Homemade Vanilla Extract
Homemade Vanilla Extract is so simple to make in your own kitchen and is a thoughtful housewarming or holiday gift!
A few years ago my sister-n-law made homemade vanilla and gave me a bottle for Christmas. It was so good, so much better than the bulk vanilla I had been buying at the wholesale club. I was hooked, I didn’t want to go back to the store bought variety.
I’m on my second batch and it is so ridiculously simple. I made enough so I can give some to my new neighbors when the holidays roll around. I thought this was the perfect time to share this with you. If you start now, your vanilla extract can be ready for mass holiday baking and gifting. Homemade Vanilla Extract is a thoughtful gift to bring to holiday parties, give to your kids’ teachers, your family and your neighbors.
So here’s the deal all you need is vodka or bourbon, vanilla beans and a mason jar. That’s it. I had some cute jars left from another project and they were perfect for handing out as gifts.
You can use any brand of vodka, it doesn’t need to be expensive, but you should use good quality, fresh vanilla beans. I may have tried this once with dried out vanilla beans that were sadly forgotten in the back of the pantry, it was not a good thing. Just get some good vanilla beans, I bought these: Spicy World Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans, 1/2 – Pound Bags
from Amazon.
I made my vanilla in a big batch with about 2 to 3 vanilla beans per 8 oz of vodka. You could also cut the vanilla beans in half and make the vanilla in small jars. What ever floats your boat. Let the vodka and vanilla beans sit for at least 60 days and you will have the most amazing Vanilla Extract! See it is so easy!
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Ingredients
- 1 quart vodka
- 8 whole vanilla beans
Instructions
- Cut vanilla beans in half length-wise. You can cut them all the way or leave them attached on one end.
Place in a clean quart Mason jar. Pour vodka over vanilla beans. Place a lid on jar tightly. Store in a cool dark place for 60 days.
Pour into 6 to 8 oz jars with a slice of vanilla bean to give as gifts.