This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Learning how to make vanilla extract is the easiest thing ever. It requires only 2 ingredients and makes all of your baked goods taste and smell incredible. Homemade vanilla extract will be your secret ingredient for baking! Once you make your own homemade vanilla extract, there’s just no going back to the store-bought version. As a bonus, you can refill real vanilla extract with more vodka as it runs out so it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
These make for darling and thoughtful DIY Christmas gifts (see tutorial below). My cousin’s wife, Alla, shared this awesome idea with me for gifting homemade vanilla extract and now all my sisters and friends know exactly what they’re getting for Christmas! lol.
I included links to all of the tools and resources that I used to make these from the sweet little glass bottles on Amazon to the free labels I designed which you can print at home. There’s also a full visual tutorial on wrapping these in kitchen towels. I really enjoyed making these and I will enjoy giving them away even more!
Vanilla Extract Ingredients (makes 10 (4oz) jars):
20 vanilla beans
40 oz plain vodka* (80 proof works great)
It’s easy to scale this recipe up or down, the proportions are 4 whole vanilla beans per 1 cup (8 oz) vodka, or 2 vanilla beans per 1/2 cup (4 oz) vodka.
*It’s not necessary to get the most expensive brand of vodka; something middle of the road like Smirnoff triple distilled 80 proof will work just fine. I found this at the liquor store and paid $25 for a giant jug. I’ll be refilling my vanilla a long time :). My cousin used the Vodka sold at Costco (Washington Costco’s carry liquor, but Idaho’s don’t).
Tools you’ll need for Homemade Vanilla Extract:
Small funnel or measuring cup with pouring lip
10 (4oz) clear bottles with lids (avoid cork lids – alcohol evaporates through the cork)
Labels (click here to save and print the labels I designed FREE!)
Kitchen scissors or sharp knife
How to Make Vanilla Extract:
1. Wash and sanitize bottles and lids. I washed with mild soapy water, rinsed then swirled with boiling hot water to sanitize them.
2. Cut beans in half then Split beans. I found this is easiest with kitchen scissors. Cutting them about halfway down the stem. If the beans are too dry to split, cut them into 1″ pieces. Place a total of 2 whole beans in each jar (or 4 split halves).
3. Use a funnel or measuring cup to pour vodka to the top of the jar. Cover tightly with lid and let them brew for 2 months, shaking occasionally.
Apply the FREE vanilla extract labels by printing them on label paper or by gluing them onto the bottles. If printing on the labels, make sure your printer is set to 100% and not “fit to page” which make shrink or stretch labels.
You should give the vanilla a little shake every now and then for the next couple of months as it sits. It will turn a beautiful amber color when it’s ready to use. The instructions are right on the label so you don’t have to wait that long to gift them ;).
For Creative Gifting:
12 yards of yarn or kitchen string
12 kitchen towels for gifting, preferably tea towel style
12 small/medium cookie cutters
How to Wrap a Gift With a Kitchen Towel:
Fold a kitchen towel in half lengthwise and then in half again lengthwise. Place vanilla in the upper left corner, fold over the bottom flap, roll into a log and tie the top with a string or ribbon directly over the next of where the bottle is sitting inside the towel.
How to Store Vanilla Extract
Keep your homemade vanilla extract in a cool dry place. Heat and light can cause it to turn cloudy.
If it does turn cloudy, murky, or muddy-looking, do the smell test and if it still smells good, it should be fine to use. Using 80 proof vodka, it is highly unlikely there is bacterial growth.
Sometimes the type of beans you get can leach pulp into the alcohol and you can strain out sediment if desired.
Vanilla Extract Recipe
Ingredients
Vanilla Extract Ingredients (makes 12 (4oz) jars):
- 20 vanilla beans, I used Grade B Bourbon
- 40 oz plain vodka*, 80 proof works great
Tools you'll need for Homemade Vanilla Extract:
- Small funnel or measuring cup with pouring lip
- 10 4oz clear bottles with lids (avoid cork lids)
- Labels
- Kitchen scissors or sharp knife
Instructions
- Wash and sanitize bottles and lids: Wash with mild soapy water, rinse, then carefully swirl with boiling hot water to sanitize them.
- Cut beans in half then Split beans (it's easiest with kitchen scissors), cutting them about halfway down the stem. If the beans are too dry to split, cut them into small 1" pieces so they don't stick up above the surface of the extract as you use it. Place a total of 2 whole beans in each jar (or 4 split halves).
- Use a funnel to pour vodka to the top of jar. Cover tightly with lid and let them brew for 2 months, shaking occasionally.
Notes
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
I happened to find your recipe. It’s a bit too late to start but I will do this next year. Question, how long does the extract last, is there an expiration?
Hi Annette, the extract never really expires – it just lasts and lasts 🙂
I like to get my vanilla beans at Vanilla Saffron imports aka saffron.com. They have better prices than any where else online! Thanks for this cute lesson on making vanilla extract.
I am glad you enjoyed it Jeff! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank goodness for something quick and easy ! Love the labels, too. I got the vanilla beans today (they smell amazing), and will make it tomorrow. Thank you~~~
You are very welcome Leatrice, have a great Christmas!
How many times can the beans be re-used after the vanilla is gone?I
Michelle, you can reuse them over and over but I would replace the beans with new ones after using them 2-3 times. Hope this helps 😀.
This is such a great idea – and I love the extra touches of the labels and tea towel wrapping! Question – is there circle label paper that works with the label PDF or do they have to be cut out regardless? Also, I’ve heard it’s better to use Amber colored bottles when making vanilla extract to prevent oxidation. Not sure how much of a difference it makes if you’re storing in a dark place anyway, but just thought it was interesting.
Hi April, I haven’t found those kinds of labels and you may need to readjust the sizing if you find some circle labels that might work. I’ve heard that about vanilla as well, but they sure are prettier in the clear bottles and yes I agree, I just store them in the cupboard 🙂
I used this and created it on Avery’s online editor for 5294 circles.
Nice! Did you have to readjust anything on the PDF or did it print okay on there as is?
What size labels did you use?
The label sheet was 8 1/2 by 11 and I cut out the circles. I wasn’t able to find pre-cut circles.
can I use liguor instead of vodka? Thank you.
Most people make it with Vodka and that is all I have tested it with and the only way I make it but I have seen a few tutorials that say Rum, Brandy or Bourbon would work as well.
Such a wonderful idea. Can’t wait to try for the holidays. Your labels and your idea for gifting with the twin and towel is so unique. Thank you for the inspiration.
Merry Christmas~
Barb
Thank you Barbara!! 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful Christmas as well and I’m so happy you found inspiration here 🙂
I started mine about 2 weeks ago and I opened up the box they are in to give them a shake. There is a ton of stuff floating in them. The bottles in your pictures don’t look like there is anything floating! 🙂 Did I do something wrong??
Hi Amy, most likely the stuff floating in them is seeds from inside the vanilla bean and some beans just release more than others, even between the beans I purchased to make mine. They settle at the bottom and float around when shaken. It’s nothing to be concerned about 🙂
I landed here by accident, looking for sheet pan chicken meal. And boy, am glad I did!!
Such a cute gift idea! Much better than home made cookies, which can be devoured up and be done with!
This will last and smell amazing 🙂
Hi Avanti! Welcome to my blog! 🙂 I’m so glad you’re here! Thank you for that awesome compliment! 🙂
Wow this is such a wonderful post, Natasha! I didn’t realize how easy it is to make a homemade vanilla extract! I will definitely make this as it will save me a bunch of money from buying vanilla extract which I use a lot! This is also an adorable homemade gift for the holidays! Thank you for sharing! 😉
Thank you Sheila!! It’s so nice to be able to refill it also as you use it and I agree I love homemade gives the most! 🙂
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I have been wanting to make extract for a couple of years. With you’re help, I just placed my Amazon order and will have them made by next week! YAY!
Such cute bottles and presentation!
Thank you!
That’s awesome! I’m so glad you were inspired 🙂
What a cool idea!!
Thank you Sara :-). I had fun making them!
They get 5 stars for being so cute 😊 Can’t wait to make this! Where did u get the bottles? They look awesome !
Thank you Anna 😬, they will make a nice Christmas present for someone.
I love vanilla and this seems soo simple. I will have to add this to my must try list. I also really love the labels to.
Thank you for that nice compliment! Homemade vanilla really is amazing in smell and taste. I hope you love it!! 🙂
hi natasha do you know how to make aioli mayo sauce? i cant seem to find it in stores. lol.
Hi Lily, it’s so easy and I do have a good one with my zucchini crisps recipe.
I don’t drink at all. So when I go to the store to buy alcohol for my baking, I always get embarrassed and feel inclined to tell the cashier that I’m buying it for baking LOL I am so excited to do this. I know when I make it, it won’t last long. But would you happen to know how long it’s good for?.
lol I know exactly what you mean! I always let them know it’s for baking. Then I try to act very casual as I walk out of the store and hope no one I know has spotted me. Ha ha!! Homemade vanilla extract can last for years. As far as I know, it doesn’t really expire 🙂
I made Vanilla extract in the past for family and friends. But, have to say, I really love your labels and presentation. Much nicer than the ones I did. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for the sweet compliment! 🙂
Yu are right. Perfect christmas gifts! I have nieces that love to make yummy desserts and these whould be great little gifts. By the way, they love to make your desserts! One of them made your tiramisu for Thanksgiving, and we ate it all! People where asking for the recipe! Thanks a million!
That’s so sweet! I’m so happy you all enjoyed the cake and thank you for sharing that with us! 🙂
I Natasha, thank you for your recipe. I’m French and i don’t find this little bottle in France. Where did you buy it please ?
Great question, Adele! We purchased the bottle here.
Thank you Natasha.
Beautifully done!
Thank you so much! 🙂
place some vanilla sticks out of the vodka in sugar make sure the gar is closed well. you will have vanilla sugar on hand , wonderful taste…..i use this on fruit salad ect