Make Your Own Vanilla Extract
published by Andromeda on Jul 13, 2009
Homemade vanilla extract makes a great Christmas gift by tying festive bows around the neck and making personalized “From the Kitchen Of” stickers to put on the bottle.
Yields one quart
Ingredients
- 8- whole vanilla beans (best if they are long and soft)
- 1 quart (960 mL) vodka(Use the good stuff like Belvedere, Goose Island or your personal favorite)
Tools:
- Cheesecloth
- Strainer
- A One-and a half quart container to store the extract. (You could use the vodka bottle with the labels removed too)
Method
- Split six of the whole vanilla beans lengthwise, then cut into small pieces
- Put the six cut-up vanilla beans into your one-and a half quart container and add the vodka.
- Cap container and close tightly.
- Put container away in a dark, cool place and let sit for about a month–shake up periodically.
- After a month resting, pour entire contents of container through a strainer (sieve) that is lined with the cheesecloth.
- Return the vanilla extract to the container. (Wash container first)
- Add the two whole vanilla beans and seal tightly
Add any cute decorations to your bottle(s).
Add an expiration date to the bottom or backside of the container.
A safe shelf-life for vanilla extract is 4-5 years so this amount of vanilla extract would be a great gift for avid bakers!
Enjoy!
