Most, if not all, of my coworkers bake regularly. My mom's friend just told me how easy it is to make homemade vanilla extract. I think this would be a perfect gift from my coworkers, but one of the two ingredients is vodka. All of my coworkers are LDS. Do you all think this would be a toke deaf gift given the main ingredient is alcohol?
In the US, pure vanilla extract must be at least 35% alcohol. So anyone using the good stuff is already using alcohol. You can get artificial stuff and you can get non-alcoholic stuff. I've never met a Mormon who was so strict as to not use and consume vanilla extract.
And the alcohol is evaporated during the cooking process.
My mother is as LDS as they come and has taken to making her own vanilla extract with bourbon! She just won’t step foot in the liquor store lol. Alls to say- I bet it would be very appreciated. Extracts with alcohol typically don’t fall under “word of wisdom” territory because they aren’t intended to be used as drinks.
Thank you for that additional insight why it would generally be considered ok. Might need to try making it with bourbon! Appreciate your help!
In the 70's my mother would buy liquor for all those who didn't dare go to liquor store
This. My bff growing up, her parents would drive a whole county over to buy tum for the Christmas rum cake. They would love it
I prefer to use rum as the base for my vanilla extract!
I make liquor at home and am sad I can never share my creations with my family, but I’ve started doing vanilla and almond extracts to give as gifts. It always is a hit and I’m constantly asked for more! Use high quality beans and go for a long extraction and you’ll be left with a really nice product any home baker will love!
Almond extract is one of my favorites! Didn't think about making that one.
Where do you recommend finding high quality vanilla beans?
I like Vanilla Love USA, but there are plenty of vendors out there that offer good stuff. I particularly enjoy their Tahitian beans, but they offer a handful of varieties in different grades.
Im LDS and I wish I was your coworker. Id love some homemade vanilla for cooking. Making vanilla is on my to do list.
I haven't made it either, but I'm excited to try it. And just from this thread I have learned that you can also make it with bourbon, rum, whiskey, and brandy. Didn't think I'd get so many extra tips when asking this question!
I would assume most logically would understand that this isn’t taking a shot lol. But you always have a weirdo. If someone gets weirded out just take it back
If anything I’m sure you’ll get more people “scandalized “ that alcohol is even involved and want it more
It’s no different than storebought real vanilla extract. I’ve been making vanilla for a decade from http://makingvanilla.com
(It may not be whiskey or vodka, but it is an alcohol just the same).
My mom, Mormon as they come, just gave all her friends vanilla extract made with vodka. It bakes out of the cookies. I’m pretty sure that’s the thought behind it.
Try it with brandy, it's fantastic.
Ooo, brandy?! How does it change the flavor? I'm interested to try that, too.
I never would have thought asking this question would have also given me some great ideas of what else to try!
The brandy adds sweetness and a light fruity flavor to the extract. It's amazing for baking and general confectionery. I made eggnog fudge with some for my coworkers this last week for yule and they all loved it. I had an idea to try and add some to a syrup I was toying with but I've kinda abandoned that one for now. I bet it would be killer in some cookies with fruit. We aged ours about a year for that batch but I've got tons more to start for next year with all kinds of new spirits.
I made some for my coworkers with bourbon and some work vodka. Both were fantastic. Even my super religious, member of the bishopbric grabbed one. Last week he told me he used the hell out of it and loves it.
Vanilla is a great gift. It's what I give to neighbors and it's one of the favorites every year. Though we do joke sometimes with a few people on it being a great tasting shot.
That said, most food extracts are made from alcohol and, if used when baking, a good portion, if not all, of the alcohol evaporates during the baking process. No one is getting drunk, or breaking the word of wisdom, on a tablespoon of vanilla extract, split between however many servings the dish has. Same thing even if it hasn't been baked.
I have been making my own vanilla for over a decade. My preferred choice of alcohol for this is rum, but whiskey is a good one. There's definitely a culture shock going into the liquor store for the first time, but I only go once a year now for my vanilla stash and it gets better every year.
Alternatively, you can use a specific glycerin for alcohol free extracts, but I've never really looked into this.
I'm still new to Utah and it's wild to me that I have to go to a state owned liquor store to buy liquor.
You make a good point about the alcohol evaporating during the baking process. I must be over analyzing this.
Will need to try rum and whiskey! Thanks for your insights and help!
You're welcome! The longer the vanilla brew sits, the better it'll be. I let mine go for a year minimum.
I remember the first time I went to California and was old enough to remember. Going into a grocery store and there were rows of alcohol right there in front was so wild to me, a new teen who had never been around alcohol much because I was born in the Utah county bubble.
No, it’s only for people who have no coworkers in Utah.
I made bourbon vanilla to hand out this year. We give it to all of our LDD family members. Next year is rum vanilla.
That would be really cool to change up the liquor each year. I'm learning there are a lot more ways to make it than I thought!
That sounds like a wonderful gift! I am LDS, and I don’t think you have anything to worry about. We typically don’t drink alcohol, but many of us use it in cooking. Most of the alcohol gets burned off in the cooking process, so there isn’t a risk of getting drunk, which is why we don’t consume it directly.
I use everclear for extracting but to answer your question it’s not seen as forbidden because the alcohol cooks off and very small amounts are consumed. Also you’re not consuming it for the alcohol you’re consuming it for the vanilla extract.
Whatever alcohol there is in vanilla extract burns off in the baking process. It's fine.
I don't understand how nobody else has mentioned this
All good, I have a LDS friend who does this and got some fun looks when she got her supplies to make her own when pregnant due any day. Never been a problem, otherwise.
I'm LDS. I make & use my own vanilla from sherry. Not a problem.
I'm LDS and have been using my home made vodka based vanilla for years. I give it to everyone and have never had an awkward moment. Gift away, my friend!
I’m in Utah and make vanilla and sell it at my work, where a large majority of my coworkers are LDS. They’re my biggest customers. But if you really want to be sure not to offend, you can always use food grade vegetable glycerin to extract in, instead of alcohol. Technically it’s not vanilla “extract” but vanilla flavoring.
Most Mormons dont even know that alcohol is used to make it. Haha. My sister does this for Christmas every year. I won't use store bought vanilla anymore.
All Vanilla has alcoholic content! If your pious co-workers do not wish to imbibe tell them not to drink it.
As I understand it...it cooks out so I haven't met a Mormon who has refused it yet.
As per the word of wisdom, vanilla extract mixed with warm milk is the only acceptable alcoholic beverage.
It gets cooked out. Not a problem.
My super LDS sister had me go to the liquor store a few months ago to buy her vodka for her homemade vanilla extract.
If they’re into baking, it think it would be fine.
The alcohol does add to the flavor spectrum and will evaporate BUT you could always gift them vanilla paste instead! alcohol-free vanilla paste recipe
Mormons are also super into self-sufficiency and making things fully from scratch. I think they would love some real vanilla extract.
As lds-- bring it on. It's not getting drunk
Its not a problem, but the good stuff takes a couple years before its done. The half gallon I'm currently going through is almost 4 years old *chefs kiss. Also note, use the cheapest vodka, make no difference to use expensive stuff.