HOW TO: Make your own vanilla extract

[cathouse_mary]

It's pretty simple, but it takes a very, very long time. However, you'll find that the various extracts provide a unique and delicious flavor.

1 vanilla bean of the "fine vanilla" grade
3/4 cup of hard alcohol - vodka, rum, brandy, or bourbon

Split the bean lengthwise and put it in a bottle tall enough to hold the bean. You might have to snip the bean to make it fit the bottle, just put the snippings in. Pour in the alcohol and cork the bottle. Leave it to steep for six months.

Comments

O.O

[angel_negra]

Really? I can make my own? I love you. <3

Re: O.O

[cathouse_mary]

Hee, thanks! You can also just pack a buttload of beans into a little alcohol, but that can get a bit pricey.

Or.....

[jebbypal]

Heh, I started doing this a few years ago when I started reacting to the corn in the alcohol in the commercial preparations.

However, I don't do it the same, that or we define 1 bean differently (do you mean 1 long strand, or just 1 bean). I actually dump 1-2 long vanilla pods (presumably with multiple beans) into 1 large bottle of vodka. W/in 1 month you have strong enough vanilla extract to use and it just gets stronger as it ages.