If you want to take your baking to the next level, try making your own vanilla extract at home!
Ingredients
- 4 vanilla bean pods
- 1 cup of alcohol, such as vodka, bourbon, brandy, rum, or single malt whiskey-does not have to be high quality
Recipe
- First, only use vanilla bean pods that look slightly plump as they will have more caviar, or vanilla beans, inside, and will make your extract taste stronger and more delicious.
- Once you have your pods, use a paring knife to split the pods open without cutting them in half.
- Take a clean jar with a lid and put the pods into it.
- Then, cover the pods with your choice of alcohol and leave it in a cool, dark place for at least 8 weeks.
- Once a week or so shake the jar until the 8 weeks are up. If you want a stronger extract, leave the pods in for longer.
- Once the 8 weeks or longer is up you can use it right away, or if you don’t want the black specks from the caviar in your baked goods you can strain it.
- The best thing about this recipe is that once the extract has been used, you can make another batch by just pouring more alcohol over the beans.