Vanilla Extract

This has to be one of the easiest and tastiest Christmas presents you can make!  Many years ago, when I first got started making things from scratch, I wanted to make Vanilla Extract, but the ingredients weren't easy to come by...or so I thought. Things are much easier to access now due to online herb and spice venders.  My favorite high quality supplier is Mountain Rose Herbs. 

Anyway, I was visiting Callaway Gardens with my daughter, and their farmers market season was just beginning.  


Credit: CallowayGardens.com

We had a great time meeting the vendors, one of which had the most amazing goat's milk and cheeses!  Then I spied a vendor selling herbs and spices, I quickly made my way over to see what she had in stock.  To my surprise, she had a vanilla extract making kit with everything I needed to make the extract except the vodka. Yes. I said vodka. That is how extracts are made.  An alcohol is used as a solvent for the herb or spice. 


 I was very excited to be able to go home and finally check this "how to" off of my list!  It was so easy and very cute in it's cork capped bottle. These bottles can be found from Walmart to Amazon.  I assembled my extract and then waited the eight weeks for full flavor.  It won't be sweet like commercial vanilla extract, because sometimes they add simple syrup to give it a sweet after taste. This will not be a problem if you intend to use it just for baking. 

Vanilla Extract 

*3Vanilla Beans
*1 Cup Vodka
* Glass jar with a tight fitting lid


1. Split the vanilla beans in half lengthwise with a pairing knife.  Be sure to leave an inch connected at one end.

2.  Place the vanilla beans in the jar and cover completely with vodka.

3.  Shake the bottle every so often and store in a cool dark place.  It will be ready in 4-8 weeks. 

It will last for years, and you can keep topping it off with vodka and give it a good shake as you use the extract.

 Vanilla sugar can also be made by putting a split vanilla bean into a jar of white granulated sugar.

This is a great gift for foodie friends or a DIY kit gift for your favorite Do It Yourselfer. A pretty jar, a nice bow, directions and a cute tag seem like the perfect gift to me! You can also use different alcohols to change up the flavor.  One year my sister-in-law made us Kentucky Vanilla Extract made with Kentucky Bourbon. It was different, but just as yummy, and great for label appeal!


Also, if you make this for yourself be aware you are on the cusp of herbal medicine making!  This is a very similar process to making all of those expensive herbal tinctures you see in herbal stores!

Happy Creating,

Jill

The Herbal Hutch