How To Make Homemade Vanilla Extract & Free Labels

Easy homemade Christmas gifts from the kitchen. Homemade vanilla extract is so easy to make.

I originally shared this how to guide back during the 2011 holiday season. Over the years, as I've made new batches of vanilla I have added more tips and photos of the process. I've left some of the older images to show visually and to help demonstrate the process.

I've included a free printable Homemade Vanilla extract label for you to download at the end of this post.

If you need an easy food gift for Christmas these bottles of vanilla extract decorated with the pretty printable vanilla extract label I made are perfect for the cooks and bakers of the family.

2019 - This post has been updated with new photos, and a free vanilla extract labels. Add a touch of class to your homemade Christmas food gift.

I have been making homemade vanilla extract since 2011. I have since stream lined my process and now have one half gallon mason jar that I keep filled and replenish with fresh beans and more vodka.

I keep this never ending jar of vanilla extract steeping so I always have the best extract on hand for my baking.

Yes, I have been using some of the same vanilla beans over and over to make extract for years.

It is amazing how much flavor they have. The half gallon jar above is filled with some of the same vanilla beans I bought back in 2012. Right before I took this photo I poured a 750ml bottle of Vodka in it.

The prices of vanilla beans and store bought vanilla extract have gone way up in the past few years so I am saving a huge amount of money by making it myself.

I haven't bought vanilla extract since 2011! And my homemade vanilla extract is so much better than any store bought extract I have ever bought.

Homemade Christmas Food Gifts

Homemade food gifts like this make the best hostess gift or Christmas gift for the bakers in your life. If you do a lot of baking you can save so much money making this extract yourself.

This recipe should be started at least 8 weeks before you plan to give it away as a gift.

If you get a late start you can still make it just include a "use after" date on the bottle.

I'm a cook, baker and mad scientist when it comes to stuff like this. I love making my own homemade extracts.

When I made homemade vanilla extract the first time I made the extract in quart mason jars and small recycled bottles. It ended up be more work than it needed to be.

You can do it either way. Whatever works for you. If you use small bottles you will need to shake each bottle as it steeps verses shaking one large bottle.

Now I like to use large mason jars to make the homemade extract. I have use 2 large glass bottles to steep the extract in.

Then as needed I will fill individual 4 oz Boston Round bottles that I will give as hostess or Christmas gifts.

I also keep a small 4 oz. bottle in my kitchen cabinet because it is easier to measure and pour the vanilla extract from the smaller container.

Honestly, I think using the vodka bottle itself or some other large jar like a half-gallon mason jar works out better and is easier to handle.

This way you only have one or two bottles to shake as the vanilla extract is curing.

Supplies Needed

You only need few supplies to make homemade Vanilla Extract - Vodka, Vanilla Beans, a container, small bottle to gift the extract in and patience.

• 750 ml bottle of Vodka: Buy what you can afford but avoid the cheapest brands. The better brands of vodka have a smoother flavor.
• brown or clear 4 oz Glass bottles with lids. I have used both. In the new pictures I have used clear bottles.
• 25 vanilla beans: Madagascar vanilla beans are a little more expensive but are a better bean. Tahitian beans can be used.
• a glass jar to steep the extract in: A half gallon Mason jar, a clean and recycled glass jar or even the glass vodka bottle will work.

There are many online sources for vanilla beans. Buying them in bulk is a much better deal than buying them at the grocery store.

If you plan on using the vodka bottle you will need to pour some vodka out of the bottle to make room before adding the vanilla beans.

Or you can just put all of the beans in a half gallon jar and pour the entire 750 ml bottle of vodka over them.

Is homemade vanilla extract better than store bought?

Did you know that most commercial vanilla extract has added water to it to cut back on costs?

When you make homemade vanilla extract it is triple strength or more and is made with vodka and vanilla beans only.

No cheap shortcuts when making your own and it is stronger and has a better vanilla flavor than what you can buy at the store.

Step by step instructions

Step 1: Purchase your supplies. I buy my vanilla beans on Amazon where I have found the best price for bulk beans.

Step 2: Use a thin sharp paring knife to split each of the vanilla beans down the center. You can split the beans and leave them whole or cut them up into small pieces and add them to a jar or bottle.

Either way will work but you need to split the vanilla beans so the vodka can be absorbed and be release so it can infuse the alcohol.

Step 3: Place the split beans into the bottom of a large glass container. The container should be at least a half gallon size.

You can divide the ingredients in half and use two smaller jars if needed.

Step 4: Pour the vodka over the vanilla beans in the jar.

Step 5: Place the lid on the jar. Make sure it is a tight fitting lid so the vodka does not evaporate during the steeping process.

Place the jar in a dark cool cabinet to steep.

Occasionally shake the jar once or twice a week while steeping.

Here you can see how quickly the vodka begins to take on the vanilla essence from the beans.

Recipe FAQ's

Expert Recipe Tips

• Storing vanilla beans properly: Vanilla beans are very delicate and very expensive. If they are not stored properly they will get hard and brittle. Once the vanilla pods are exposed to air they will start to dry out. If you have leftover vanilla beans be sure to triple wrap them in plastic and store them in an airtight container to keep them from drying out.
• How many beans you need: You will need 25 medium for this recipe. Usually, you will find the information of how many beans are in a ¼ or ½ pound of beans on the label. If you are not a baker only buy the amount of vanilla beans you will need to make the amount of vanilla extract you need.
• Splitting the vanilla beans: You can split the beans and leave them long and whole or cut them up into small pieces and add them to a jar or bottle. I like to cut them into smaller pieces which will speed the process along.
• If you plan on using the vodka bottle to make the extract you will need to pour a small amount of vodka out of the bottle to make room for the vanilla beans.
• Do not refrigerate while steeping or storing or the extract will become cloudy.

Most instructions say you can use the extract after 6 weeks but I have found the extract to be much better after 12 weeks of steeping. The longer the better.

Bottle up the homemade Vanilla Extract and share it with friends and family.

Custom Vanilla Extract Label

For best results this custom made homemade vanilla extract label should be printed on Avery Glossy White 22830 Print to the edge round labels.

Download Free Vanilla Extract Labels for your homemade vanilla extract.

Set your printer to the highest ink setting. Download the pdf and save it to your computer. Open the pdf and print.

Recipes Using Vanilla

Pure vanilla extract adds the best flavor to these vanilla recipes.

Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.