One of the hidden places that gluten lurks is in your vanilla extract. There are many brands of gluten-free extract you can purchase, but why not make your own? It is very easy and stores indefinitely.
Ingredients:
1 fresh vanilla bean
3/4 cup vodka, see note below
To Make:
Split the vanilla bean lengthwise down the center ofthe bean. Scrape out the seeds and place the seeds and the pod in a 1 cup sealable glass jar. Heat the vodka in a saucepan or in the microwave. Once hot, add it to the jar of vanilla seeds and pod. Seal the jar well and store at room temperature for one week. Shake the jar gently every day. If desired, you can strain the vanilla after the week is up. Store in a cool, dark place (a cabinet away from your stove or sunlight) indefinitely.
NOTE: Most vodkas are gluten-free. The gluten that is used in the making the vodka is removed in the distilling process. You can check with the manufactureres, but at the time of print, the following vodkas are gluten-free.
Absolut Vodkas
Chopin Vodkas
Finlandia Vodkas
Skye Vodkas
Comments
Gluten does NOT lurk in pure vanilla extract. Legal criteria (FDA standard of identity) must be met to be labeled "pure vanilla extract."
Nielsen Massey, McCormick's, and Durkee are all gluten free.
I would not recommend heating the alcohol to make an extract. It just isn't necessary. You can customize the flavor of vanilla extract by varying the beans used. I like to use a combo of Madagascar & Tahitian vanilla beans. For the amount of alcohol listed above, I'd use at least 3 vanilla beans in the extraction.
Is there any vanilla that is not gf? I would interested in anyone could come up with one. This is really another one of the gf "urban myths" based on the use of distilled alcohol.
Generally, all pure vanilla extracts are gluten free. All of Rodelle Vanilla's products are gluten free - all of their alcohol is corn-based and they are a great local (Fort Collins, CO) company - looks like they are making the first strides in social responsibility within the vanilla industry and with vanilla farmers.
I think you can buy online and in a lot of local grocery stores. www.RodelleVanilla.com
Hope that is helpful!
Mythology indeed, plain ol' vanilla beans are far safer! (But why bother at all?)
Isn't the caramel coloring where the gluten comes in?
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