Homemade Vanilla Extract

Ever since I came back from my holidays with more vanilla than a single girl could ever use, I have been looking for inspiration on what to do with it. Making vanilla extract seemed like a good option, so I started googling for how-tos.

The method did not seem to vary largely from recipe to recipe and when I saw how easy Amber made it look on i ♥ Betsy, I had to give it a try.

If you are interested in learning more about the different kinds of vanilla and their subtle flavour nuances, I can recommend this post.

Homemade Vanilla Extract
(makes 375 ml)

Need To Have:

4 vanilla pods
375 ml vodka
1 glass bottle or jar with a tight fitting lid

Need To Do:

Split the vanilla beans in half, leaving the top part connected. Put the beans into your chosen container, add the vodka, close, and store in a dark, cool place for about 2 months. Shake lightly from time to time. The liquid will darken as the vanilla infuses the alcohol.

You can keep topping up the extract with vodka as you are using it and it'll keep forever. You might want to exchange the vanilla pods for new ones after a while.

As a guideline, you will need 2 - 3 vanilla pods per 1 cup (250 ml) of vodka.

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