Homemade Vanilla Extract is the easiest thing you’ll ever make at home! 2 simple ingredients and in a couple months you’ll have the best holiday gift ever.
I was looking at my vanilla extract one day and realized how it had ‘natural caramel coloring’ added to it. Yeah, no thanks. 
There just had to be another way to make it! Well my friends, yes, yes there is.
You’ll be blown away by how easy this is. Today I am going to show you the easiest and most practical way to make your own homemade vanilla extract!
It might sound like an extremely daunting task but really it is the most simplistic thing ever. All you need are cute glass bottles (that is of course a requirement), fresh vanilla beans, unflavored vodka and a little bit of time.
Believe me, homemade vanilla extract is 1000 times better than anything you can buy in the store.
You want to slice the vanilla beans to fit into the bottles and slice down the middle to expose the guts of the beans, aka as the caviar. Add any unflavored vodka to the bottles and tightly seal with a lid. Yep… that’s it.
You can actually keep adding vodka to the bottles overtime once you’ve used a little. This extract will practically last forever!
Print
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 16-18 bottles 1x
Description
Create your own homemade vanilla extract with just vanilla beans and vodka. It’s a simple, thoughtful holiday gift that gets better with time.
Ingredients
- 16-18 4-ounce glass jars with lids
- 25 fresh Madagascar vanilla beans
- Half gallon of unflavored vodka
- Funnel that fits bottles
Instructions
- Slice the vanilla beans to fit into the bottles. Then, slice each bean down the middle to expose the caviar inside.
- Using a funnel, pour unflavored vodka into each bottle, ensuring the vanilla beans are fully submerged.
- Seal each bottle tightly with a lid.
- Store the bottles in a cool, dark place for at least 2 months. For a stronger flavor, let the extract develop for up to 5 months.
- Once some extract is used, you can top off the bottles with more vodka to extend the life of the extract.
Notes
Use fresh Madagascar vanilla beans for the best flavor. Store the extract in a cool, dark place to allow the flavors to develop. You can keep adding vodka to the bottles over time, which means the extract can last indefinitely.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Condiment
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 69
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 0
- Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 0
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 0
Frequently Asked Questions
How many vanilla beans do I need to make a bottle of vanilla extract?
The recipe doesn’t specify an exact number, but typically 2-4 vanilla beans per cup of vodka is a good starting point for a well-flavored extract.
Can I reuse the vanilla beans after I’ve made the extract?
Yes, you can keep adding unflavored vodka to the bottle with the vanilla beans, allowing you to extend the extract’s flavor over time.
What type of vodka should I use for the vanilla extract?
You should use unflavored vodka for this recipe to ensure that the pure vanilla flavor shines through without any additional taste.
