Home-Made Vanilla Extract

Photo: Jenny Richards

Ingredients

2 whl vanilla beans

1 1/2 cups Vodka (the cheap-o stuff works just fine)

1/2 cup Water

1 cup Granulated sugar

Preparation

Anyone interested in a recipe for home-made vanilla extract? It makes a fun gift for Christmas, packaged in a small jar with ribbon around neck, included recipe for same, a bag of brownie or cookie mix which requires vanilla and a brownie pan. It IS alcohol-based. Perhaps someone has another recipe for one that does not require alcohol? Could this be one of those "chemistry" things again? I apologize for typing this in as I still haven't made friends with my to their recipe pgm. will find it a tasty and CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP Holiday idea. Better start it now, though! It takes about 7 weeks to "steep" it but you can fudge a little on that timing, I'm sure.

VANILLA EXTRACT

In a 3 cup glass container with a tight fitting lid, combine vanilla beans with the vodka. Cap and allow to "steep" at room temperature for three weeks.

Remove vanilla beans and strain liquid through a cheesecloth, if necessary. In a medium saucepan, combine water and sugar, stirring constantly, until it comes to a boil and sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool. Stir into vodka that has been strained.

Pour mixture into a bottle; cap and allow to sit at room temperature one month.

Yield:2 cups vanillaextract