Making homemade vanilla extract is simple and a lot less expensive than purchasing pure vanilla at the store. A common brand of the extract can cost nearly $16 for 4 ounces, that’s $4 per ounce. A gourmet bottle can cost $27 for 4 ounces; that’s $6.75 per ounce. I can show you how to make vanilla extract for $2.86 per ounce. All you need is a mason jar, vanilla beans, and at least an 80 proof alcohol. Many people tend to use vodka, rum, or even bourbon for their extract. I prefer to use vodka. You don’t need to use premium alcohol because you are not drinking this, and you will use this in small amounts in your recipes. If you want to spend more money on any ingredient, make it your vanilla beans. Everyone has a different taste for how rich they like their vanilla extract to taste, and the full-bodied ness and richness comes from how many vanilla beans you use to make your extract. I prefer to use one vanilla bean for every 2 ounces of alcohol.
Ingredients:
6 Vanilla Beans
12 oz vodka
- Slice open the 6 vanilla beans and turn them inside out to expose the beans. Place them in a 2 cup mason jar.
- Fill the mason jar with 12 oz vodka.
Store in a cool, dark place, such as a cupboard for at least 30 days. The longer you store the extract, the richer the vanilla taste.
My costs: $15 for a 1.75-liter bottle of vodka, which equates to $0.25 per ounce. $59 for 25 grade A vanilla beans, which equates to $2.36 per bean. If I use 1 bean per 2 ounces of vodka, my costs are $2.86 per ounce.
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