Making your own vanilla extract is easy, but it’s not fast, and will never really have the strong taste of vanilla that you find on the industrially produced vanilla extract. The amount of vanilla beans that you need to make a strong extract, will result in a very expensive project, being a lot cheaper and better to just buy some vanilla extract at the supermarket. Nonetheless, knowing how to make vanilla is always an advantage, and you can give it away as a present to your friends. So, let’s get started!

Get six vanilla beans and cut them in half the long way with a scissors, except the last inch so it will stay together and intact. Put the beans in a 1 quart glass jar.  Pour in the jar 2 cups of vodka, or 2 cups of dark rum.  You can also combine the amounts, using one cup of each. Push the vanilla beans down the jar so they are covered by the vodka and rum, and cover the jar.  Put the jar in a dark cool place and leave it for at least 4 months.  Move the jar every once in a while. Once the time has passed, pour the content in six small dark glass bottles, and put one vanilla bean on each bottle.  You can make your own label and give it away as presents, or, you can also pour it in a bigger bottle and keep it to use for your next baking.

Now you know how to make vanilla!