Homemade Vanilla Extract

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Making vanilla extract has to be one of the simplest things to make. I think the hardest part of making your own is to find the vanilla bean and decide whether you want to use vodka or rum.  I prefer my homemade extract to the store-bought one.  The reason being is that I have better knowledge as to what is in my vanilla extract.  I find it tastes better and it's not because it has alcohol in it. 

I've tried different vodka and different rums, but the one that I prefer is a good spice rum.  It gives the extract a unique flavour to your baking or any dessert making.

What is also great about making your own vanilla extract is that you can make it ahead of time and give it away as Christmas gifts.  They make a wonderful gift during the holiday season and what is great is that friends and family that you gift it to will always think of you when they are using it in their baking.

So, let's get started by making homemade vanilla extract.  First, you will need to figure out what you going to put your vanilla extract in. Then you will need two vanilla beans and slice them lengthwise to open them up to expose the inside to the alcohol.


Place both vanilla beans into the bottle of choice.


Now add your spice rum, vodka or regular rum.


Seal the bottle and let it sit in the cupboard for a few months.  The longer it sits the more flavour you will have in your vanilla extract.


Now I have made a video on how to make the vanilla extract which you can view below and the ingredients as well. Also, to make things even easier for you, I have created some labels for you as well.

Ingredients

2 whole vanilla bean

enough vodka or rum as needed

pretty bottles to store them in.

Instructions

Slice the vanilla bean lengthwise with a sharp knife with care. Now depending on the size of the bottle, you are using you may even have to cut them in half.  If you are keeping them for yourself I would just put them in a bottle like you see in the image above.

Then top the bottle up with either vodka or rum.

Let the bottle sit in the cupboard or pantry for a few months before using it.  This infuses the flavour of the vanilla into the rum.  You will also need to shake it a bit at the beginning so that the vanilla gets well infused with the rum. This is definitely not an overnight recipe it does require a bit of prep time. So if you are going to give it away as a gift please keep this in mind.

Enjoy and Cheers for now!

~ Susan