I am so excited to share this cute Christmas gift idea with you all! This recipe is not my own, I got it from the amazing blogger and Influencer, Daryl Ann Denner. But I wanted to share it with you all in case you were interested in making your own homemade vanilla extract too!
I have never made my own before so I thought now would be a great time to try it. And how adorable would these be in a gift basket full of other baking goodies?! Once you start making your own, store-bought vanilla extract just won’t cut it anymore! You will definitely want to keep on making your own vanilla extract from now on.
I know this would be a great gift right up my alley! And the best part is, it is not hard to make at all! Keep on reading for the full recipe card below!
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Materials Needed:
- Vanilla Beans in Pod (You can find these at your local grocery store, but I think it’s a better deal to order them off of Amazon personally. You can use Madagascar vanilla beans, Mexican vanilla beans, or Tahitian vanilla beans. As you can see there are different varieties of vanilla beans, but any will do the trick!)
- Glass Bottles
- Homemade Vanilla Extract Label
- Sticker Paper (to print the labels out on)
- Vodka
- Ribbon, optional
Cut Vanilla Pods
The first thing you need to do in order to make homemade vanilla extract, is to cut the pods. You want nice, split vanilla beans for this. I just used a small, sharp knife and slit it down the middle.
Without cutting it all the way through. I left the edges intact so it was still just one pod of vanilla if that makes sense.
Then, I went through and gently pushed it open a little more with my fingers. That way, the vanilla beans are fully out and can steep.
You want to add at least 3-5 vanilla pods into each glass bottle.
The more you add, the stronger the vanilla will be.
What Is The Best Vodka For Making Vanilla Extract?
After you have added the vanilla into the bottles, then you’re going to want to pour vodka in. And you may be wondering, well what is the best vodka to use when making vanilla extract? Basically, just go to the liquor store and buy some cheap vodka. It doesn’t have to be Grey Goose vodka or anything fancy.
I don’t think the brand of vodka matters particularly when making vanilla extract. Just as long as it has a high alcohol content, you are good to go!
I have also seen people make homemade vanilla extract with white rum or dark rum and I think I may try that next year to see how that turns out too! It’s really just a matter of personal preference of what you want to use.
Once you have chosen the right vodka, pour it into the glass jar to where it covers all the vanilla beans. You may want to use a funnel for this to prevent spillage. You need a whole bottle of vodka for this. I made about 6 jars total from one bottle.
If you’re making a large batch of vanilla extract, you will definitely need more. Also, you could make more by just using smaller jars too.
Let Vanilla Extract Steep
So now, that’s it! That’s all you have to do besides let it steep. It says to let it steep for at least 30 days, but I am going to try for two months instead. To let it steep, keep it at room temperature in a dark place.
Try not to let it be in direct sunlight. For best results, give the bottle a good shake every now and then while it steeps.
The longer you let it steep, the stronger it will be. The labels I bought from Etsy say when they were bottled, so if you’re giving them as gifts, that’s a good way to let people know.
Make The Labels
This step is totally optional, only if you want to be extra and give them as gifts! I decided to be extra and make the labels too because it gives them the perfect Christmas flair!
I ordered labels off of Etsy and just used sticker paper to print them out on. I was going to try to make my own with my Cricut, but I figured this was just easier.
Especially since it was all typed out already! I also made the mistake of buying matte sticker paper first, which I didn’t like. So I re-ordered and got glossy paper instead.
It looks much better plus, it is waterproof as well is a plus. I linked the exact paper I used for you in case you need it too!
After printing them out, I just cut them out and stuck them on the bottle. And then to make it more festive, I tied a cute Christmas ribbon around the bottle as well.
How stinking cute, right?! I love that you can give these as gifts and they are homemade which means so much more! Have you ever tried to make homemade vanilla extract before?!
If not, you definitely should and let me know how it goes for you!
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Ingredients
- 3-5 pods Vanilla Bean
- 8 oz Vodka
Instructions
- Cut each vanilla pod down the middle to expose the beans. Do not cut the edges though.
- Place 3-5 pods in the glass bottles. The more you put in, the stronger the vanilla will be.
- Top glass bottles with vodka to the top.
- Close the bottle and let it steep for at least 30 days. Two months is more ideal. The longer you let it steep, the stronger it will be!
- You can re-use the bottle and refill with vodka as necessary!
Enjoy The Best Homemade Vanilla Extract!
After the extract has steeped for enough time, you can now try it out. The end result will have a rich vanilla flavor and it’s own unique flavor profile. Have you ever tried to make homemade vanilla extract before?!
If not, you definitely should and let me know how it goes for you!
As you can see from the tutorial above, it really is a simple process and would make for the perfect Christmas gifts for family and loved ones! I hope you enjoyed this homemade vanilla extract recipe!
And the best part is, you can conintue to top it off with more vodka as you run low. Just keep the vanilla pods in the bottle and refill, allowing it to steep again before using. How awesome is that?! Talk about some bang for buck when making your own homemade extract!
I have been making my own vanilla extract for as long as I can remember! It lends a richer, deeper flavor to make it by hand and I usually leave the beans in for as long as I can for optimal infusing time.
Love the idea of giving some out as gifts this year!
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Oh really?! Well, that is great to know. I hope mine turns out well too!
I love this! I can’t wait to make a batch. Thanks for the recipe!
Oh yay! You are so welcome. I hope you enjoy it!
Wow! I never knew how simple making vanilla extract could be! I love making homemade things and I will have to try this!!
https://whereintheworldismaria.com
Yes! I didn’t know how it easy it was either until I did it. I am excited to try it out!
What a great idea. This is great for baking. I’m sure it taste much better hand made. Thanks for sharing!
~Michelle
https://michellescrazybusylife.net
Thank you! I can’t wait to try it out when I bake something!
wow thanks for sharing! love the pictures too. I never knew that you could make homemade vanilla extract — i just buy it at the store
I know right?! That’s what I have been doing up until now too!
This is an awesome recipe. I would like to try it. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, you definitely should try it.
I seriously never knew you could make homemade vanilla extract! This is such a great idea and I love the labels you have used to put on the jars! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Thank you! I am excited to give them out as gifts!
I had no idea how vanilla extract was made — the fact it is so easy is amazing! I am going to add this to my homemade items as I can imagine the flavour will be incredible after steeping!
Yesss! I cannot wait to try it out for my Christmas baking!
So neat! I had no idea you could do this. I wnat to try.
Thank you. You definitely should try it out yourself
Wow, this is super cool!
Thank you so much!
Ah, thank youuuuu. This is such a great idea to try. I love making such gifts to my family and friends every Christmas and I was just thinking what to do this year. Thanks so much for sharing this idea. ♡
Oh yay! You should definitely try this to give away as gifts then this year!
This is a lovely little homemade gift idea for Christmas. I didn’t know you could order Vanilla pods off of Amazon either! I love the look of the labels you got off of Etsy; they make the bottles look more professional.
Thank you for sharing. 😊
Yes, I didn’t know that either until I saw it. How useful is that?!
Ooh I love these – I’d have never thought of making my own vanilla extract before but this looks quite straightforward! Your labels are super cute too. Thanks for sharing x
Thank you so much. It is very easy to do!
What a lovely idea! I love vanilla and it has such a distinctive, homely smell to me 🙂 thanks for sharing x
Thank you. It really does!
When Vodka is involved, Food Explora will be there. 😀 I am surprised that making my own vanilla extract was this easy. Thanks for sharing your technique.
Yes it was super simple and easy for sure!
Perfect – I’ve been wondering what to make a couple of good friends for Christmas and this is ideal for them. Now off to search for some suitable bottles!
Thank you. I linked the specific bottles I used in the post. But I got them from Michael’s so I am not sure if that store is available near you or not but they worked perfectly for me!
I’ve never done this, but would love to. Those jars are adorable and I love the labels you made as well. These would make for great gifts or favors!
Thank you! I plan on using them for gifts this Christmas season!
Wow! I didn’t know it’s made with alcohol, that’s really interesting! The process doesn’t seem too hard so I think this might be something to try in the future. Also, I absolutely love those bottles and labels- so cute!
Alexis| https://cafe-beauty.com
Thank you so much! I didn’t know it was either until I started researching it, pretty crazy right?!
I love this idea! I had no idea that vanilla extract uses vodka and I’m sure the end result will be amazing! Thanks for sharing this!
I know right! I didn’t know that either until I started looking it up!
This is a great idea for a gift & I didn’t know you could make your own vanilla extract so that’s good to know too!
Thank you. It is definitely handy for the kitchen!
I’ve never thought of making my own vanilla extract but it sounds like a great experience and can only imagine how lovely it all must smell. The jars and labels are so cute, perfect for gifting.’
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much! It does smell amazing!
This is such a cool idea! Thank you for sharing this! I agree that it would make a great Christmas present for baking!
Thank you so much! It sure would!
I literally had no idea you’d put vodka in this. These look absolutely lovey – would certainly make a great gift for a keen baker and the labels make them look so professional too!
Thank you so much. They are perfect for someone who loves to bake!
I want to try this with my momma! Some vanilla extracts are too sweet and woah, didn’t know they used vodka. Something new to learn!
https://lifebeginsattwenty.com/
I know right?! I didn’t either until I started researching how to make it!
This is incredible- what a great diy gift!
Thank you so much my friend
I never realized that these were easy to make. I’ll have to do it one weekend with my daughter who loves to try and do things like this
Yes you should! That would be a fun weekend activity to do together!
This looks so easy, I’ve never heard of making your own vanilla extract before and it’s amazing you can buy it on Amazon! Thanks for sharing.
Yes it sure is! It was fun to make too!
Wow, what a fantastic idea! I haven’t heard of making this yourself, so definitely super interesting post for me to read. Thank you for sharing!
xo Olivia | https://www.oliviaandbeauty.com
Thank you. It was a lot of fun to make it myself for sure!
These look lovely, such a nice idea. Will definitely be giving it a go in the near future, thanks for sharing!
Thank you! You definitely should!
Thank you! You definitely should.
I’m going to make this vanilla extract. What a brilliant and cute idea. Especially the bottles. I tried to order but the site said it doesn’t ship to the UK. Thank you for the idea.
Thank you so much! I hope you have fun making it! And any glass bottle you can find near you will do!