I bake a lot, and it seems like every recipe for baked goods includes vanilla extract. I wince every time I buy vanilla extract because it’s so expensive. At my Stop and Shop, it costs $9.99 for 4 ounces of their store brand extract, or $2.50 per ounce. I’ve wanted to make my own vanilla extract for a while now, and I finally got around to ordering vanilla beans. Some extract recipes call for using lots of vanilla beans, but I thought I would try using just one and see how it came out. After making my first batch with one bean, I decided to go with 2 beans in future batches. I felt funny going into a liquor store and buying vodka, but I did it. I’m so happy that I finally got around to doing this, because it’s such an easy, cost-effective way to get vanilla extract.
Ingredients:
2 vanilla beans
8 ounces cheap vodka
- Slice the beans open lengthwise and scrape out half the paste. Use the paste for another recipe. I made vanilla ice cream, and it tasted incredible!
- Place the spent vanilla beans (with half the paste still in the beans) in a clean jar and cover with the vodka.
- Put the jar in a cabinet and forget about it for a month.
- After a month, open the jar and see if it smells like vanilla or vodka. If it still smells like vodka, put it away for a few more weeks and try again. When you get that nice vanilla extract aroma, you can start using it. (Mine started smelling like vanilla after 3 weeks.)
- Top off periodically with more vodka. This should last for many months. When it stops smelling like vanilla, replace the beans or add another one.
Price Breakdown
I bought the cheapest vodka I could find: one liter for $7.99. With this vodka, the price of my homemade extract is $3.92 for 8 ounces, or $.49 per ounce. The store brand vanilla extract at Stop and Shop is $2.50 per ounce, which is five times more expensive than the homemade version. The amazing thing is that you use the half-spent vanilla bean for this extract, so you can use some of the paste for another recipe.
Note: You can buy single vanilla beans online here for $2 per bean, shipping included. If you want to buy vanilla beans in bulk, Amazon has lots of options. Also, Beanilla has wonderful vanilla beans for just $1 each if you buy 25, shipping included. I bought the flip-top bottles at the Container Store.
Linking to Monday Mania, Fat Tuesday, Frugal Tuesday Tip, Frugal “I Did It” Tuesday, Real Food Wednesday, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Allergy-Free Wednesday, Whole Foods Wednesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Frugal Fridays, Wellness Weekend, Gluten Free Friday, Show and Tell Saturday, Healthy Vegan Friday.
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This is fantastic! Can’t wait to try this. What is a good source for ordering vanilla beans?
I get mine from Costco.
Thanks for the question, Sue. I meant to include that in my post. I’ve added a note to the bottom of the recipe with options for ordering beans.
I’ve been making vanilla extract for months now and love it!
What part of Costco? I just got a membership.
I’m not sure. You could check at customer service. I’ve heard great things about Costco.
I’m glad you’re making your own extract, too. I think you’re one of the few people who bakes as much as I do!
I’ve been doing this for a while now – better quality product and much less expensive.
It seems like much better quality to me, too. I used to skimp on vanilla in recipes that called for a lot, but no more!
I just made some this summer! Nothing beats homemade!
My name is Cindy and I blog over at Vegetarianmamma.com I wanted to invite you to link up your recipe at our Gluten Free Fridays Recipe Link up party! It happens every Friday and we’d love to have you join us with some of your awesome recipes! You can find this week’s link up here: http://vegetarianmamma.com/gluten-free-friday-recipe-link-up-1/
Thanks,
Cindy
Thanks, Cindy! Will do.
Great! Thank you for stopping by our Gluten Free Fridays link up http://vegetarianmamma.com/gluten-free-friday-recipe-link-up-1/
I tweeted your recipe, followed you on all social media as well! Glad for to connect!
I have pinned your recipe to our Gluten Free Fridays (recipes) board on Pinterest! Thanks again for making it a huge success! We had over 100 gluten free recipes this week
Cindy
Always love a way to save (and even make better)! Thanks!
What a great idea! I will be making this soon.
Thanks, Katy. It’s a great gift, but be sure to keep some for yourself!
Between stept 4 and 5, do you take out the extract and transfer to another container? It seems like otherwise, you would be topping off your mixture and making it unusable for 3-4 more weeks. Is that right or not?
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Some people do strain it and transfer the extract to another container, but I don’t. I only top it off with a little vodka each time (1-2 teaspoons), so it’s still useable as long as it retains that strong vanilla smell.