Homemade Vanilla Extract

Brodie

I love low-fat, oil-free, plant-based recipes. I follow a low-fat, starch-based, plant-based way of eating.

Small funnel or measuring cup with pouring lip

(4oz) clear bottles with lids (avoid cork lids - alcohol evaporates through cork).

Kitchen scissors or sharp knife

Grade B vanilla beans (1 ½ vanilla beans per ½ cup (4 oz) vodka).

Vodka.

Wash and sanitize bottles and lids. (You can wash with mild soapy water, then rinse and swirl with boiling hot water to sanitize them).

Cut beans in half then Split the beans. Kitchen scissors do this pretty easily. Cut them about halfway down the stem. If the beans are too dry to split, cut them into 1″ pieces. Place a total of 1 ½ whole beans in each jar (or 3 split halves).

Use a funnel or measuring cup to pour vodka to the top of the jar.

Cover tightly with the lid.

Store in a cool, dark area such as a kitchen cabinet for 3 weeks, shaking the bottle every week. (Three weeks is the minimum).

Store it for 6 months for the best flavor.

After using, replace with more vodka. The same beans will continue to flavor the vanilla for up to a year.

It’s not necessary to get the most expensive brand of vodka; something middle of the road like Smirnoff triple distilled 80 proof will work just fine.

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