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Vanilla Bean Infused Grape Seed Oil

Learn how to make your own vanilla bean infused oil. You only need fresh vanilla beans and your oil of choice. You will also find tips on choosing the best oil and where to buy the best vanilla beans.

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Vanilla Bean Infused Grape Seed Oil

Vanilla bean infused oil gives an extraordinary sweet flavor to your recipes, enhancing the aroma of anything you are cooking or baking. I use the vanilla infused oil a lot in my recipes, from desserts to salads and even for beauty recipes. And since many people asked me how to make vanilla infused oil (for baking) I decided to make a separate post entirely for this recipe.

Why Make a DIY Vanilla Bean Infused Oil

If you love the vanilla flavor but you can’t afford to use a whole fresh vanilla bean every time you cook, you have the option to use a vanilla infused oil or extract (alcohol based). Unfortunately, stores mostly sell cheap imitation vanilla (the ingredients often contain artificial flavors, caramel coloring, and sweeteners), or “pure” vanilla extract with added ingredients and a hefty price tag.

I opted for vanilla oil instead of extract because I wanted to avoid alcohol (as well as the glycerin option) for health reasons. Plus the extract separates when used in fatty bases like chocolate and body butters.

Making your own Vanilla Infused Oil is extremely easy, and is much less expensive than purchasing it. This way you know you’re using only high-quality ingredients.

I buy genuine Madagascar Vanilla Beans in bulk here (25 beans, aprox. $3 per bean). You can find them in stores as well, but it’s $5 for one bean! So you see the difference. Yes, it’s an expensive spice due to a labor-intensive and time-consuming process but worth every penny.

What Oil to Choose For Infusing

If you want to use the oil for cooking and baking, make sure you use a food-grade oil as the carrier. I like using grape-seed oil, which has a delicate, subtle nutty flavor and it takes on the vanilla flavor nicely. Due to it’s neutral flavor, the vanilla flavor will come through much stronger.

If you want to use vanilla infused oil as a body oil, then use jojoba or almond oil as a carrier oil, they are stable and do not have a strong smell.

Please note that oils by themselves can grow rancid in certain conditions after a certain amount of time. If you are unsure about the state of the oil, I suggest smelling and tasting it when you make it, and then continue to monitor the scent as time passes.

Keeping it in the fridge can help preserve freshness. Infused oils with dried herbs and spices usually have a longer shelf-life compared to infused oils made with fresh herbs and spices which is much shorter.

How to Make Vanilla Infused Oil

Get a clean (preferably glass) container or a mason jar. Add the desired oil to the jar. I chose cold pressed grape-seed oil due to its neutral flavor, but you can use any oil you like.

Slice the vanilla beans in half lengthwise and scrape out the insides. Place in the oil. Cut up the rest of the bean and throw it in the oil as well. Or you can simply cut into small pieces (without removing seeds) and place the pieces into your jar/pot for infusing.

Cover with a lid, then give it a little swirl. Place it next to a sunny window or kitchen counter and let it infuse for 3-6 weeks. That’s it!

There’s a faster method by using a double boiler: place about 1 cup of water in the bottom pot, place the vanilla and oil jar into the pot. Place lid on and set stove top temperature to low (2-3). Leave this running throughout the day (4-6 hours a day) for about 2-3 days.

I always prefer the first method when it comes to herbal infusions, the lower the the temperature the more health benefits you get.

You can choose to strain the seeds but I don’t mind having them floating in the oil.

Alternatively, if you are looking to make DIY personal skin care products like a scrub, soap or cream with vanilla infused oils, you could definitely use this vanilla infused grape-seed oil as well.

Vanilla Bean Infused Grape Seed Oil Recipe

Vanilla Beans Infused In Grape-Seed Oil.
Prep Time10 minutes
Ready To Use14 days
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Flavoring
Cuisine: All
Servings: 16
Calories: 120kcal
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Ingredients
 

Instructions
 

  • Split the beans open by cutting down the middle of the bean, then cut into small pieces and add to grape-seed oil. Close lid tightly.
  • Give it a good shake or stir and infuse the vanilla beans for several weeks, a minimum of two. The longer you immerse the vanilla beans, the more intense the flavor will be.
  • Store the jar in a cool dark place.

Notes

The beans should be completely submerged and not exposed to air.
Taste the oil after a week or so and if you are happy with the flavour you can start using it.
No need to strain, the beans will stay at the bottom of the jar.
A preservative is not necessary unless there’s added moisture or if the mixture is not properly sealed.
Tried this recipe?Mention @HealthyTasteOfLife or tag #healthytasteoflife!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 120kcal

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.

Making your own vanilla extract is extremely easy as well, and much less expensive. Just get 3-4 whole vanilla beans and pour 1 cup of alcohol on top like brandy, vodka, or bourbon. All you have to do is just wait for a couple of weeks. Enjoy!

Recipes made with vanilla bean infused grape seed oil:

3 Healthy Gluten Free Dairy Free Waffles

Differences Between Good And Bad Quality Chocolate And How to Make It At Home

Mocha Carob Cake – Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free

Recipe Rating




John

Thursday 12th of March 2020

If I want to make 1gal of vanilla infused mct oil, do I need to use 48 vanilla beans? Suggestions?!

Linda

Thursday 15th of April 2021

@John, You should go by weight, not # of beans since beans weight varies so much. You can get beans at a much better price from indrivanilla co-op, which can be found on Facebook. You order by the ounce - there is a new pre-order opening April 17 and will be open for two weeks.

HealthyTasteOfLife

Tuesday 17th of March 2020

You can use less or more depends on how strong the flavor you want.

Robin

Friday 6th of March 2020

I’ve seen recipes where you should put the oil with vanilla beans in the sun for 4-6 weeks, you’re saying a cool dark place

HealthyTasteOfLife

Monday 9th of March 2020

Usually oils when exposed to heat and sun for a long time can grow rancid and they become detrimental to your health when ingested. Even if you expose it to a little heat you should do it only for infusion and a very short period of time. That's why for storing is recommended to keep it in a cool dark place - to preserve freshness.

Taylor

Monday 13th of August 2018

Thanks for the recipe, I saw the vanilla infused oil in a lot of your recipes and I was wondering how to get it...

HealthyTaste

Monday 13th of August 2018

My pleasure! Yes I use it in a lot of dessert recipes it's one of my favorite flavor enhancing method :)