With Christmas right around the corner, I have begun my holiday baking. Between gifts, cards, decorations, flights, and food, this time of year can be tough on your pocket strings. I’m always shocked to see how expensive pure vanilla extract is. Essentially it is just alcohol and vanilla beans. After finding vanilla beans on sale at my local grocery store, I decided to make my own extract.
It is so simple, as it literally takes just five minutes to throw together. It’s the waiting part that’s hard. Ideally you want the extract to sit in a cool dark place for one month or more. This would make a great gift for someone who loves to bake!
- 1½ cups vodka
- 4 Vanilla beans
Slice vanilla beans length wise. Place in a sealable jar.
Pour vodka into the jar, seal and shake.
Place jar in a cool dark place and shake once every few days for about a month. The longer you let it sit, the better the vanilla extract will be.
Happy Baking!
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Well that’s easy! Great gift idea, too. Now I want to make my own!
Awesome! I’ll definitely be giving this a go as soon as possible!
Love this! Such a perfect gift idea and so simple… I wonder whether rum would work as a substitute for vodka…
I’m not sure. Rum has more flavour than vodka so you may taste it in your baked goods. That could be a really good thing though! If you try it, let us know how it turns out! :)
What a great gift for my baking friends! Thank you.
Does that vodka have to have a certain alcohol content?
I used the cheapest vodka I could find. It’s 80 proof. Leave the good stuff for drinking. :)
do you keep it in dark place and leave beans in it?? Or do you refrigerate?? I love the thought of making my own vanilla. Thanks
Yes, leave the vanilla beans inside the bottle and store it in your cupboard.
I had seen somewhere else you could keep adding vodka as used and it would last for years?
I’ve been making my own vanilla for years because of my sons’ food allergies. Make a reduction of the vanilla and use it for homemade vanilla ice cream. Nothing better!!
Oh that sounds fantastic Anne! I’m going to give that a try! I actually just made some ice cream yesterday.
Lovely gift idea! Where may I ask did you find the container pictured?
I believe I bought it at either World Market or Sur la Table.
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