Home made Vanilla Extract

Made some about three years ago. Used beans from Beanilla.com, Smirnoff, and a Grolsch beer bottle. The stuff is wonderful! We started using it after about 6 months in fudge and cookies. I'll make it again when we get to about a 1/4 bottle.

I kept the Grolsch bottles after seeing that Ricky's Blue Heaven, Key West, uses them for pancake syrup. Easy to warm and easy to serve.

Our son helped us out by removing the beer.

We use one whole bean pod and 5th of Capt Morgan Dark Rum

My first batch is ready!



It's a cobalt blue bottle.
The label says :

Homemade
Vanilla Extract
Made with Love
Our names

I have read coffee filters for straining, but like above, I don't mind the vanilla caviar. A touch of something special you won't get from store bottled vanilla.

Super_Dave wrote:
From the sounds of the process, do you have to pour through a cheesecloth for the final bottling?

I suppose you could strain it if you wanted to. Personally I don't mind the vanilla bean flecks in it.

From the sounds of the process, do you have to pour through a cheesecloth for the final bottling?

I did mine in August and so it is just about ready to put into bottles. I bought blue bottles because I liked the way they looked. I bought labels from evermine.com. I bought the beans from beanilla.com

I used Vikingford vodka because it is made from potatoes.

Update: The bottles are looking better every day. Starting to smell more like vanilla than alcohol. :)

The only thing is, I don't think the bottle I tried with cherry vodka smells much different from the plain vodka. So that may not be a lucrative endeavor. Not wasted but not a different flavor to add to my sugar cakes.

Will keep you all posted.

I have this on my list of things to do!

I will be making a gluten free version (yeah, there can be gluten in vanilla).

Here are my notes: FIND organic or just any vanilla beans and get some vodka (potato? gluten free) Vodka is also made from grapes (divine vodka)
All you need is cheap vodka and whole vanilla beans. The DIY isn't cost-effective if you end up spending $8 per bean at the grocery store: check restaurant supply stores, international markets, or online. You can get a pound of vanilla pods for around $30 on Amazon, averaging about $1 for 2 beans. Keep your extras in the freezer and they'll last forever. To make the extract, just use a paring knife to split the vanilla down the center, and add 2 to 3 beans per 8 ounces of vodka. Store in a cool, dark place for 6-8 weeks, shaking occasionally, and that's it! If you're short on space, make one large batch directly in the vodka bottle, and then when it's done, portion in smaller containers for gifts.
Now to find some beasn!
Donna

I need to quit reading this Forum - makes me spend too much money...

Ugandan and Tongan vanilla beans now on order! :)

Thank you!