Easy Homemade Vanilla Extract

When I first began baking for my family, pure vanilla extract was a critical part of the equation. However, I did not expect how much vanilla extract I would go through in a given week. A tiny 15 ml bottle of pure vanilla extract at the store is around fifteen dollars where we live. Because I was using at least one, sometimes two bottles a week with our large family, I needed a solution.

After dabbling a bit, I discovered I could actually make a large quantity of easy homemade pure vanilla much cheaper per ounce than buying it in the store!

The Breakdown of Cost Savings

• Pure Vanilla Extract in the store runs at about fifteen dollars for 15ml locally. Even on Amazon, you can pay over one hundred dollars for a 16oz. bottle. That equals over six dollars an ounce!
• Easy Homemade Pure Vanilla extract can cost less than $3.00 an ounce! If you reuse the vanilla beans in your next batch, it will be less than $1.50 an ounce!
  
  
  
  

Here’s What You Need!

• 3-5 Vanilla beans (depending on your bottle size and the potency of Vanilla you prefer).
• Pure Vodka (No additives or flavours!)
• A Pretty bottle of your choice with a cap or seal that can close easily. Even a large mason jar would work fine, if you do not have another kind of bottle. If you want a beautiful one that includes five vanilla beans, but you can find it here! If you are looking for high quality, “Epices de CRU” is one of my favourite brands for exotic and hard to find spices.
  

Instructions for Easy Homemade Vanilla Extract:

1. Pour PURE Vodka (easily found at your local liquor commission), into bottle or container of your choice.
2. Remove your vanilla beans from the bottle or bag. Place on a cutting board and slice open lengthwise (not necessary to slice all the way through). This will allow for a little extra flavour, and some seeds, to escape.
3. Slip the beans into the bottle and close the lid.
4. Allow to stand in a dark place for a minimum of one month, and up to three months before using. Vanilla should be a rich golden brown, when ready to use, but it will depend on the size bottle you chose as well. A larger container will result in a lighter colour because of the essence distribution, and a smaller bottle will leave a deeper golden hue.
5. Use as needed in recipes that call for PURE vanilla extract.

Why Use PURE Vanilla Extract instead of Artificial:

• As I have mentioned in previous posts, quality of ingredients is everything. Thus, when you invest in a few quality ingredients, they will make your recipes burst with flavour!

• Artificial Vanilla Extract is loaded with unhealthy chemicals, unlike the easy homemade vanilla extract found in this recipe. And in today’s world, who wants to add more chemicals to their diet? You can learn more about pure vanilla extract versus artificial here.
• Even though vanilla beans can be a bit pricey compared to artificial vanilla, they are worth it! The rich flavour of easy homemade vanilla extract far outshines the fabricated taste of artificial vanilla.

Shop this Post:

• Epices de Cru is an incredible resource for purchasing high quality spices and whole food flavours for your recipes. You can find the bottle of five vanilla beans that I used in this recipe HERE.
• Vodka can be easily found at your local liquor commission.
• Mason jars are also a great option if you do not have any bottles on hand, and prefer just buying individual beans. Amazon has some great options you can find HERE.
  
  

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Recipe Suggestions for Easy Homemade Vanilla Extract:

• Simply Delicious Lemon Lavender Cupcakes are a delicate and delightful treat for any celebration. The PURE vanilla found in the recipe is what gives this cupcake’s base the perfect balance.
  

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