Chris B Treats

10/21/2022

After more than a year, we're ready to offer various homemade vanilla extracts!

We invite you to use the form below to select the extract you want and the amount. Even better, you can blend the various vanilla extracts together to make a custom blend that's all your own!

This makes the perfect holiday gift for anyone who loves to bake.

Feel free to message with any questions or clarifications.

03/10/2022

Vanilla beans are amazing!

Today I received more Pompona (bottom) and Comoros (top) beans. It’s amazing the size difference in these!

02/05/2022

Wow, much darker compared to last week! And it still has many months to go!

01/29/2022

Just a bit darker compared to last week.

01/25/2022

Same jar after one week! Imagine how much darker it will be by November.

01/15/2022

Got some new vanilla beans today and thought I'd show you how I'm making extract. These are Grade A Madagascar Pompona beans.

I know some people don't cut the beans so they can use the caviar later but at this point on my journey I cut the beans to ensure all the flavor is in the extract.

For this extract I'm using Everclear diluted with distilled water in order to bring the proof down to just below 100 which is best for vanilla extracts (too high and it negatively affects the beans).

The ratio is 1oz of beans for every 8oz alcohol so here we have 8oz of beans. While I could use up to 64oz of alcohol, I'm keeping this one at 60oz due to the size of the container I have (it's a 2 liter glass jar). It should also make a slightly stronger flavors extract too.

After all the measuring, I just cut up the beans and place them in the jar. Next I'll give it a little shake to loosen up the caviar from within the beans and repeat that shake about once a week or so.

That's it! In about a year, maybe less, this should be a new and truly unique vanilla extract ready to add to food or drinks. I'll post more photos as we continue this journey so you can see the transformation.

01/03/2022

And now we wait until November.

Shown here include:
Madagascar in Everclear/Distilled Water
Mexican in Vodka
Tahitian in Vodka
Madagascar in Spiced Rum
Madagascar in Brandy
Madagascar in Dark Rum
Mix of Indonesia, Madagascar and Papua New Guinea in Silver Rum
Hawaiian in Everclear/Distilled Water
Tanzanian in Everclear/Distilled Water
Ugandan in Everclear/Distilled Water
Vanuatu in Everclear/Distilled Water
Madagascar in Jack Daniels Honey/Everclear/Distilled Water
Ceylon Cinnamon in Everclear/Distilled Water
Saigon Cinnamon in Everclear/Distilled Water

If you want to know more about the beans or get some yourself, here are two great places:

https://indrivanilla.com/shop/ols/categories/beans
https://nativevanilla.com/collections/vanilla-beans

12/13/2021

Curious what 1.5 pounds of Madagascar vanilla beans looks like? Wonder no more!

12/10/2021

Hope your holiday baking and parties are going great this year! Personally, I found a new obsession I want to share with you which I hope will enhance your future baking.

In July I was turned on to making my own vanilla extract and I got hooked! I used my own extract for all my holiday baking this year but also learned so much about making great extracts.

While what I made was good, since it only extracted for a few months it isn't near it's potential. So, I'm continuing to extract vanilla beans in various alcohols for the next year and plan to offer them up to you starting October/November.

I currently have Madagascar, Tahitian, Ugandan, Sri Lankan, Hawaiian, Tanzanian and Vanuatu beans extracting in vodka, rum (white, dark and spiced), whiskey and brandy.

I'll post more about this journey throughout the year and let you know how you can order some for your 2022 holiday baking.

Until then, have a great holiday season!

11/19/2020

Been focusing on bread so, if you haven't already, check out my other page: https://www.facebook.com/crustophers

Chris B Treats is always available for special events, such as birthdays and, for marshmallow lovers, we have an ongoing deal of an entire batch of one flavor of marshmallows (about 65 marshmallows) for only $10.

Homemade bread for the Davenport Florida area.