Recipe for Homemade Vanilla Extract
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Last year I wondered how to make vanilla extract. I use a lot of vanilla in my baking so I thought why not look for a recipe for homemade vanilla extract not to mention, it makes a really cool homemade gift as well! Download and print a pretty label and you have an easy and affordable gift for friends, family or co-workers!
With as much baking as I do, I go through a lot of vanilla extract. Since I prefer the Mexican Vanilla, it can get rather costly at $20+ for an 8-ounce bottle! That’s what happens when you get hooked on the good stuff!
Thanks to Beanilla I found out, making your own vanilla extract couldn’t be easier and it is far more economical than buying the store-bought variety. By making my own vanilla extract, I could also try more varieties than just Mexican. Beanilla sells bottles and 7 different variety of vanilla beans, each of which has a unique flavor! Using premium grade vanilla beans will provide significantly better flavor and aroma than commercially produced extracts.
According to Beanilla.com:
Do you prefer bold and smokey? If so, try Mexican vanilla beans. Rich and creamy? Use Madagascar Vanilla Beans! Floral aroma and unique cherry-chocolate? Venture to the Tahitian vanilla beans. Each type is excellent for homemade vanilla extract. You can even blend various varieties together. The floral, fruity, cherry like notes of the Tahitian variety blend wonderfully with the nutty-chocolate character of the Bourbon varieties.
Christmas is just two months away! How did that happen? So now is the perfect time to start making Homemade Vanilla Extract if you want to hand some out during the holidays and have some for your own holiday baking!
Table of Contents
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe
What you need to make Vanilla Extract
- bottles with lids/caps (I like these and these )
- vanilla beans
- Vodka, unflavored (inexpensive Vodka is fine) You can also use bourbon, brandy, or rum but vodka will yield a more pure vanilla flavor to come through.
- Homemade Vanilla Extract label (download and print for free at LiveLaughRowe)
- Raffia or Ribbon optional
How to make Vanilla Extract for a homemade gift
First be sure to wash your bottles in hot soapy water. Rinse well, then allow your bottles to air dry.
Using a sharp knife, slice each vanilla bean in half. then starting about 1/4″ from one end, cut the vanilla bean lengthwise (see picture below)
Place 3-5 vanilla beans in each 8-ounce bottle. Using a measuring cup or funnel, pour vodka into each bottle completely covering the beans in the liquid.
Not sure how many vanilla beans to use when you’re making vanilla extract, it’s always better to err on the side of too many beans, than too little. Vanilla extract comes in many strengths (single fold, double fold, triple fold), and the worst that can happen is you end up with an extract that is a little stronger than you expected. If your vanilla extract gets stronger than what you’re used to, simply top off the bottle with a little more vodka.
Next, place the caps/lids on tightly and store bottles in a cool, dark environment (I put mine in a closet) Give them a good shake about once a week. The vanilla will be ready to use as soon as 8 weeks, but if you can leave it 6 months things really start to get good!
The extra can be used in most baking after just 8 weeks, but note that it may have a stronger alcohol flavor at that point. The longer you allow the vanilla extract to age, the darker it will become and the more intense the vanilla flavor will be.
When the vanilla extract is ready to use, the vanilla beans can be removed or you can leave the vanilla beans in the bottle for the flavor to continue to evolve – just be sure to add vodka so the beans are always submerged in alcohol.
If you plan to give any as gifts, you may want to remove some or all of the beans for a prettier presentation. But don’t throw away those beans though!! Lay them out to dry on a paper towel, then add to a jar of granulated sugar, which will soak up whatever flavor they have left.
How Long Will Homemade Vanilla Extract Last
For long-term storage, keep the vanilla extract in a cool, dark place like your pantry. Light and heat can cause evaporation and even cause the extract to turn cloudy. If your extract looks a little clour or muddy, check the odor and if passes the smell test, it’s fine to still use it.
If stored under proper conditions (cool dark place, dark bottle help as well) the vanilla extract should last indefinitely due to the alcohol content. But if you do any baking, chances are you’ll use it up before you’d start to question how old it is 😉
For gift giving, be sure to let the recipient know that the extract should be stored in the bottle in a cool, dark place.
CHECK OUT HOW EASY HOMEMADE VANILLA EXTRACT IS TO MAKE! WATCH THE VIDEO!
click to see more of my videos
Homemade Vanilla Extract FREE Labels to print
If you’d like to dress up your vanilla extract before gifting, you can head over to LiveLaughRowe.com and download and print the free Vanilla Extract labels Kelly made for me and YOU!
Like This Recipe for Homemade Vanilla Extract? Pin It!
Use your homemade vanilla extract in pretty much everything! Happy baking!!
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Make the best homemade vanilla extract in just a few minutes of hands-on time. The secret to making your own vanilla extract is using quality vanilla beans and a little patience. It makes a great homemade gift!
Ingredients
- 16 ounces vodka (or bourbon, brandy, or rum)
- 6-10 whole vanilla beans
- 2 8 ounce clean bottles with lids (or one 16-ounce bottle)
Instructions
- Using the tip of a sharp knife, split each vanilla bean in half lengthwise. You can also chop the beans into smaller pieces if necessary to fit in your bottles.
- Place beans and alcohol in clean bottles (3-5 beans per 8 ounces). Be sure the alcohol covers the beans. Place the lid on the bottles and give them a good shake.
- Place the bottles in a cool, dark place for at least 8 weeks (the longer you leave it the stronger the flavor), occasionally agitating the beans in the alcohol.
- When the extract is ready to use, you can leave the beans in the bottle, or remove them and use them start another bottle of extract.
Notes
Use 3 to 5 vanilla beans per 8 ounces of alcohol and multiply accordingly for making more extract.
UPDATE GIVEAWAY has ENDED
Disclaimer: Beanilla found out I was making my own Vanilla Extract and offered to send me the supplies and some to giveaway. As always, all opinions, views and love of good quality vanilla are my own.
Hi there, I'm Cheryl!
As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...
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Absolutely would have to be my very vanilla whipped cream!!!
I love to make Vanilla cupcakes from scratch!
I don’t know what my “favorite” thing is, I put vanilla in just about everything I bake!! I love GOOD vanilla too!
I LOVE vanilla extract in everything! But my favorite recipe to use it in, where it really shines, is coconut milk vanilla cupcakes. Yumm.
I love to use vanilla extract in my sugar-free chocolate and almond butter cookies!!!
I would love to make my own vanilla!!!
I love using Mexican vanilla in my homemade sugar cookies!
Homemade peanut brittle with good vanilla 🙂
I would LOVE to win this, to make vanilla extrast! How fun! Thanks for the chance!
I put vanilla in almost ALL of my baked goods. My habit gets expensive! Making my own is a great idea!
I use mexican vanilla in my sugar cookies and they are sooooooooooo good! They smell and taste insanely yummy!
Chocolate Chip Cookies. A simple recipe but always a favorite. I’ve been on the hunt for some Mexican Vanilla though. Heard some great things about it.
Thank you! I’ve wanted to try this and now I have the steps to do it!!
Winning this would be awesome! I just bought some vanilla beans at Costco, so I could make my own extract…thanks for the instructions.
My grandson is addicted to my vanilla milk.
I would love to win this and be able to create my own vanilla. Sounds like such a easy process with fantastic results 🙂
i make biscotti with vanilla
I’ve never made vanilla before, but do a lot of baking, so this sounds like something fun (and yummy) to try. 🙂
Pound cake and vanilla sugar – love to use vanilla sugar in whipping cream
I would love to try this, it would be a great gift for my “baker” friends too!
Cookies made w/ homemade vanilla are the best! Thanks for offering a giveaway!
wow, homemade vanilla sounds like a fun project to do with my girls. Thanks for the opportunity to participate. I would use homemade vanilla in french toast!
Oh how awesome! Definitely going to make some next year for Christmas gifts!
Banana Bread, Coffee Cake…..put the coffee pot on!!!
My favorite recipe with vanilla extract is baked maple oatmeal!
I would love to make my own vanilla. I use it for general baking but I would really like to make some to give away as presents for Christmas. I love making homemade pressies. This is soo unique. I bet the flavour is amazing too compared to store bought!! Baked custards are great with vanilla and smoothies too.
I’ve always wanted to try making my own vanilla. This would be totally awesome to win.
no bake cookie dough is my favorite thing to put vanilla in:)
My favorite recipe to use vanilla in is chocolate chip cookies.
My favorite recipe to use vanilla in is pecan pie.
Can u make vanilla extract from a vanilla bean paste?
I don’t think I ever saw how much vodka to use for that many vanilla beans…
“Using a measuring cup or funnel, pour vodka into each bottle completely covering the beans in the liquid.”
You just cover the beans with vodka / fill your bottle. If you use a really large bottle, just add more beans.
I used 8 ounce bottles.
Hi, I love this idea and will be trying it soon. I am one of those people who checks expiration dates frequently, so how long can you use this vanilla extract (safely)? Also, I would love some ideas for use of vanilla extract other than baking. That’s usually all I use it for (plus homemade ice cream), but I love the smell and taste, so what else could I use it for? Thanks!
Thank you! My son is splitting the vanilla beans, and we’re getting ready to make our extract. I love vanilla in everything, so I can’t wait to try this. Turns out I’m out of vodka, so I wonder if I can use rum? Hummm.
Hello – I was just wondering what size bottles you used for the 3-4 whole beans. Thank you!
8 ounce
where can I find bottles………small ones?? any idea?
Charli and Amindi and others, beware of so-called Mexican vanilla. More than 99% of it is synthetic. That not only is harmful for your body, it is really hurting the farmers there. buy pure! Or make your own. 🙂
Hi
I just purchased the Avery 8165 printing labels, after I cut them out do I have to tape them to the bottles. Or are they self-adhesive.
I tried two different alcohols, Absolut Vodka and Bacardi Rum. I also used Mexican beans for this experiment and placed 1 1/2 beans in each. I found that after six months the vodka had a nice vanilla smell and taste. The Bacardi at the same time, still had the rum smell and only slight taste of vanilla.
After the vodka bottle was all used up , I went back to the rum (total of 9 months steeping) and I was surprised to find it had come around. The flavor is very present in everything I have baked so far, but not over powering.
I’m trying bourbon next, the alcohol not the beans I’ll let you know
thanks Jeff – I’m wanting to try the bourbon this year, guess I better start it soon.
i was wondering where you sourced the resealable bottles at i like them but am having trouble finding them
I use vanilla extract in my weekly homemade almond milk. I make my almond milk thicker because I use it as non-dairy creamer in my daily breakfast tea. Yum!
As an avid baker, it would be near impossible to choose a favorite recipe using VANILLA, but I can say that I use ONLY PURE VANILLA – never imitation – and I ALWAYS double the amount of VANILLA in all recipes. I’m a great lover of strong VANILLA flavors in all recipes.
I never knew a homemade vanilla extract was possible! I wonder what flavor vanilla bean to buy that would produce the flavor most commonly found in stores? Just point me in the right direction and I will get started!
what variety vanilla bean can I buy that will give me the same flavor as a good over the counter vanilla extract? thanks.
How long will the vanilla stay “good”? Thanks for the great idea.
Hi! I’ve actually got a few bottles “brewing” now for Christmas gifts. I wanted to ask if it is normal for the bottles to have floaty bits in them? They all also have a “filmy” layer at the top and a layer of “grit” on the bottom. I followed your instructions exactly and am a little nervous and really hoping they’re all okay and will still be good to give as gifts. Just wanted to check to see if this is normal or should I redo everything?
Is the vanilla supposed to still smell like vodka? What do i do to fix it. Do i add more vanilla beans and let it store longer. What do i.or is it supposed to smell like vodka
does anyone know how it should smell? mine still smells like vodka . do i need to add more beans and let sit longer? or is it supposed to smell like vodka / or will it just taste good in anything
Vodka is odorless, so you should be smelling the vanilla – how long has it sat? did you follow the instructions on vodka/bean ratio?
how should it smell? and or taste
i believe clear vanilla is actually imitation vanilla, and not pure
Can I use a metal lid or does it need to be plastic or cork? Thank you!
This might be a silly question but is this safe for children considering the alcoholic ingredients?
all vanilla extract is made with alcohol. –
These look so AWESOME and can only imagine just how yummy they are for baking and anything I might need vanilla extract for…Oh the possibilities! ThAnKs!!!