The sweet and cozy scent of vanilla brings back a multitude of memories. Of course, baking and Christmas come immediately to mind. As does the shock of my first taste of vanilla (taken, of course, on the sly) because I couldn't believe that anything smelling that delicious could taste so bad. Making vanilla is a gift to yourself as you watch the liquid deepen; knowing what the end result can be. And it can also be a pretty fun gift to make for friends and family for any special occasion. It takes about two months to get vanilla to its richest state so if you want to take your friends a gift of vanilla or just use it at home for that special holiday baking, you need to get started soon!
Vanilla Extract
2 Vanilla Beans
1/2 C Vodka (or Ever Clear)
The higher the alcohol content in the Vodka, the better the extraction so purchase a Vodka that is 100 proof or better. You can also use Everclear for maximum extraction.
Cut each vanilla bean in half and then split each one length-wise to maximize exposure to the beans nesting inside. Slide into bottle. Warm the alcohol to 140° and cover beans. Place the lid on the bottle and let set for approximately 6 weeks - shaking it occasionally. There is no need to open the bottle until after the 6 week period.
At this point, you can remove the vanilla beans (if you want) and enjoy your own high quality vanilla!
Vanilla Extract
2 Vanilla Beans
1/2 C Vodka (or Ever Clear)
The higher the alcohol content in the Vodka, the better the extraction so purchase a Vodka that is 100 proof or better. You can also use Everclear for maximum extraction.
Cut each vanilla bean in half and then split each one length-wise to maximize exposure to the beans nesting inside. Slide into bottle. Warm the alcohol to 140° and cover beans. Place the lid on the bottle and let set for approximately 6 weeks - shaking it occasionally. There is no need to open the bottle until after the 6 week period.
At this point, you can remove the vanilla beans (if you want) and enjoy your own high quality vanilla!
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