Homemade Vanilla Extract
This is the vanilla extract I've been making as a holiday gift since 2013. Just two ingredients, left alone to become something extraordinary. No pressure cooker, no shortcuts. Just a jar, a dark cupboard, and the patience to let it age. Minimum wait is six weeks, but it only gets better the longer you forget about it.
Servings: 8 4-ounce bottles
Calories: 284kcal
Cost: $25–$30 per batch
Equipment
- 1-quart glass jar with tight-sealing lid
- Small funnel
- Sharp paring knife
Ingredients
- 15 vanilla beans Grade B, Madagascar or Tahitian
- 32 oz vodka 80 proof, any brand (cheap works fine)
Instructions
- Using a sharp knife, snip the ends off each vanilla bean (save the ends) and slice each bean in half lengthwise, starting about ¼ inch from one end, to expose the seeds inside.
- Place all the bean pieces, including the snipped ends, into the clean glass jar.
- Using the funnel, pour vodka into the jar until the beans are completely submerged.
- Seal the jar tightly and shake well to distribute the seeds.
- Store the jar in a cool, dark cupboard.
- Shake the jar once a week to keep the seeds moving and speed up infusion.
- Let the jar sit for a minimum of 6 weeks before using or gifting. For a darker, more intense extract, let it continue aging for several months.
- When ready to bottle, funnel the finished extract into small gift bottles, dropping a piece of vanilla bean into each one to keep it intensifying after it leaves your kitchen.
Notes
This recipe scales directly. Double everything for a 2-quart batch, and so on.
Pure vanilla extract does not spoil. The alcohol content keeps it shelf-stable indefinitely, and it will only deepen in flavor over time.
Don't toss the spent beans. Leave a few in the jar, top off with fresh vodka, and start a new batch infusing while you use up the current one.
Keep the jar out of direct light and heat for best results.
In a hurry? The Instant Pot version delivers similar flavor in about a week instead of six.
Nutrition
Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 1mg | Iron: 0.01mg
