Homemade Vanilla Extract
Easy homemade Christmas gifts from the kitchen. Homemade vanilla extract is so easy to make. I’ve included a printable Homemade Vanilla labels at the end of this post.
This weekends #SundaySupper is all about Gifts From the Kitchen.
Our host for the holiday festivities is Susan from The Wimpy Vegetarian.
Stop by and visit her if you get a chance and thank her for picking such a fun holiday theme and for hosting this weekend’s event.
Keep reading to find the other great Gifts from the Kitchen posts from this weekends Sunday Supper below.
I’m sure you will be able to find a recipe or two for your Homemade Holiday Gifts this gift giving season.
It’s a little late to be making a homemade vanilla extract for Christmas gifts but it is still doable if you include a “use after” date on the bottle. Or start your homemade vanilla extract made in October so it will be ready to use by Christmas.
Last month when I saw the call out for a Sunday Supper Gifts from the Kitchen theme I happened to be on Facebook when it posted to the Sunday Supper Group on Facebook.
I immediately joined up to make homemade vanilla extract. I made it once before, about 10 months ago. Not to give away as gifts at the holidays but just to make it for my own use.
And because I love making stuff like that.
I’m a mixture of cook, baker and mad scientist when it comes to stuff like this.
I still have about a 1/2 a quart from my first batch and I will probably bottle some of that up as Christmas gifts for a few close friends. Now that I have started another batch I don’t have to hoard my stash.
I’ve kept vanilla beans in that jar and it is a dark golden brown and adds a little bit of magic when you add it to a recipe.
When I made the vanilla extract the last time I made the extract in mason jars and individual bottles.
This time I am making the extract in 2 large bottles then I will fill individual 4 oz Boston Round bottles that I will give as gifts.
You can do it either way.
Honestly, I think using the vodka bottle itself or some other large jars works out better and is easier to handle. This way you only have one or two bottles to shake as the extract is curing.
If you fill the small individual bottles then you will need to shake each bottle every day or so. That is a lot more work and make storing a little more difficult.
You only need four things to make Vanilla Extract; Vodka, Vanilla Beans, a container and patience.
There are many sources for Vanilla Beans. Buying them in bulk is a much better option 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 before adding the vanilla beans. You will also have to measure the vodka so you know how many vanilla beans per cup of Vodka you will need to use.
The last time I made Vanilla Extract I followed directions I found online on a number of different blogs. I couldn’t find one set of instructions that said use X number of vanilla beans per X amount of vodka.
This time I did a bit more recipe testing and discovered that 5 vanilla beans per one cup of Vodka is the best ratio when making homemade vanilla extract.
I also found a great website that gives very detailed information on commercial Vanilla Extract production along with detailed information about Vanilla Beans.
I didn’t realize that most commercial vanilla extract has water added to it until I read that article.
To make the vanilla extract simply measure the vodka and add 5 beans per cup of vodka to your container.
You can split the beans and leave them whole or you can cut them up in small pieces and add them to the jar. Either way will work.
(affiliate link) Vanilla beans are very delicate and very expensive. If they are not stored properly they will get hard and brittle.
The vanilla beans started to get hard after I opened and wrapped them triple in plastic wrap and ziplock bags as suggested.
If you will not be using many vanilla beans for baking I suggest you buy only the amount of vanilla beans that you will need to make the amount of vanilla extract you need.
Usually, you will find the information about how many beans are in a 1/4 or 1/2 pound of beans somewhere in with the information on the type of vanilla beans you are buying.
After a day I could see that the extract was a darker color in the mason jar with the cut up pieces of vanilla bean.
If you use small jars or bottles you will have to do the math and figure out how many beans per ounces you’re jar or bottle will need. It is so much easier to use the bigger jars and count the number of cups of Vodka per jar. The recycled Amaretto jar I used held 3 1/2 cups of vodka.
Once you’re beans and vodka are in jars store them in a dark cool cabinet. Occasionally shake them. Most instructions say you can use the extract after about 6 weeks but I have found the extract to be much better after at least three months of curing. The longer the better.
Check out the difference just 24 hours can make.
Bottle up you’re homemade Vanilla Extract and share the love at Christmas.
Happy Holiday’s!
Scroll down to see the rest of the #SundaySupper Gifts From the Kitchen links.
Download Free Vanilla Extract Labels for your homemade vanilla extract.
Free Vanilla Extract Label preview (low quality) download high quality printable.
How To Make Homemade Vanilla Extract
- Prep Time: 6 Weeks
- Total Time: 6 Weeks
- Yield: 32 Ounces per quart 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
How To Make Homemade Vanilla Extract
Homemade Vanilla Extract is easy to make and is a one of a kind gift from the kitchen that is perfect for homemakers, bakers, and family who seem to have everything.
I’ve included free printable homemade vanilla labels with this homemade vanilla recipe.
Ingredients
- Vodka (best you can afford) (4 cups per quart jar)
- 5 whole Vanilla Beans per cup of Vodka=20 vanilla beans per quart jar
- 1– quart size mason jar or other decorative jar
Instructions
- Measure Vodka into jars. You’ll need 4 cups of Vodka per quart jar.
- Add 5 split Vanilla Beans per cup of Vodka. (20 Split Vanilla Beans per quart jar makes the best vanilla extract. You could use less but the vanilla will be weaker.)
- Steep or cure for at least 6 weeks before using.
- For gift giving you can add 1 vanilla bean to each 4 oz Boston Round Bottle
Notes
1 quart jar of Vodka and vanilla beans will yield 32 ounces of homemade vanilla extract. 32 ounces of vanilla extract will yield eight 4 oz bottles for gifting.
Don’t waste the beans after curing. Rinse off well and add to a jar of sugar to make homemade vanilla sugar.
You can also grind dried out vanilla beans into a powder and add to sugar.
- Category: Homemade
- Method: Steeping
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz Bottle
- Calories: 32
Keywords: homemade vanilla recipe, vanilla labels, gifts from the kitchen
SundaySupper Gifts From the Kitchen
Breads / Breakfast
- Pumpkin Biscoff Bread – Dinners, Dishes, and Dessert
- All-in-One Beer Bread Kit – girlichef
- Banana Coconut Coffee Cake with Macadamia Nut Streusel – The Lovely Pantry
- Pancake Mix With Apple Cider Syrup and Candied Walnuts – Tora’s Real Food
- Cranberry Hootycreeks – Baker Street
Condiments / Ingredients
- Apple Butter – Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
- Cranberry Strawberry Jam – The Meltaways
- Herb Vinegars – Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Harissa – The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Homemade Vanilla Extract – Flour on my Face
- Homemade Cherry Extract – Cravings of a Lunatic
- Nutella Powder – I Run For Wine
- Apricot Pineapple Rum Sauce – Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Spiced Cranberry Apricot Almond Chutney – Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Pumpkin Butter – Family Foodie
Soup and Snacks
- A Soup For You – Momma’s Meals
- Maple Nut Granola – Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Sweet and Spicy Curried Nuts – Soni’s Food for Thought
- Roasted Spiced Nuts – Mrs Mama Hen
- Sweet and Spicy Pecans – Supper For a Steal
- Maple Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars – Cupcakes and Kale Chips
- Orange Spiced Chickpeas – Home Cooking Memories
- Turtle Pretzels – The Messy Baker
Sweets
- Rocky Road Candy – Magnolia Days
- Dairyfree Vegan Caramels – Galactosemia in PDX
- Peanut Butter Cookies in a Jar – Mama’s Blissful Bites
- M&M Cookies in a Jar – Damn Delicious
- Monster Cookie Mix in a Jar – What Smells So Good?
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Biscotti – Meal Planning Magic
- Snickerdoodle Snack Mix – Pippi’s in the Kitchen Again
- Butter and Jam Thumbprint Cookies – Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
- Peppermint Stick Cookie Truffles – The Weekend Gourmet
- Nutella Truffles – Small Wallet Big Appetite
- Peanut Cajetas (Peanut Fudge) – Basic and Delicious
- Cookie Cutter Fudge – Chocolate Moosey
- Pumpkin Roll – Shockingly Delicious
- Homemade Chocolates – My Trials in the Kitchen
- Hot Chocolate on a Stick – Juanita’s Cocina
- Chocolate Toffee “Crack” – Ruffles and Truffles
- Holiday Tree Cake – Noshing with the Nolands
- Salted Caramel Cookies – Mama Mommy Mom
- Fruit and Nut Cookies – In the Kitchen with Audrey
Drinks
- Applepie Moonshine – My Catholic Kitchen
- Holiday Spiced Mocha – Daily Dish Recipes
- Homemade Peppermint Mocha Mix – In the Kitchen with KP
- Homemade Kahlua – That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Please join on us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper on November 11. In the evening we will meet at 7pm EST for our weekly #SundaySupper live chat.
All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat.
We’d also love to feature your own posts for Gifts From the Kitchen on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board to share them with all of our followers, too.
Baker Street
November 11, 2012 at 7:27 amIt has been over a year now and I only use homemade vanilla extract! This is easily one of the best gifts for a baker! 🙂
Hezzi-D
November 11, 2012 at 7:42 amI started making vanilla extract last year for Christmas and since I’ve used it in my baked goods I haven’t stopped! It’s much cheaper then buying at the store and the flavor is so much better. Love the pretty bottles you have it in!
Cindy's Recipes and Writings
November 11, 2012 at 8:26 amNever tried making my own, thanks for the idea!
Renee
November 11, 2012 at 8:31 amI have thought about making vanilla extract for the longest time. I don’t know why I haven’t made it yet because I use vanilla so much. You have inspired me to give it a try and I’m using your formula and recipe. Now for the patience part…
Flour On My Face
November 11, 2012 at 10:12 amRenee
You will love it I promise!
Nicole @ The Daily Dish
November 11, 2012 at 9:36 amI’ve only made my own extract once and it was absolutely fabulous. I really need to do it again and you have inspired me. I love the labels and bottles you used!!
Flour On My Face
November 11, 2012 at 10:16 amThanks so much Nicole!
Katie
November 11, 2012 at 10:06 amI’ve never thought to try to make homemade vanilla extract before – what a great idea! I’d love to get this as a gift…
Jen @JuanitasCocina
November 11, 2012 at 9:30 amMy homemade vanilla has been sitting for weeks for gifts! Of course, I kept some for me too! 😉
Tara
November 11, 2012 at 10:53 amI just saw this recently and thought what a brilliant idea. A great gift to give and I love your little jars!!
Eileen Gross | Wine Everyday
November 11, 2012 at 10:04 amWow!
I never knew how simple it is to make Vanilla Extract. Your explanation of how the vanilla beans should be (softer rather than hard) is much appreciated. I love when a recipe tells you the pitfalls you may encounter along the way, it takes the scariness out out trying something for the first time.
If I get started now, I may have a batch ready for Christmas!!
Cheers!
Flour On My Face
November 11, 2012 at 12:13 pmEileen
Thank you so much. It’s nice to know when the little extra info I’ve included is useful to my readers.
Heather@girlichef
November 11, 2012 at 10:04 amI hate to double-up on comments, but I’m not sure if my first went through (got a weird 404 re-direct). Anyhoo…I think homemade vanilla extract makes a fabulous gift! It’s all I use and think that everybody should be able to experience the difference. Great bottles and labels! 🙂
Flour On My Face
November 11, 2012 at 10:14 amHeather
Sorry you had a problem leaving the first comment. No problem it never came through! Thanks!
veronica gantley
November 11, 2012 at 10:25 amI have homeade vanilla extract all ready to go for christmas presents.
Faye Leong
November 11, 2012 at 10:31 amThanks so much for the detail explanation of making this vanilla extract. I am going to try this for own use too and is also a great idea as a gift!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen
November 11, 2012 at 10:59 amHomemade vanilla extract is probably THE best gift! The flavor is unbeatable and the uses are endless. Who wouldn´t want to receive this? Wonderful pics
Audrey's Mamma
November 11, 2012 at 11:03 amWe better get right on this if it takes 6-weeks! The girls will love helping me make this as it sounds super simple. And I can see them fighting over who gets to shake it each day! Does the brand or quality of vodka matter? I don’t drink much and know nothing about vodka.
Emily @ Life on Food
November 11, 2012 at 11:42 amGreat idea! I keep seeing this around and always think I can do that and then never get to it. It is a bit late for me to give as gifts but I can and will be trying this out for me soon.
Bea
November 11, 2012 at 12:04 pmFantastic – homemade vanilla extract! What a great gift idea! Love it 🙂
Sheila
November 11, 2012 at 1:14 pmI really want to make this. I tried to make vanilla extract once and it did not quite work out. But I really want to make my own! Time to try again! Thanks for sharing.
Flour On My Face
November 11, 2012 at 2:44 pmSheila
If you use enough vanilla beans it will turn out perfect. You will never want to buy store bought again.
Megan @ I Run For Wine
November 11, 2012 at 1:20 pmI have never made homemade vanilla extract! Your bottling is so cute too. What a fantastic gift.
Laura Hunter
November 11, 2012 at 1:21 pmWhen you posted your title I got so excited. I already have my bottle of vodka and my jars ready and waiting so I am so excited to give this a try.
Flour On My Face
November 11, 2012 at 9:46 pmLaura
You will love it and never want to buy commercial vanilla again.
Conni Smith
November 11, 2012 at 1:26 pmOh, homemade vanilla extract is so east, and so good! You just have to plan ahead and make it WAY in advance 🙂 I make this all the time, and it is so nice.
Soni
November 11, 2012 at 1:42 pmI’ve never made vanilla extract from scratch and this is a great tutorial for somebody like me :)Thanks for sharing and I’m sure your guests will love this as their holiday gift 🙂
Jennie @themessybakerblog
November 11, 2012 at 1:53 pmThis is such a great gift idea. I have never made homemade vanilla, and that has to change. Pinned.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
November 11, 2012 at 2:10 pmWelcome to #SundaySupper!! I just love your gift. I have a bunch of Mexican vanilla beans I got as part of a store close out. They’ve been sitting in the frig waiting patiently, and now I know what I’m going to do with them! Thanks soooo much. I love it!!! And I really appreciate all the tips!
Flour On My Face
November 11, 2012 at 9:48 pmSusan
Thank you so much. You will love homemade vanilla. And thank you for hosting a great Sunday Supper!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
November 11, 2012 at 2:29 pmWow, so much great information! I tried making some for myself, and it isn’t very vanilla-y. I think I am being cheap and stingy with the beans. I just heard that they have them cheap at Costco – I may have to get some more to add to my bottle.
Flour On My Face
November 11, 2012 at 2:41 pmBrianne
I understand. The vanilla beans are so expensive if you are buying them 1 or 2 at a time. It’s so worth it though. The vanilla is awesome.
Kathia Rodriguez
November 11, 2012 at 2:51 pmSo easy and good.
Sarah
November 11, 2012 at 4:33 pmI’ve got a jar going right now too!
sunithi
November 11, 2012 at 4:35 pmThe finished product is so lovely ! Like the four things you listed… hmmm… patience 🙂 !! I can just imagine the flavor in this. Thanks for sharing !
Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories)
November 11, 2012 at 8:33 pmAlways wanted to make my own vanilla extract, but never have. A great idea and cute packaging!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
November 11, 2012 at 8:38 pmI’m obsessed, OBSESSED with homemade vanilla extract!
Family Foodie
November 11, 2012 at 9:08 pmI love that you shared this… I had no idea how easy it is to make vanilla. Your photography is just gorgeous!
Flour On My Face
November 12, 2012 at 9:27 amIsabel
Thank you so much. Yes it is one of those things that are so easy to make and so much better then store bought.
Kim Bee
November 11, 2012 at 10:58 pmThis is one of my fave things to make for people. I did monster sized batched last Christmas and gave bottles away. People love getting homemade vanilla. Yours turned out beautifully.
Flour On My Face
November 12, 2012 at 9:11 amKim
Thank you so much! I can’t wait to make your Cherry Extract!
Lyn @LovelyPantry
November 11, 2012 at 10:28 pmWhat a brilliant idea! This would be an ideal gift for someone that you know that bakes alot. I know I’d be thrilled to receive this! Makes me wonder how much BETTER it must taste than store bought. And those labels!!! …cute presentation.
Flour On My Face
November 12, 2012 at 9:14 amLyn
Thank you! It does taste so much better then store bought. I haven’t bought store bought vanilla in almost a year. And now the prices are sky rocketing so it is really cheaper to make then to buy if you do a lot of baking like I and you do.
Sarah
November 12, 2012 at 12:19 pmhow easy is that? vanilla+vodka+time=vanilla extract. Thanks for sharing!
Jamie (Mama.Mommy.Mom)
November 12, 2012 at 9:59 pmThat is so cool! I bet baking with this is amazing!
Tora Estep
November 13, 2012 at 9:56 pmThis would a delightful gift! I would love to make homemade vanilla extract. I like making stuff from scratch too.
Yum Girl
November 14, 2012 at 6:36 pmI love homemade gifts. Beautifully done! If I may, I’d like to invite you to submit your photos to the new YumGoggle, a photo sharing site with the philosophy that if you worked hard to cook it and photograph it, we should show it off! Hope to see you there soon!
http://www.yumgoggle.com/gallery/
Sharon and Denise @BeBetsy
November 27, 2012 at 12:03 amThanks for sharing this great idea on BeBetsy!! We are excited! Love your blog and all your wondeful ideas. All the best! Sharon and Denise
zackette
November 27, 2012 at 3:01 amAfter reading your instructions for DIY vanilla extract, I realize that I haven’t been putting nearly enough vanilla beans per amount of liquid! I like using rum and it’s still ok but with a dominating rum flavor, which is fine for certain recipes but not great for others. In general, I want more of a vanilla taste that is the primary flavor and goal. That said, the stronger rum flavored vanilla extract was excellent for almond pastes, for example, in a galette des roi.
Terri
August 8, 2013 at 9:37 pmDoes it matter what grade or what kind of Vanilla Beans you use?
Flour On My Face
August 8, 2013 at 10:51 pmTerri
I bought the grade of vanilla beans I felt comfortable paying for. With this recipe the grade won’t matter as much. If you decided to go with a lower grade the beans will be thinner and possibly shorter so I would add a couple extra vanilla beans.
JANINE
June 6, 2014 at 10:39 amWhere did you get the little bottles to put extract in as gifts?
Arlene Mobley
June 6, 2014 at 12:07 pmJanine
I ordered my supplies from a number of places. I will hunt down the link for you and let you know asap. Thanks!
kellyn weber
October 27, 2014 at 10:30 pmHow did you make your labels for vanilla? Did you glue paper on or have it made at printing company? Can you explain how you did them.
Arlene Mobley
October 28, 2014 at 5:08 pmHi Kellyn
There is a link for the a free printable labels in the post.
Roberta Taylor
December 16, 2014 at 2:42 pmCan you tell me if you strained your homemade vanilla through a cheesecloth or leave it with the vanilla bean pods? Thanks!
★★★★★
Arlene Mobley
December 16, 2014 at 4:21 pmRobert
In each small jar I placed a fresh split vanilla beans and just pour the vanilla extract into the small jars. I did not strain it.