It may never have occurred to you to make your own vanilla extract (or even that you could), but you definitely should! Vanilla extract is a staple in most kitchens and making your own is both easy and affordable. If you’re like me and a mom who looks for all the ways to save money and make food from scratch for her family whenever she can, this is the perfect recipe for you. It was so simple to learn how to make my own; you can see for yourself!

3 glass bottles of DIY homemade vanilla extract for baking sitting on the kitchen counter.

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Why You Should Make Your Own

As I mentioned above, the first reason you should make your own is the cost. Vanilla extract is EXPENSIVE! When you make your own, you pay less per ounce and get a lot more than you get in the tiny bottle from the grocery store. You can also re-use the beans for multiple batches which makes it even more cost effective. If you use it as often as I do, you’ll save money making bigger batches.

Second, you get to control the ingredients. You can use high quality organic ingredients, rather than artificial ingredients like many of the store bought brands. You can choose where to source your vanilla beans from and what kind you prefer and with that, control the flavor.

Lastly, it’s so EASY! Why wouldn’t you? As a mom who tries to make whatever I can homemade for a variety of reasons, this is a no brainer for me. Plus, there are so many uses for it than you might think! Keep reading for ideas.

Choosing Your Vanilla Beans

There are multiple options for which vanilla beans to use. Here are a few of the types and some of their traits so you can make your own choice based on the flavor profile you’re looking to make.

Madagascar Vanilla Beans: Madagascar is known for producing the highest quality vanilla. These are the most common beans out there and what most traditional vanilla extract is made from. They have a sweet, creamy rich flavor that infuses well into food.

Mexican Vanilla Beans: These beans are grown and harvested in Mexico. They are thicker than other types and have a woody yet spicy aroma with flavor notes of both spice and sweetness.

Tahitian Vanilla Beans: They are usually less expensive than Madagascar beans and have a floral or ripe cherry like flavor.

There are other types, but these are the most commonly chosen for homemade vanilla extract. I personally choose the Madagascar vanilla beans and have had great success with those.

a bottle of Tito's vodka, 2 glass bottles with airtight lids and 6 vanilla beans. All ingredients needed for making your own vanilla extract on display.

Choosing Your Alcohol

There are different types of alcohols you can choose to use when making vanilla extract, but there are 3 main kinds that are typically used more than others. The main thing to keep in mind is that the alcohol should be at least 70 proof.

Vodka – Vodka is the most common choice and it will give you a very smooth and pure, well balanced vanilla flavor. If you’re looking to make a very typical vanilla extract replacement for what you’ve previously bought in the store, this is the one I’d suggest, and use myself.

Bourbon – If you’re looking for an alcohol to complement the vanilla beans, bourbon might be the one you want to use. The flavors of oak and spice enhance the sweetness of the vanilla and gives it a rich flavor.

Brandy – Brandy has a fruity and nutty flavor and creates a rich and sweet flavored vanilla.

How to Make Vanilla Extract

Now for the best part. Time to make your vanilla extract, and again, it’s the easiest thing to make. So easy, anyone can do it. The one thing you will want to keep in mind is that it takes awhile for the vanilla to infuse and it won’t be ready for use for 3-6 months minimum so if you need it tomorrow, you may have to pick some up at the store!

Ingredients:

1 Cup Vodka or alcohol of choice
6 Vanilla Beans

Step 1 – You will need to gather your ingredients and an 8 ounce glass jar.

Step 2 – Slice open 6 vanilla beans from top to bottom and peel them open a bit. You may need to trim them to fit the bottle.

Step 3 – Add the vanilla beans to a glass bottle. Pour in enough vodka to cover the beans completely.

Step 4 – Seal the bottle with an airtight lid and give it a shake. Store in a dark cool place for 3-6 months. Shake once a week until you’re ready to use.

Glass bottle with clear alcohol and 6. vanilla beans in it infusing to make homemade vanilla extract with a Tito's vodka bottle in the background.

How to Use Your Vanilla Extract

You may think there’s only one way to use vanilla extract, but here are some great ways to use it that you might not have thought of. It’s definitely worth making your own!

Baking – This one is obvious. If you bake, you know you use vanilla extract in a lot of (if not most) recipes and it goes fast! The store bought kind is always in the tiniest bottles!
Cooking Savory Dishes – You can also use vanilla extract to add a subtle sweetness to any marinades or sauces you have or are creating. You can add it to cheese such as ricotta or goat cheese for that touch of sweet to the savory.
Drinks – You can add it to any kind of drink, but some more popular ideas are teas (matcha latte!), hot chocolate, smoothies, cocktails and coffee. You can use it as a replacement for the vanilla syrup you might add to your morning latte.
Air Freshener – This one might be a surprise but vanilla extract can be used as a natural air freshener. You simply add a few drops to a cotton ball and place the cotton balls in the room you want to remove an odor from.
Homemade Skincare – Vanilla extract can also be used in skincare products. It can used as a natural antiseptic to sooth and moisturize skin, while making your skincare product smell divine. Try adding some to your tallow or other homemade skincare product!
Gifts – You can always make a batch and gift it to a friend. Homemade vanilla extract makes a really awesome gift for the friend or family member who bakes or just prefers homemade items.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

This is the easiest vanilla extract recipe.

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Equipment

1 Glass Jar At least 8 ounces

Ingredients

6 Vanilla Beans
1 Cup Vodka Or alcohol of choice

Instructions

Gather your ingredients and an 8 ounce glass jar with an airtight lid.
Slice open 6 vanilla beans from top to bottom and peel them open a bit. You may need to trim them to fit the bottle.
Add the vanilla beans to a glass bottle. Pour in enough vodka to cover the beans completely.
Seal the bottle with an airtight lid and give it a shake. Store in a dark cool place for 3-6 months. Shake once a week until ready to use.

Notes

The flavor will intensify the longer it sits so if you can wait up to 12 months, it’s going to be a stronger flavor but it’s definitely usable after 3-6 months.
You can make a larger bottle at once, just be sure to use the 6 vanilla beans to 1 cup of alcohol ratio.