NOW is the Time to Make Homemade Vanilla for Your Holiday Baking

In just a couple short months, it will be holiday baking time. This year, upgrade the flavor. Instead of using generic store bought vanilla flavoring, make your own extract.

 

 

Making homemade vanilla extract is ridicuously simple!  The recipe below is the basic recipe.  Here, we use vodka as the base, but you can use other liquors, such as rum or brandy. 

For the beans, we’ve chosen the Madagascar variety, for that classic rich vanilla flavor.  Feel free to vary it up, for your own signature blend.

 

 

Ingredients:

A 750ml Bottle of Vodka (any brand, 80 proof)

10 Madagascar Vanilla Beans ( I got mine here on Amazon).

A glass jar for storage.

 

1.  Slice the vanilla beans horizontally, exposing the seeds. Place the beans into the bottle.

 

2. Fill the bottle with Vodka, and give it a shake.

That’s it! It’s that simple.

 

 

Shake up the bottle a few times a week.  Your Vanilla Extract will be useable in 1-2 months, just in time for holiday baking! It’s best to make a batch as soon as possible. The longer it ages, the more intense the flavor. 

 

 

Top off the bottle with alcohol as needed to keep an ample supply on hand. 

 

Happy Baking!

 

*gifs by giphy