Homemade vanilla extract

The dark one is 12 months old.

Twelve months ago I made my own vanilla extract - one bottle of vodka and 10 beans (cut down the to expose the seeds) and keep in a dark cupboard.  Most recipes say that it is ready in 6 to 12 weeks. I have to disagree. By 6 months it had almost lost the vodka smell/taste and by 12 months it was perfect. The longer it is left the better. I have started to use mine and it smells wonderful. And unlike the bought variety, mine has little seeds floating about and contains no sugar. 
Just made
Here is the bottle I have just started for my son - it really is worth doing. The initial cost can be expensive depending on the vodka you buy and where you source your pods (I bought mine online via eBay) but it does make a lot of extract.  I also added a few more vanilla pods to mine, from memory I think I now have around 15! At the end of next year I will start another bottle for myself.

Comments

  1. I have had homemade vanilla extract and it is pretty good but I didn't know it had vodka in it.
    Merle......

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    1. It needs to be made with an alcohol that is quite strong and doesn't have a taste which is why vodka is used. Commercial use around 35% proof.

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  2. Do you use the homemade vanilla extract at the same rate as store-bought, or is it stronger in flavour?

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    1. I am but you could use slightly less. But it smells so good when I open the bottle!!

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  3. Jo I love the idea of making your own vanilla-- and it's so pretty!
    Vicki

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    Replies
    1. The smell is amazing!!! Sometimes I just open the bottle to have a sniff at the wonderful vanilla aromas!

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  4. Hmmmmm! I love all things vanilla! I'm not sure ill get through this quantity though. Does it stay fresh for long ? I imagine it will take me years to get through a bottle that size lol!

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