12 Days of Homemade Christmas: Homemade Vanilla Extract

in Christmas, DIY, Holiday Favorites

Tahitian Vanilla Beans

Another staple in our holiday goodie baskets are bottles of Homemade Vanilla Extract. Each bottle contains homemade vanilla extract and a fresh, split vanilla bean pod.

Good vanilla is expensive and for good reason – vanilla beans are the second most expensive spice in the world. And vanilla extract is ridiculously easy to make. I haven’t thrown a vanilla pod away in 3+ years. I also haven’t bought vanilla extract in over 3 years.

The Container Store has pretty, inexpensive bottles that work great for vanilla. I’ve used the dark brown glass bottles, hermetic topped bottles, and cork-topped bottles. Dark glass is supposedly the best but I go through it so quickly that I don’t think twice about storing it in small clear glass bottles.

Homemade vanilla extract takes about 3 months to get ready. Didn’t start your vanilla in time? You can still add vodka and a couple of split vanilla beans to a pretty bottle and give them away with instructions to let them finish aging!

Get the recipe: Homemade Vanilla Extract

The 12 Days of Homemade Christmas 2010
Swirly Chocolate-Peppermint Bark Fleur de Sel Caramels Chocolate Crackles Tahitian Vanilla Beans Peppermint Chunk Cookies Red, White, and Green Biscotti
Cranberry Pecan Bread Salted Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Homemade Red Wine Vinegar Homemade Granola Homemade Marshmallows

8 comments… add one
  • This is great! I am currently making some (started it in August or so), Can’t wait to try it out/taste it!!

  • wow, homemade vanilla extract is another level for me 🙂

  • I made vanilla extract a few months ago and it’s truly life-changing. No more store bought. I’m now making lemon, mint and almond extracts!

  • Wonderful gift idea. I do love my homemade vanilla.

  • I made some this summer for a foodie friend of mine. I can’t wait for her to taste the difference! The hardest part for me was finding the right containers–didn’t even consider the Container Store! Thanks for the tip.

  • This is on my to do list! I bought a bunch of vanilla from Tahaa in French Polynesia and I have decided to make homemade vanilla extract out of it. Thanks for the recipe!

  • the urban baker

    doing the same thing. i get to get on it! lovely post!

  • I have got to try this!!

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