Vanilla Extract: Phase One

It may be July, but I already have Christmas gifts on my mind. I knew I wanted to give vanilla extract a try after seeing how easy it can be to make. I recruited my mother-in-law to help with the project. We pick up several liters of decent vodka. I had ordered these pretty bottles with airtight stoppers and Madagascar vanilla beans. Each vanilla bean was slit in half with two per bottle. Each 8.5 fl. oz. bottle were filled to the base of the neck with vodka and now they will sit for several months. The color will darken to a deep amber as the vanilla steeps. When I head back the west coast, my mother-in-law has generously agreed to shake them every few weeks so they will be ready for Christmas gifts in December.

To see examples of the what the finished product will (hopefully) look like check out: Annie’s Eats and Sticky Gooey Creamy Chewy.

Vanilla Extract

1/4 pound Madagascar Vanilla Beans
12 8.5 fl. oz. airtight bottles (or any airtight bottle you have on hand)
4 1.75 liters of vodka

Split the vanilla beans, drop at least two pods into each bottle and fill with vodka and allow to sit for at least two months in a cool dark location shaking occasionally.