Vanilla Extract is Super Simple to Make at Home!

Learn how to make homemade vanilla extract! All you need is two ingredients and a little bit of patience! I’m including all my tips and tricks, and a free printable!

Ingredients
½ cup vodka¹ (118ml)
2-3 whole vanilla beans² (I use grade B Madagascar vanilla beans, see note. Two vanilla beans yield a standard and flavorful vanilla, 3 will yield an extra strong flavor.)

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Instructions
00:00 Introduction
00:22 Thoroughly clean, wash, and dry bottles and lids that you’ll be using. Cut vanilla beans so that they will fit inside your bottles.
00:41 Split beans lengthwise so that the tiny seeds are exposed.
01:02 Place cut vanilla beans in bottle. Fit funnel over the top of the bottle and add liquor until the beans are fully submerged. Leave a little bit of space at the top of the bottle so that you will be able to shake the contents as they sit.
02:16 Add label, if using, but make sure to mark the date that the vanilla was bottled. Store in a cool, dark place and shake occasionally. Store vanilla for at least 3 months before using.

Notes
¹Alternatively, for a richer flavor you can substitute bourbon. A mid-shelf liquor is perfect for this recipe, don’t bother with splurging on anything expensive as it’s not worth it in the end result. I usually use Smirnoff brand but anything similar will work

Storing
Store in a cool, dark place. Homemade vanilla should keep for up to 5 years, but if it smells unpleasant or is cloudy you should discard. You can replenish your vanilla extract supply by simply adding more alcohol as you use it.

[traver_recipes]

Awesome! Going to try this. Best wishes as always, Derek.

[milleniemFLA]

Very cool! Had no idea you could make it at home. Great idea for Christmas gifts!

[mmakomanyatja]

Thank you Sugar I been waiting for that

[eldridgesmart]

WOW!!! That's surprisingly super easy. Thank you very much for the video & sharing your knowledge. But without you tasting; I don't know. LOL! You're the BEST. Take care.

[rusty-ole-boomstick]

Uh yes, you must taste, enjoy the fruit of your labor. Cheers 🥃

[ShineeIshAsiAn]

Seems easy enough to make! I always hated spending so much money on buying it from the store but it is definitely an essential to have in the kitchen. When you mention replenishing by just adding more alcohol, can you still use it right away or will it dilute the flavor?

[Joy-eqqg]

You just popped into my feed🎉 We scrolled through your videos and saw a smorgasbord of scrumptious goodies! Going to try make your vanilla flavoring & give some as Christmas Gifts to a special group of friends😊😊

[janiecarroll]

Thanks for sharing. Question after the 3 months or so do you remove bean? Thanks

[nataliegill]

How do you properly clean and dry the bottles before use?

[libellulebleue]

Can you refill with vodka when the say 1/2 bottle is used?

[kymdisney]

After the 3+ months, do you remove the vanilla beans? And will this vanilla extract have an expiration date?
Thanks for the video! 💜💜💜

[jameshiggins.openworld]

do you take out the vanilla pods when you start to use them

[cathygarayoa]

Hi, great Do you remove the vanilla beans at some point?

[vickirickman]

Hi Sam had a question
Once you start using your vanilla extract, should you remove the vanilla beans? I’ve heard they could get moldy. 🤔

[luanne]

Can you reuse the same beans when first batch is done?

[Stargazer]

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to be labelled pure single-fold vanilla extract the liquid must contain 13.35 ounces of natural vanilla beans in every gallon of alcohol. Commercial double-fold pure vanilla extract contains 23 ounces of vanilla beans per gallon of alcohol. The FDA recommends the spirit should be at least 35% alcohol (70 proof). Ideally, 40% alcohol (80 proof) should be used. For the home baker, the FDA requirements equal 0.10 ounces of vanilla beans in every 1 ounce of spirits. If you’re using average-sized vanilla beans, 6 to 8 beans equal one ounce. For plumper vanilla beans, 1 to 3 beans equal one ounce. For smaller vanilla beans, you’ll need 15 or more to make up one ounce. If you prefer to use a cup measurement, the proportions are roughly 3 whole vanilla beans per 1 cup of spirit (80 proof). Again, this depends on the size of the vanilla bean. It’s best to weigh your beans using a measuring scale to ensure you get the perfect beans-to-spirit ratio for single-fold vanilla extract. If you want a stronger vanilla flavor, double the beans you add to the same amount of alcohol for double-fold vanilla extract.

[shellyannpurcell]

What flavor vodka it best to use? And will it taste like vodka after the 2 to 3 months?

[melaniegbert]

I know that you use vanilla regularly, but what is the shelf life of homemade vanilla?

[galarzagerald]

As a muslim, can I substitute alcohol with glycerin? I read that somewhere but not sure if I should try it.

[mikewatson]

I had no idea there was booze in vanilla extract