Learn how to make homemade vanilla extract. It makes a beautiful gift with our free printable labels.
Once you have homemade vanilla, you’ll never purchase store bought again! It’s so easy and requires just two ingredients.
Vanilla extract is used in most dessert recipes including cakes, ice creams, cookies and so much more. Since vanilla gives desserts most of their flavor, a high quality vanilla extract should be used.
If I’m purchasing a store bought version, I always choose this brand of vanilla extract. However, I’ve really grown to love making my own.
It’s quick and easy to make vanilla extract. It’s also less expensive, especially once you know where to buy vanilla beans. In fact, you can re-use the vanilla bean pods several times.
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Homemade vanilla extract is the best way to get pure vanilla flavor to enhance your desserts. It adds the most incredible fragrance to your baked treats, too!
This homemade vanilla is the perfect gift for birthdays, Mother’s Day, shower favors and more! It’s also an indulgent, pretty gift for neighbors, foodie friends on your holiday list, and it makes a wonderful hostess gift. Why not get started now?
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Vanilla Beans – Most grocery stores offer vanilla beans. You’ll find them with spices. You can find them at Amazon, Sur La Table and Williams Sonoma as well.
- Alcohol – Choose your favorite bottle! You can use rum, vodka, brandy and more. Essentially, you are macerating vanilla bean pods in the alcohol to make vanilla extract.
How to Make
- Split vanilla beans lengthwise.
- Next, place beans in a bottle.
- Using a funnel, fill with alcohol.
- Store in a dark cabinet for a at least a month. 3+ months is optimal before gifting or using, shaking occasionally.
Tips
Why split the beans? By splitting your beans, or snipping into small bits, you expose more surface area, which makes a better extract.
Beans can be used for a year – Just refill with alcohol. If you feel your vanilla extract is weak, just add a few more beans. A good rule of thumb is 6 vanilla beans per 8 ounces of alcohol.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vodka is most commonly used to make vanilla extract, however bourbon, rum and brandy can also be used. Vodka has the most neutral flavor which allows the vanilla beans to shine. Most of my recipes feature a classic vanilla extract flavor using vodka.
However, a bourbon or brandy flavored option makes a fun vanilla gift, especially at the holidays! It’s a great way to experiment and find out what appeals to you!
Vanilla is one of the most rare spices on earth- in fact, it’s almost as expensive as saffron. This flavor-rich pod is part of the vanilla orchid, produced in three main regions in the world. (Mexico, Madagascar and Tahiti) The most classic or common vanilla flavor is Madagascar, and that’s the vanilla pod you’re most likely to find when you search!
Tip
Vanilla Beans by Grade – Vanilla beans are graded by their moisture and quality. Grade A is the best, and Grade B vanilla beans are generally used for making vanilla extract! Save a little money by choosing a B Grade vanilla.
Free Printable Labels
If you’d like to gift this vanilla extract, choose pretty glass bottles. I prefer amber bottles! Why? Vanilla, like most oils and extracts, is best stored in dark bottles in a dark area to maintain both freshness and flavor.
With sticker sheets, print free printable vanilla extract labels. In fact, I’ve created labels with and without “from the kitchen of” if you choose to customize them.
Tip
While amber bottles are a traditional choice for vanilla extract (because they help block light), clear glass bottles will work well, too.
Serving Suggestions
How to Store
- Room Temperature – Vanilla extract should be stored in a dark, cool (or moderate) environment. Your pantry or kitchen cabinets work well. Vanilla extract as an unlimited shelf life!
- Refrigerator – Never refrigerate your vanilla extract. Vanilla extract can become cloudy in the cold air of your refrigerator.
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Ingredients
- 6 whole vanilla beans
- 1 cup alcohol vodka, rum, brandy or bourbon
Instructions
- Split vanilla beans lengthwise. By splitting your beans, or snipping into small bits, you expose more surface area, which makes a better extract.
- Place in a bottle.
- Using a funnel, fill with alcohol.
- Store in a dark cabinet for a at least a month.
- Shake occasionally.
Julie’s Tips
- By splitting your beans, or snipping into small bits, you expose more surface area, which makes a better extract.
- Storing for 3+ months is optimal, shaking occasionally.
- Beans can be used for a year – just refill with vodka. If you feel your vanilla extract is weak, just add a few more beans.
- Vodka is most commonly used to make extract, but try using bourbon or brandy for a fun, flavorful twist.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
I haven’t tried the recipe recipe yet but I have everything and I’m excited to try it. I just have a question. Can you keep the vanilla beans in the extract for up to a year or maybe when the whole process is done could you scrape the vanilla beans into the extract for extra flavor? Thank you!
Hi April!
You can keep the beans in the bottles for a full year, yes. Shake the bottle once a week to release the flavor!
I wouldn’t scrape the beans because you might get fibrous parts.
I hope that helps!
Julie
Once you make can you use it right away??
Hello!
You’ll need to let your vanilla rest for at least a month, preferably even longer, to absorb all the flavor.
I hope that helps- enjoy!
Julie