How To Make Homemade Vanilla Extract – Only Two Ingredients

Learn this easy process to make your own homemade vanilla extract that is way better than anything you can buy at the store! All you need are two ingredients and some time to make the best vanilla extract with this simple process. 

Homemade vanilla extract is shockingly simple to make. To be such a versatile, and staple ingredient in kitchens around the world, you would think that it would be complicated to recreate in your own kitchen, but it is much easier than you might think. One of the reasons why I love making my own vanilla extract is that it’s much more cost-effective than store-bought, and the flavor is far superior.

Using vanilla in baked goods adds a beautiful depth of flavor, and you can really tell the difference between low-quality vanilla and the good stuff! Making vanilla extract at home ensures that the vanilla extract is high quality and will make your baked goods taste incredible. The rich vanilla flavor you get from homemade extract is worth the effort. But honestly, it’s barely any effort at all! This recipe requires only two ingredients. And then the hardest part is the wait… You have to give the alcohol in the extract time to do its work to draw out the essence of the vanilla. But it is well worth it! You can use this homemade extract in any of your baked goods, or other recipes like my Homemade Vanilla Coffee Creamer. This flavorful vanilla extract will give you the best coffee creamer ever! 

Why homemade is the way to go

Not only is the flavor of homemade far better than store-bought vanilla extracts but it also is better quality for a lower cost. Did you know that many of the bottles of vanilla in the spice aisle are actually imitation vanilla and full of artificial flavors? This was a big shocker for me as I started to learn about the ingredients in our food! And if you want to get real vanilla extract, you certainly pay a pretty penny for it. You can always easily spot the fake stuff with the store-bought options by just looking at the price tag. If it is on the lower end, it will be imitation. 

Imitation vanilla is made with a compound called “vanillin”, and although it tastes similar, it just cannot compare with the flavor of the real deal. “Vanillin” is synthesized in a lab, or it is made from wood pulp. Not only is imitation vanilla made with artificial flavors, but it also tends to have artificial colors, preservatives, and added sugar. When making your own pure vanilla extract at home is so easy and cost-effective, it just doesn’t make sense to use something that is less flavorful and full of artificial stuff. 

Homemade vanilla makes the perfect gift

I think there is something so special about giving homemade gifts for the holidays. The thought, time, and effort always mean so much to your loved ones! This Homemade Vanilla Extract makes a great gift. You can purchase some nice bottles and make pretty labels, plus it is really easy to make a big batch of them to give to all your family members! I recommend making the extract around June so that you give the extract enough time to work its magic and when they open it on Christmas they can use it right away. If you don’t make it in time for that, I think that’s okay too! Just put a date on it so they know when they can start using it. 

I also think this Homemade Vanilla would be a great addition to a gift basket that has other baking supplies such as holiday cookie cutters and tea towels. It is really something you could have fun with! 

What You Need To Make Vanilla Extract

Surprisingly, it’s only two ingredients! Just whole vanilla beans and vodka. It’s really that simple! Once you learn how simple it is to make your own, you will never want to use store-bought again.

How to select vanilla beans

One of the reasons why I love making my own vanilla extract is that it’s much more cost-effective than store-bought, and the flavor is far better. When I first started shopping for them, I visited my local grocery store…ONE bean was twelve dollars! I’m all about shopping local, but I can’t be putting groceries on layaway either. I found these organic Madagascar vanilla beans on Amazon and was really pleased with the quality. You can also reuse your vanilla beans to make more extract!

When getting the materials for this recipe, I also learned that there are different varieties of vanilla beans to choose from! Vanilla is the fruit of an orchid plant that grows only in tropical climates, so there are a few places that grow the majority of the vanilla beans that you can buy. One of the most common is the Madagascar Vanilla Beans, which is what I used for this recipe. Vanilla from Madagascar has a rich, creamy, and sweet flavor profile. Another popular type is the Mexican Vanilla Beans. Vanilla from Mexico is said to have a spicer and smokier flavor than the Madagascar vanilla. And then there are the Tahitian Vanilla Beans which have a little more of a floral profile. You could have fun experimenting with the different types of vanilla to find your favorite flavor profile. 

When buying vanilla, look for vanilla pods that are plump, soft, and glossy. Vanilla is rated as either grade A or grade B beans. Grade A beans are a better quality, but either one will work because you are just simply extracting the essence out of the beans. 

What type of Alcohol should you use for vanilla extract?

The good news is quality isn’t as important for this ingredient. You just need 80-proof alcohol. Vodka is the most common type of alcohol used when making vanilla extract because of its’ neutral flavor and it’s what I opted to use when making mine. You can use whichever brand of vodka you like and still get amazing results, so if you want to use the cheap stuff, go right ahead! I think it’s best to put your investment into the vanilla beans because that is where all the flavor is anyway. Just be sure to use plain liquor rather than anything flavored, like vanilla vodka. 

I will say, I’ve read about bourbon vanilla beans and am itching to try it. They say the flavor is rich and decadent. You could really experiment with different flavors of the liquor with different beans. Something tells me the smokiness of the Mexican Vanilla beans soaked in bourbon would make an incredible extract! 

Rum is another liquor that can be used to make your own vanilla infusion, and you could try dark rum or white rum. I think it’s really just about personal preference when it comes to selecting what you use. Regardless of which alcohol you choose, I can guarantee you’re going to be amazed at the flavor difference of your homemade vanilla extract compared to the store-bought version.

Extra Materials to make vanilla extract 

Since I’m making my batch of vanilla extract for gifts, I purchased these 4 oz amber bottles to package it. They are the perfect size for gifting! They also come with a small funnel that’s pretty crucial to the bottling process. When I make a batch for myself, I prefer these larger flip-top glass bottles because I go through vanilla extract pretty quickly. If you want, you can also use something like mason jars. Anything that is a glass jar or bottle will work great!

Free Printable Vanilla Extract Labels

The package of amber bottles I’ve linked above also comes with chalkboard labels and a chalk pen, but I found that they were too small to include the info that I wanted. I created my own labels with a space to add the date that the extract is ready to use. It’s 2in x 2in, and I think it looks really pretty printed on a craft paper label like this one. Adding these pretty labels and a cute bow is the perfect way to gift the vanilla extract because it gives it a nice personal touch. I created the labels for the vanilla as a free download so you can use them too! 

You can download the label for free here:

Homemade Vanilla Extract Video Tutorial

How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract

This process could not be more simple. While you can make smaller batches, with the general ratio being about 5 vanilla beans per 8 oz of alcohol. I would say that you can get by with adding 2 beans to each 4oz bottle you make, maybe just let it steep a bit longer. 

I’m making a big batch, so I added all 25 of the beans I purchased into a 1.75L bottle of vodka. Using the ratio I mentioned above, I really needed about 30 beans, but I decided to use what I had and give it a bit more time to steep. Since you can reuse your vanilla beans for years and years, I don’t see how this could be an issue. 

Directions to make the Homemade Vanilla Extract recipe

1. Split vanilla beans lengthwise with a sharp knife.
2. Remove the stopper from the vodka bottle.
3. Add all 25 beans to the bottle and replace the lid.
4. Store in a cool dark place at room temperature out of direct sunlight and give it a good shake once per week.
5. Enjoy after 6-12 months. The longer you allow it to steep, the darker the color and richer the flavor that will develop. It may seem like a long time, but the wait is worth the bold flavor! 

How long does vanilla extract last?

Vanilla extract that has been stored properly, with the beans fully submerged in the alcohol, will last for several years. For best results, it is important to keep the beans submerged to prevent them from going bad. Vanilla extract that has had the beans removed will last indefinitely! You can also just refill the bottle with more alcohol as you use it and the vanilla essence will continue to steep into the alcohol. Pretty neat, huh? If you find the flavor to start to be less intense over time, you can just simply remove the old beans and add in new ones to help the flavor intensify again. 

Recipes to use your Homemade Vanilla extract in:

Homemade Blackberry Ice Cream with Buttermilk and Lemon – the homemade vanilla extract tastes amazing in this ice cream! It compliments the sweet blackberries and the tang of the buttermilk and lemon so beautifully. 

Homemade Vanilla Coffee Creamer – using a good vanilla extract will make the most delicious coffee creamer you’ve ever had, and using homemade just takes it up a whole new level. It tastes way better than store-bought and is made with ingredients that you can actually pronounce. Plus, it is super-budget friendly too!