How to Make Vanilla Extract

If you love to bake, you know how

expensive it is to buy pure vanilla extract.

Vanilla is the second most expensive spice

because the beans are difficult to

cultivate from orchids.

You can make your own vanilla extract

right now, in time for Christmas baking...

and it's FUN!

You can find many websites that sell

quality vanilla beans.  They can be quite

expensive.

I bought my beans at my local health food store

for $6 apiece.

You will need three beans

about six or seven inches long.

Using a sharp knive, slice each bean

lengthwise...

Leaving about one inch uncut like this:

You will see the fragrant vanilla

seeds inside and that's what will leach into

the alcohol.

You need a fifth of high proof alcohol...at least 80 proof,

like vodka, bourbon or rum.

I bought this mid-priced vodka for $13

mostly because it was in a plastic bottle.

Stick the cut vanilla beans into

the vodka right in the bottle.

Now just let them sit in the alcohol for at least

two months.

The vanilla will leach from the beans over time.

Shake the bottle every week or so.

Some people say to keep the vanilla in a dark

place, but mine sat on top of my refrigerator

and did just fine.

That teensy bottle of vanilla extract cost $4.

My LARGE bottle of vanilla extract cost $33.

Supposedly, you can add more vodka as you use

the vanilla and the beans will continue to leach.

I will test this and update.

This is my vanilla extract after two months.

It smelled exactly like the little bottle extract

 you buy from the store.

I was so excited!!

(It doesn't take much to please me.)

I was a tad nervous, but I tried it on

my daughter's birthday cupcakes and they

turned out delicious.

I will update you as my experiment continues.