How to Make Vanilla Extract at Home

Do you ever wonder How to Make Vanilla Extract at Home? It’s super easy! All you need are vanilla beans, alcohol (such as Vodka), and a glass bottle. Perfect for personal use, gifts, and/ or resale.

Course Condiments

Cuisine American

Prep Time 2

Cook Time 0

Total Time 2

Servings 8oz bottle

Calories 594kcal

Author Oriana Romero

Ingredients

5 - 6 vanilla beans (I used grade B)
8 oz Vodka

Instructions

Split each vanilla bean in half lengthwise.
Place the vanilla beans in a clean glass bottle or jar.
Fill up the bottle with alcohol until the vanilla beans are completely submerged. Close the bottle and give it a good shake. Infuse for at least 12 weeks, shaking it once per week—ideally, let it infuse for 6 months.
After your vanilla extract has been infused, use it in your favorite recipes. As you begin to use your vanilla extract, you can refill with a little vodka each time. After a year of using and refilling, remove old beans, add fresh beans, shake, and continue to use/refill.

Notes

Store vanilla extract bottles at room temperature out of direct sunlight.

Extra Tips:

I recommend starting putting together your vanillas in January, so they will be fully infused for the holidays.
If necessary, you can chop the beans into smaller pieces to fit in your jar or bottle.
Let the vanilla beans infuse for at least 8 weeks or even more for a stronger flavor. If giving this as a gift before the infusion process is completed, ask your lucky recipient to let it infuse for XX number of weeks. It is worth the wait!
If the bottles are for gifting and have been less than 6 months infusing, I recommend gifting them with the beans in the bottle because there are still lots of flavors there!
As you begin to use your vanilla extract, you can refill with a little vodka each time. After a year of using and refilling, remove old beans, add fresh beans, shake, and continue to use/refill.

If you're making this recipe, please read the whole post content to get lots of tips, tricks, variations, frequently asked questions, and step-by-step photos.

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Please note that nutritional information is for the whole bottle and is a rough estimate, and it can vary depending on the products used.

Nutrition