Homemade vanilla extract.

**Nishu** · 07-31-2009, 01:56 PM

I read about this in the tightwad gazette, which suggests it as a gift idea. I'm not sure how this compares to store bought stuff and I'm sure it's more expensive than the imitation stuff, but it sure is pretty sitting in my window. I bought a bottle of vodka (350ml I think) for less than $10 and the vanilla beans cost .99 each. I don't think you really need to open them up, since mine were in there less than a day before they cracked open and spit out their seeds.

http://tipnut.com/homemade-vanilla-extract/

If it doesn't work as extract, I"m going to have some yummy vodka anyway.

**frugalfranny** · 07-31-2009, 02:12 PM

Keep us posted and let us know if it works.........sort of partial to the mexican vanilla myself......or watkins.

**chevy_chick95** · 07-31-2009, 05:35 PM

i was thinking of doing this for xmas presents. just hadn't looked up a recipe. thanks!!!:wahoo:

**mauimagic** · 07-31-2009, 05:40 PM

I love this idea!! Where did you get vanilla beans for 99 cents each?

**Nishu** · 07-31-2009, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by mauimagic

I love this idea!! Where did you get vanilla beans for 99 cents each?

I bought them in the bulk section of a store we have here called Central Market. It's kind of a whole foods type place.

And just to clear this up, my vodka is actually 750 ml, not 350.

**mauimagic** · 07-31-2009, 05:54 PM

Mahalo - I remember it being much more expensive - think I'll check out local prices.

**Nishu** · 07-31-2009, 06:13 PM

My mom said the same thing. I'm going to check my receipt and I'll get back to you. She said it's 5 each up where she is. I know that the jar said .99 each, so if I was charged more the jar price must be wrong.

I'll report back.

**2ndGenGranola** · 07-31-2009, 07:08 PM

I've made it before and it is excellent. You do take a sharp knife and slice the bean longwise to get the best product. Make sure the beans are fresh and pliable. You don't want dried up hard beans.

**Nishu** · 08-01-2009, 01:05 AM

I'm going to make vanilla sugar, too!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/a...ipe/index.html

(I'm still looking for that receipt, btw.

)

**mauimagic** · 08-01-2009, 01:16 AM

The vanilla sugar sounds good too!! I found vanilla beans here selling for $3.00 each - that was online - shall check in some of the health food stores too!!

**Grainlady** · 08-01-2009, 01:23 PM

I used to purchase the most WONDERFUL fresh vanilla beans off eBay - http://www.internet-grocer.net/family.htm (The Organic Vanilla Bean Company). These are not those tiny dried up beans normally sold for a small fortune. They are long, thick, and pliable, and great prices for them.

Besides plain vodka, I used cherry vodka for making vanilla, that was great in homemade chocolate pudding or vanilla ice cream, or a cherry dessert. I also made some vanilla coconut rum and another that was a spiced rum. So if you get a large quantity of vanilla beans, you can experiment with all kinds of alcohol bases.

Helpful hint: You'll need several beans per bottle. Keep one bean whole, other than scoring it down one side, and opening it slightly before placing it in the bottle with the rest of the beans. After the time of storage, you can pull that one whole bean out of the bottle and "strip" the rich, black vanilla out of it by "milking" the bean with your index finger and thumb - from the top of the bean to the bottom. Then you can put the bean back into the bottle and reuse it several more times.

The vanilla stripped out of the bean will be very dark and have lots of vanilla seeds in it. This concentrated vanilla is best used in something where vanilla is the stand-alone (dominate) flavor (vanilla pudding or vanilla ice cream).

**madhen** · 08-01-2009, 01:38 PM

Sounds wonderful, grainlady, but I wasn't able to find the vanilla bean on that link.

I like to get my spices from GourmetStore.com.

**mauimagic** · 08-01-2009, 03:54 PM

Mahalo for the links ladies!! Love the fragrance of vanilla and must do some of these - probably not for gifts, truthfully, but for me!!

**Nishu** · 08-09-2009, 12:36 AM

Maui, everyone acted so surprised at the price of the beans it made me doubt my memory... I went back a couple days ago and bought 5 more beans and they were for certain only .99 cents each. They have bulk spices at central market that are just crazy cheap.