Making vanilla extract at home is the easiest thing ever! All you need is vodka and vanilla beans and a couple of minutes, and this homemade vanilla extract practically makes itself. While it does take 6 months for the extract to come together, it’s worth the wait!

This vanilla extract will definitely become your new secret ingredient and bring your recipe to a whole new level. I find homemade extract to be extra rich and flavorful as you can control how long the beans infuse. There are so many ways to use vanilla extract, from breakfast to dessert. Use it in my vanilla cake recipe, french toast sticks recipe, or cookie cake recipe!

What You Need to Make This Recipe

Vanilla beans — some of my go-to vanilla beans are Madagascar vanilla beans, Mexican vanilla beans, and Tahitian vanilla beans. Madagascar vanilla beans are the most common ones in stores and have a creamy and rich flavor. Mexican vanilla beans have a bold, dark, smokey flavor. And Tahitian vanilla beans have fruity, floral, and cherry-like flavors. Pick your favorite! If you want a traditional tasting vanilla extract, use Madagascar vanilla beans.

Vodka — for a vanilla extract that tastes like the store-bought extract, use vodka as they’re neutral in smell and taste. You do not need expensive vodka as the vodka will take on the flavors of the vanilla beans.

How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract

1 Using a sharp paring knife, split the vanilla beans in half down the length of each bean to expose the seeds.

2. Place the split beans in a pint-sized glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

3. Pour the vodka over the beans and seal. Shake vigorously. Store the jar in a spot away from direct sunlight and shake it occasionally.

4. After letting the beans steep for 6 months or up to 12 months, you can transfer the liquid to 4-ounce glass bottles for easy use or gifting. Place a piece of vanilla bean in each bottle if desired.

Pro Tips for Making This Recipe

The more fresh and soft the vanilla beans are, the easier they are to slice open.
If you do not have vodka on hand, you can use bourbon, rum, or brandy instead. As long as the alcohol is 80-proof, you can use just about any alcohol. A higher proof will produce a stronger extract in a shorter period of time.
Keep in mind that using different alcohol will change the flavor as vodka is the most neutral option. For example, using bourbon will make your extract slightly smoky with caramel undernotes, but using rum will lead to a sweeter extract as rum is distilled from sugarcane.
Use a narrow bottle or a small jar to easily cover the vanilla beans entirely with vodka.
If you have extra vanilla beans leftover, make sure to store them properly, or they’ll dry out. Wrap extra vanilla beans in either wax paper or plastic wrap and store them in an airtight glass container or vacuum-sealed. Store them in a cool, dark place, not the fridge, as refrigeration can cause excess moisture.
A funnel makes it much easier to pour the vodka into the bottles if they’re narrow. If you do not have a funnel, you can pour the vodka into a measuring cup so the spout can prevent spillage.
If you want to make extract in less time, you can use more vanilla beans with the same amount of vodka. Given the cost of vanilla beans, time is your budget-conscious friend if you can plan for it. That being said, making homemade vanilla extract is still much cheaper than buying it!

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I leave the vanilla beans whole or cut them open?

It would be best to cut the vanilla beans open so you expose more of the beans to the alcohol. If you leave the beans whole, the vanilla extract will take much longer to reach peak flavor.

How do I make double-fold vanilla extract?

Double-fold extract is extra strong vanilla extract. Most store-bought extract is single-fold, equivalent to 4 to 5 vanilla beans per 8 ounces (1 cup) of alcohol. Simply double the number of vanilla beans in the homemade extract to make double-fold vanilla.

Do I throw out my vanilla beans afterward?

You can leave the vanilla beans in the bottles indefinitely and continue to top up the jar with alcohol as you use the extract. Alternatively, you can make vanilla sugar with the used vanilla beans. Place the old vanilla beans in some granulated sugar to infuse the sugar with vanilla flavors.

Can I make a non-alcoholic version?

This recipe requires alcohol but sources such as The Spruce Eats suggest you can use food-grade vegetable glycerin in place of alcohol.

How long does homemade extract last?

Technically, aged extract can last indefinitely if you continue to top it up with more vodka and fresh vanilla beans. As long as you store the extract in a cool, dark place, you can keep using it until you run out! As long as the vanilla extract still smells good, it’s still good to use.

For the best success, pour off the liquid extract into small bottles for everyday use. If you want to use the bottle with the beans, just keep topping it off with a little vodka when you use it. The main thing is to make sure the beans stay submerged to keep any bacteria from growing.

You can keep a “mother” jar or main jar full of split beans and vodka and keep adding to it. Anytime you scrape a bean for seeds in a recipe, add the pod to your jar and continue filling with vodka as you use the extract.

What is the difference between Grade A and Grade B beans?

Grade A beans are often referred to as ‘gourmet’ vanilla beans, and Grade B beans are referred to as ‘extraction’ vanilla beans. Grade A beans have over 25% moisture, so they look plump and are pliable, whereas Grade B beans have less than 25% moisture, so they’re drier. This means, Grade A beans are more beautiful and easier to split and scrape out for recipes such as crème brûlée compared to Grade B. While you can use Grade A beans for homemade extract, Grade B vanilla beans work just as well! They’re less pretty, but they cost less and are just as effective for homemade extracts.

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If you’ve tried this Homemade Vanilla Extract recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

5 from 6 votes