PinkyPetunia]

The Citron vodka is lemon flavored, right?  Don't know if that would work with vanilla.  Taste the vodka and see how strong the lemon taste is.

[Kachina624]

I use vanilla in a lot of things I wouldn't want to be lemon flavored.  The beans are expensive.   I wouldn't risk ruining them.

A lemon/vanilla combo flavor doesn't appeal to me.

[coffee drinker]

@Kachina624 The beans aren't as expensive as they were a years ago.  In 2019 I bought 10 grade B approx $25.  Yesterday I bought 10 grade A $10.  Both purchased from AMZ. As for the lemon/vanilla flavor, think I'm going to taste the citron vodka as someone suggested.  I just took a little swig and it didn't taste too lemony to me.  

@PinkyPetunia Above response is for you, too.

[coffee drinker]

@deepwaterdotter That's the response I was hoping for.

[Bookplate]

If it isn't too pronounced a lemon flavor (as is a limoncello), I would think that several vanilla beans would eventually dominate the taste.

[candys mine]

@coffee drinker  I have not made vanilla extract at home and using a flavored vodka as a base is your choice but the thing that I would think about is  WOULD using the Instant Pot Affect the chemical composition of the Citron vodka by putting it under pressure?  Would it break down the flavor to something that might taste very "fake"?

Does making it the "old fashioned " way require heat processing vs just slow, cool steeping ?

Hope it comes out as you like!

[wagirl]

No --citrus  vanilla does not sound like a good combo to me---cheap plain vodka is the best----

[River Song]

I use bourbon when making homemade vanilla.  A combination of bourbon and citron vodka might be an interesting flavor with the vanilla beans.  I use the cold steeping method but am curious how heating the beans in alcohol will affect the alcohol content of the extract.