I absolutely love making homemade vanilla.

All it takes is your favorite vodka, bourbon, whiskey, or rum. Allowing vanilla beans time to steep in the alcohol extracts their signature caramel and “vanilla” flavors. You can choose whichever spirit you love to drink most, but remember: a cheaper-the-better mindset won’t produce the highest-quality extract.

Last year, for my kids’ teachers gifts, I made vanilla and gifted it in beautiful batter bowls along with hand-painted chocolate chip cookie recipe cards. They loved it. I made batches of 10 at a time, which ensures there will be plenty for your own pantry as well as for gifting.

Homemade Vanilla Extract 

Prep time/bottling time: 20 minutes

Inactive time: 6-8 weeks

Makes: 10 4-ounce bottles

Supplies

  • Funnel
  • 10 4-ounce swing-top glass bottles

Ingredients

  • 50 vanilla beans
  • 40 ounces of vodka, bourbon, whiskey, rum, etc.  

Method

  1. Rinse and clean your store-bought swing-top bottles.
  2. Carefully slice the vanilla pods in two, then in half again, leaving you with 4 segments per bean. Be careful not to waste any of the gooey vanilla beans inside the pods. 
  3. Place 5 beans (20 pieces) inside each bottle. 
  4. Using the funnel, fill each bottle with your favorite spirit. 
  5. Place the bottles in a cool, dark place and shake them gently weekly for 6-8 weeks.