Old Fashioned Vanilla Extract

You need only two ingredients for this recipe: vodka and vanilla beans. Vanilla beans can easily be found on Amazon. Let this sit for 6-12 months before using or gifting. This is a much more cost effective option to store-bought vanilla and it makes a cute gift!

Vanilla extract. It's delicious. It's heavenly. It's... expensive :/ But don't worry- it's so easy to make.

I'm sometimes tempted to leave out the vanilla or shortchange the recipe when vanilla extract is called for. I have this moment where I think that maybe it's not necessary or that nobody will notice if it's missing. I calm my guilt by compromising with myself to add just half the amount.

Well, the truth for me is- vanilla extract is irreplaceable! The smell, the taste, the nostalgia. Before I even pour it in my measuring spoon, I catch an aroma from the bottle. Heavenly. After I pour it in my mixing bowl, I sneak a little taste of just the extract. Strong. And each time I use it, I just know it's making the end product better.

The price always gets me every time I need to buy some at the grocery store. I find myself picking up the bottle of imitation vanilla extract. YUCK. I look to see if the ingredients have somehow magically transformed into a short and natural list: alcohol, grade B vanilla beans.

Nope. It's derived from petroleum. There are ingredients I can't pronounce. So I spend the money and buy quality.

Well, until recently. A few years ago I realized how EASY it is to make your own vanilla extract. It takes two simple ingredients. Vodka and Grade B vanilla beans. You may even have the vodka on hand! Oh, and it takes some time and patience. You need to let it sit for 6 months.

This recipe is SO easy. It's fool proof. You'll start making big batches and give portions away as gifts. You may even find excuses to make more baked goods and desserts just to use your delicious vanilla extract.

The Recipe: Old Fashioned Vanilla Extract

Ingredients

8 oz cheap vodka

.5 to .75 ounces of Grade B vanilla beans, or about 6-7 beans

The Recipe

1.Using a sharp knife, slit the vanilla beans so the beans are exposed. No need to completely split the bean in half, just slit down the middle. If the length of the vanilla beans doesn't fit into your jar, cut the vanilla beans into smaller pieces. Place beans into jar.

2. Pour vodka on top to cover vanilla beans.

3. Store the vodka at room temperature out of sunlight. Shake the jars once a week.

4. After 6 months, your vanilla extract is ready to use! It's even better after 12 months.

5. As you begin to use your vanilla, you can refill with a little vodka each time.

Notes: I have heard that you can make this recipe using bourbon instead. I have not tried it but I hear it's wonderful.

This recipe cost me about $36 to make. It would cost $170 at the grocery store to buy the 4oz McCormick brand or the 2oz Aldi brand.

I bought these Grade B vanilla beans off Amazon for $25 and I bought a cheap 1.75 L of Skol vodka for $10.99. I used all 50 vanilla beans for the entire 1.75L of vodka.