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Bottled homemade vanilla extract with free printable labels

How To Make Homemade Vanilla Extract

Arlene Mobley - Flour On My Face
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.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Steeping 42 days
Total Time 42 days 8 minutes
Course Condiment
Cuisine American
Servings 152 teaspoons
Calories 71 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Glass Jar

Ingredients  

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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.
  •  Bottle the vanilla extract in 4 oz. brown glass bottles. For gift giving you can add 1 vanilla bean to each.

Video

Recipe Expert 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.
  • 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 throw away the vanilla beans after bottling your homemade vanilla extract. You can add more vodka to the bottle with the vanilla beans and start a new batch of vanilla extract.
  • Or rinse off the vanilla beans well and add to a jar of sugar to make homemade vanilla sugar.

Nutrition

Serving: 1teaspoonCalories: 71kcalCarbohydrates: 1gFat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 1mgIron: 1mg
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