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Homemade Vanilla Extract
Total 8 weeks, 4 days and 20 hours (includes infusing time)
Active 10 mins
Makes About 26 ounces (750 milliliters)
Special Equipment
A glass bottle with a stopper or cap (such as a 750 milliliter bottle or 1.75 liter water carafe); a funnel
Special Equipment
A glass bottle with a stopper or cap (such as a 750 milliliter bottle or 1.75 liter water carafe); a funnel
Ingredients
Directions
- Clean a glass bottle with a stopper or cap (such as a 750 milliliter bottle or a 1.75 liter water carafe) and dry it well.
- Scrape out the pulp of the vanilla beans. Put the pods and scraped pulp into the bottle. (Scraping out the pulp first will help it flavor the alcohol quicker.)
- Pour the vodka into the bottle. You can use a funnel to make sure you don't spill.
- Close the stopper or cap on the bottle and shake the vanilla and vodka to distribute the seeds.
- The vodka will still be clear for the first few days. Once every couple of days give the extract a good shake to break up the pulp and get the seeds distributed in the vodka. After a week the extract will start to get darker and develop some flavor. At 3 weeks, it should have an amber color and a richer aroma. The vanilla extract will be ready for use after about 2 months. Use it in any recipe that calls for vanilla extract.