This homemade pure vanilla extract adds a warm and delectable depth of flavor to all your baking recipes. You can easily make it at home with this easy 2 ingredient vanilla extract recipe.
Do you remember when we noticed that most of the vanilla extract on the store shelves was imitation? And the Pure Vanilla was so much more expensive? Before we started to make our homemade vanilla extract, we did a little research. I actually googled imitation vanilla and “vanilla flavoring”. Yep, it wasn’t pretty. Imitation vanilla sometimes comes from pine bark, fermented bran, sugar, and a little vanilla flavoring. Apparently to buy real vanilla extract, one needs to look for the word “Pure”, as in Pure Vanilla Extract.
This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase we might receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Then I read the ingredients on my Pure Vanilla Extract in my pantry and noticed the ingredients were vanilla, water and 35% alcohol. That still doesn’t sound very pure to me, it sounds a little watered down. Right? So we have been making our own at home which we know is Pure Vanilla!
We almost waited too late to start our homemade vanilla extract this year. Did you know that starting your own takes less than 5 minutes of actual hands-on time? But then you need patience because vanilla beans need at least 8 weeks to infuse into vanilla extract. So the sooner the better is the key!
Homemade Pure Vanilla Extract Recipe:
Ingredients:
- Vanilla Beans
- 80 proof vodka (or you can use bourbon, brandy or rum as long as they are 80 proof)
Equipment Needed:
- Clear bottles with stopper
- Sharp Knife
- Kitchen funnel
How to make this 2 ingredient Vanilla:
Slit one side of a vanilla bean pod and open it up exposing the inside of the bean. This will allow your alcohol to penetrate the gooey inside of the bean releasing all the flavor. Repeat with four more beans, preparing a total of 5 beans per jar.
Place the split bean pods in your small jar with a stopper.
.
Using a kitchen funnel, pour the 80 proof vodka into the bottle until it covers the beans.
Put the stopper in the bottle and give it a few shakes. Place in a cool dark place like the back of your pantry and give it a shake about once a week.
Add a tag to your bottle with the date on the back so you know when it was started. This homemade vanilla extract is ready in about 8 weeks but it’s even better over time.
How long does vanilla extract last:
When stored in a cool dark place vanilla extract will keep indefinitely, but using it within five years will allow for best flavor and aroma. Remember, never store in a refrigerator or freezer. It does best and lasts longer stored in the back of your spice cabinet or pantry. We usually keep a couple jars of vanilla extract on hand. As we use one, we replace it with the second and actually add more vodka to the first reusing the beans a couple times before replacing them with new beans.
Difference in Price for Store-bought vs Homemade Pure Vanilla:
A 10 pack of vanilla beans is approximately $15 and 16 ounces of vodka is approximately $10 (where I live) This will make 16 ounces of pure homemade vanilla extract for a total cost of $25 est. But if you purchased 16 ounces pure vanilla extract it would be around $58.00 (online price). That’s more than a 50% savings for 10 minutes of your time plus homemade is soooo much better! Plus if you reuse your beans that’s even more of a savings for years to come. You need to get this started now to be ready for all your holiday baking needs.
Baking Recipes:
- Old Fashioned Peach Coffee Cake
- Texas Butter Pecan Cookie Recipe
- Cinnamon French Toast
- Texas Buttermilk Pie
- Butter Pecan Bundt Cake
Click HERE to save this 2 ingredient homemade vanilla extract to Pinterest
Homemade Pure Vanilla
Ingredients
- 5 Vanilla Beans
- 8 ounces 80 proof vodka or can use use bourbon, brandy or rum as long as they are 80 proof
Instructions
- Slit one side of a vanilla bean pod and open it up exposing the inside of the bean. This will allow your alcohol to penetrate the gooey inside of the bean releasing all the flavor. Repeat with four more vanilla beans preparing a total of 5 beans per jar.
- Place the split bean pods in your small jar with a stopper. Using a kitchen funnel, pour the 80 proof vodka into the bottle until it covers the beans.
- Place stopper over the top of the bottle and give it a few shakes. Place in a cool dark place like the back of your pantry and give it a shake about once a week.
- Add a tag to your bottle with the date on the back so you know when it was started. This homemade vanilla extract is ready in about 8 weeks but it’s even better over time.
Notes
