I have been wanting to make homemade vanilla extract for at least the last three years!
My brain finally started working enough to remember in time to make it before Christmas this year. These are perfect if you’re into DIY Christmas gifts! (hint, hint). In my mind, I see a bottle of extract bundled with a flannel blanket and beeswax candle for the perfect gift. …I don’t know if we’ll get quite to that point this year, but doesn’t it just sound heavenly?!
We’re just lucky we have the vanilla extract.
Once you get your supplies, vanilla extract is super simple to make. You really don’t even have many supplies to get, they’re just not something you can swing by the store to get. Thankfully we have online shopping.
Supplies:
Glass bottles with re-closable lids @ $2.25 each (Make sure they’re washed)
Vanilla Beans @ $4 each (I went straight to Amazon, but shop around for the best price. Let me know if you find them cheaper!)
1.5 cups Vodka per bottle of vanilla extract @ ~ $2/1.5 cups
(I got these 1.75L bottle of vodka for about $10 each)
Knife
Total Cost: $6.25 for a 1.5 cup bottle of Vanilla Extract
Process:
Gather your supplies
Cut the vanilla bean down it’s whole length with the knife, then place one half in your bottle.
I scraped the seeds out into my bottle and cut the half again width-wise to ensure that it would be completely submerged.
Fill your bottle with 1 1/2 cups of vodka.
Put the lid on your bottle and allow the vanilla to infuse the vodka for at least 8 weeks. I labeled mine with the date for easy reference (and so I don’t get it confused with a few more bottles that I still need to make).
Enjoy your homemade vanilla extract in your (or your friends) favorite cookies!
♥ Nicole
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