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A glass pint jar and liter bottle filled with homemade vanilla extract, sitting on a white flour sack towel on the counter.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

I want to encourage you to start making your own homemade vanilla extract today (if you don’t already) because it’s really cheap to do it yourself and it’s so much better than what you can find in stores.
Prep Time 5 minutes

Equipment

  • 1 glass pint jar with lid
  • scissors or knife

Ingredients

  • 4 Madagascar vanilla beans
  • 12 ounces 80-proof (40%) or higher vodka (You can also use 3 parts food grade vegetable glycerin and 1 part water.)

Instructions

  • Cut vanilla beans in half lengthwise and then in one-inch sections. Place in your pint jar.
  • Cover the vanilla beans with vodka or the glycerin/water mixture. Add a lid and give your jar a shake every week or as you remember. Store it away for at least 4 to 6 months until it reaches full maturity. (If you're making it using glycerin and water, your shelf life won't be "forever" like it would be if you made it with alcohol. To be on the safe side, check your extract for any signs of mold before you use it if you made it with glycerin/water.)