Make your own Pure Vanilla with just 2 ingredients

Are you making your own Pure Vanilla Extract? You sure are missing out if you don’t!

Store Bought Pure Vanilla is very expensive. You can save money by starting your own batch at home with just two ingredients and a Glass Container. I like to use a quart jar.

    You will need:

• Alcohol – Vodka or Bourbon (cheap is perfect)
• Vanilla Beans- 6 (I order Madagascar Grade A Beans from Amazon)

Cut the beans in half vertically and place in the Glass container. Fill with your choice of alcohol and add lid.
Steep the beans in the alcohol for 5 to 6 months. Plan on shaking the jar 2 to 3 times a week at first and then once a week after first month. I shake it when I remember, but keeping it in my food cubbard makes sure I see it often. Do not worry about steeping too long. If you do not need or are not ready to use when 5 months are up, just leave it steeping. Right now I am leaving mine steeping and just taking out small bottle at a time. There are all types of small bottles you can purchase cheaply if you want to give vanilla as gifts.

Notes:
I have made 4 batches now and have found that steeping 5 to 6 months guarantees a very good vanilla taste.

Many recipes will tell you its not necessary to split and scrape the beans so you don’t have to. To me, the vanilla seems to darken faster when the beans are split.

I like to strain enough vanilla thru cheese cloth for a few bottles to be gifted. I leave the rest with bits and pieces. I can always strain it later.

The left bottle below is Vodka Vanilla just started. The Middle Bottle is Vodka Vanilla at around 5 months, which was not quite ready so I left it steeping.

The vanilla made with bourbon will always be darker than the vanilla made with vodka. This jar below is a mixture of vodka and bourbon. I didn't have enough of either so I mixed them. It also has used beans and you can see on my note I added more beans in January. I also scrape my beans before putting them in the alcohol.

It is ok to steep your vanilla beans a second time, but you really should add 2 or 3 new beans. If not, it takes a Long time for the second batch so you would just need to check the taste periodically. If you order 10 vanilla beans at at time, you can just plan on using the ones you had left over on a second batch. This one was started in October 2017 and could be ready if we needed it, but we don't. I will just let it keep steeping.

Uses for Steeped vanilla beans:
Chop in smaller pieces and add to your coffee. Keep in a container that closes well so they don't dry out.
I have read that some people enjoy making infused sugars with the leftover vanilla beans but I have not tried that.

Hit me up with any questions.