Uses of Vanilla Extract (Vanilla Liqueur)
What are the uses of vanilla extract? If you bake regularly, you’re surely familiar with it. Vanilla extract is frequently used in dessert baking—just a tiny bit can eliminate eggy flavors and enhance the aroma of your sweets. Although commercially available vanilla extract is pricey, making your own is very easy with just a few simple ingredients and steps, yielding a whole bottle that can make you an instant "vanilla extract (vanilla liqueur) millionaire." Besides baking, it can also be used in various recipes or beverages. In case you’re worried about not using up your homemade vanilla extract, this article will teach you how to make “Vanilla Vodka Lime” using vanilla liqueur. (Here you can purchase a set ofvanilla beans specifically for making vanilla extract.)
How to Make Your Own Vanilla Extract (Vanilla Liqueur)
Making vanilla extract only requires vanilla beans and vodka. The process is very simple: cut the vanilla beans into pieces or split them open, then place them in vodka. Shake the container periodically to help release the flavor evenly and speed up the extraction. After about six months, it will be ready to use (if you're not in a hurry, you can let it steep indefinitely). For more detailed instructions,refer to a complete vanilla extract making tutorial.
Generally, we recommend a ratio of 100 ml of vodka to 4 g of vanilla beans (roughly one bean) for making vanilla extract. However, this is not a fixed ratio; the exact amount depends on the intensity of the aroma of the vanilla beans you purchase and how they are used. If you are using beans that have already had the seeds removed, the flavor will be milder. Adjust the ratio according to your situation—if you desire a stronger flavor, add more vanilla beans.
Vanilla Bean Set for Extract
If you are unsure about the proper ratio of vanilla beans to use, we also recommend purchasing our “Vanilla Extract Special Vanilla Bean Set,” which is pre-measured for optimal usage. Additionally, by selecting short vanilla beans, you can reduce the production cost while achieving the same flavor as with standard long beans. Our set also includes a special variety called "Tianxiang Vanilla Beans," which are three to four times larger than ordinary Bourbon vanilla beans, and even larger than Tahitian vanilla beans. They tend to have a sweeter, perfume-like, candy-like aroma, adding more complexity to the flavor of your extract. Click here to purchase the Vanilla Extract Special Vanilla Bean Set.
Vanilla Vodka Lime │ Ingredients Preparation
To make Vanilla Vodka Lime, you will need:
- Vanilla Vodka (Vanilla Extract)
- Vanilla Salt (can be substituted with regular salt)
- Lemon slices and lemon juice
Vanilla Vodka Lime │ Recipe
First, rub the inside rim of your glass with lemon pulp, then dip the rim in salt to create a salted rim. Fill the glass about 80% with ice cubes. Next, add the ingredients in a ratio of 2:1 (or 3:1) of vanilla extract to lime juice, adjusting based on your glass size and desired strength. If you prefer a less alcoholic taste, you can add 7-Up for extra sweetness. Finally, garnish with lemon slices, and it’s ready to serve.
★ Sparkling Version: Vanilla Vodka (40 ml) + 7-Up (80 ml) + Lime Juice (7 ml)
★ Adult Version: Vanilla Vodka (40 ml) + Lime Juice (10-20 ml)
Vanilla Vodka Lime combines the sweet aroma of vanilla with the fresh tartness of lime. Especially when made with Taiwanese "Vanilla Knight" vanilla beans for the vanilla vodka, the result is a rich, sweet, and floral vanilla flavor that sets it apart from ordinary vodka limes. Brew your own vanilla vodka, and when friends and family come over, you can easily mix a unique cocktail that you won’t find anywhere else!
Bonus: Vanilla Salt
The salt used for making salted rims can be made into homemade vanilla salt. Leftover vanilla beans, aside from being used to infuse vanilla extract, can also be utilized to make vanilla salt or vanilla sugar and other seasonings. Using vanilla salt on the rim gives your cocktail an extra touch of vanilla flavor as the salt dissolves in your mouth. If needed, check out this article on how to make vanilla salt.
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