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+ servings
Homemade vanilla in an amber 8-ounce bottle with a gift tag.
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5 from 1 vote

Homemade Vanilla Extract

How to make vanilla extract at home. This homemade vanilla recipe is great not only for cooking with but also a great gift idea!
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time42 days
Course: DIY
Cuisine: American
Keyword: DIY vanilla extract, homemade vanilla extract
Servings: 92 (1 tsp per serving)
Calories: 13kcal
Author: Polly Conner

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Prepare your vanilla beans (for every 8 ounces of vanilla you want to make, you will need 5-6 vanilla beans).
  • Slice one side of each bean open to expose the inside.
  • Submerge beans in alcohol.
  • Now, fill your jars with alcohol. My booze of choice was a cheap, unflavored vodka. You don't need expensive vodka to make this work. 
  • Wait. Every week or so, give the jars a good shake. Some say wait about 6 weeks. Some say 6 months. The longer the vanilla sits, the more complex the flavor will be so I gave mine a good 5-6 months.
  • Store your vanilla extract for long-term use.

Video

Notes

I like to use these 8-ounce bottles for storage
You don't need expensive vodka to make this work. Just as long as it's 80-proof.

Nutrition

Calories: 13kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 0.05mg