After tiring of paying through the nose to buy vanilla extract for all of my baking needs, I decided to invest in the process up front and make my own. It’s quite easy, and the taste can’t be beat!
Here’s what you need:
Sanitized jars that can be sealed well.
Fresh Vanilla Beans 6 per pint-sized jar is fine. Just remember, the more vanilla beans you have, the stronger your extract will be.
Your Choice of Vodka, 1.75mL worth – I used Skol because I have no idea what type of Vodka is “good” vodka. No, really, I’m totally an alcohol novice. You could give me gin, and tell me it’s vodka (I just learned that they are the same color while on my trip to the grocery store) and I’d skip happily away. Don’t judge me.
Cutting board
Pairing Knife
Take your paring knife and slice the vanilla bean from tip to tip. You don’t want to slice through to the other side, but you do want the skin to open up to reveal the seedy part. It’s going to look like dirt. Seriously.
Put the beans into the mason jar.
Put the lid on the jar.
Screw it on.
Store these in a cool dark place and give them a shake every couple of weeks. You can let these sit for as long as you want – of course, the vanilla flavor will steep more the longer you wait. I plan to give these out as Christmas presents to the bakers in my family. Easy peasy, and quite easy on the wallet. PLUS – you’re getting WAY more than you do in those two-ounce deals in the grocery store. How ‘bout them apples?!
Came back to add – after the extract has gotten to the strength that you desire, strain it into a dark bottle with cheesecloth (to catch the vanilla beans) – decorate it with a label, and voila! Your very own homemade vanilla extract.
That is awesome!
Cool! I didn't know extract was made with vodka. That makes me like it even more. LOL!
Thanks ladies!
@K Rock, then you should have been here to help me pick out a vodka! I was completely LOST! LOL!
That looks easy peasy. I think I'll make some this summer so it'll be good and ready for holiday baking and gifts!
It was extremely easy Teri! I do know that some people do a variation by heating the alcohol first – which I'm guessing ferments the vanilla quicker than the method that I am using.
You all also have to remember to transfer the vanilla to a dark bottle so that it doesn't lose potency from direct light. I have to find some brown bottles to transfer them to.
I made vanilla last year using a 1.75ml bottle of vodka, a cheap brand. I put the beans right into the vodka bottle (after pouring a bit off so there would be room for the beans) I wasn’t sure how many beans to add so over a period of a few months kept adding more beans, now I don’t know how many I put in. You explained how to make vanilla extract very well in your blog, however I would like to know what size mason jars you used, they look like pint size, is this correct? ~or~ If I put the beans right into the bottle of vodka how many would you say I should add? Thank you for your help with this and thank you too for your most informative blog.
Sorry about that! I used a pint sized mason jar, and I used 6 beans each. It proves to be very potent the longer you wait of course, but from research, I realize that you can use the beans for up to 7 years. Isn’t that crazy?! If you put them right into your bottle of vodka, it would probably be four times as much for that volume. I used that same amount of vodka between all four bottles of the mason jars. Now, you have just reminded me that I need to do a follow up of the vanilla extract! Thanks for stopping by Anna!
Thanks for this great recipe!
Mmm, I love vanilla during the holiday but I usually by the cheap imitation kind. This seems easy enough for someone like me but I wonder how expensive is real vanilla beans.
Wow. This is so cool. I’ve never heard of anyone making their own vanilla extract. I’ve obviously been living under a rock. I’m going to try this!
This is so cool! I would have never thought to do this but it seems easier than I would have anticipated! Thanks for sharing!
I am so doing this! This is such a neat idea… and as a gift? Yes! I can definitely do that. What else can I soak in vodka and give away? I’m so serious…
My mom use to make homemade extract. Me, I buy it at the store but it’s expensive so this may just happen.
How Cool is this!!! Vanilla extract is expensive I would love to make my own! I can’t wait to share this with my mom and sister!!!!
What an easy and useful recipe! Although it does make me wonder if I should be putting vanilla extract into my green smoothies. Lol ♀️
I have always wanted to know how to do this, but always figured it was one of those things that was not a part of my ministry. But you make it look so easy! Can’t wait to try this out!
The price of Vanilla extract has drastically increased. This could save some me money and it actually looks pretty easy to do. Maybe I’ll give it a try.
Vanilla Extract is a staple in my kitchen. I’m bookmarking this post. It will be cool to make my own in the future.
My mom would love this tutorial! She uses Vanilla Extract daily!