How to Make Vanilla Extract
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Leaving one inch of the vanilla bean untouched at a single end, slice the bean in half using a small, sharp knife.
  2. Place beans into a jar or bottle and completely cover then with vodka. If they are too long, just squish them down into the jar a bit more. If you use a small bottle of vodka, just drop the beans into the original bottle or add more beans for the added amount of vodka.
  3. Place the jar/bottle in a dark cupboard or pantry for at least two months. Remember to shake periodically to redistribute the vanilla as it will generally settle to the bottom of the jar and only infuse the bottom half of the vodka.
  4. When finished, use this vanilla extract as usual and don’t forget to refill the jar once you’ve removed 80% of the vanilla so your beans continue working as you use up your supply of extract. The same beans will produce vanilla extract for many years.