Wednesday, February 25, 2026
HomeMoney SavingDo-it-yourself Vanilla Extract Recipe (An Experiment!)

Do-it-yourself Vanilla Extract Recipe (An Experiment!)

I by no means realized how ridiculously EASY it’s to make do-it-yourself vanilla extract; an official recipe isn’t even actually wanted! I adopted some very primary instructions, and I’m so enthusiastic about how they turned out! The end result was scrumptious and frugal — however high-value — Christmas presents!

Close up of split vanilla beans spread across a wooden cutting board with a pair of kitchen scissors in the foreground and glass jars blurred in the background. A red circular graphic overlay reads My Homemade Vanilla Extract Experiment and MoneySavingMom.com highlighting a DIY vanilla extract project.

Do-it-yourself Vanilla: Considered one of My 2025 Targets

At the start of 2025, I set a aim to attempt making 12 new-to-me issues that I’d by no means made earlier than. (See my checklist right here.)

A variety of you instructed me I ought to begin with vanilla because it’s really easy to make and would want to take a seat for at the very least 6-12 months earlier than it could possibly be used.

I’ve realized that if a bunch of individuals counsel the identical factor, I ought to hear. So I did as I used to be instructed and began with vanilla.

Hand holding a sealed package of Organic Madagascar Vanilla Beans Qty 50 in front of a wooden cutting board with loose vanilla beans and empty glass jars in the background. T

The place Do You Get the Provides for Do-it-yourself Vanilla Extract?

Since making do-it-yourself vanilla extract was all new to me, I needed to analysis a number of recipes and particulars on-line to really feel assured sufficient to do it (these of you who’ve made it earlier than can go forward and snigger now as a result of I had no thought it was really easy!!).

I purchased my vanilla beans from Amazon. I priced plenty of completely different locations and ended up getting these Grade A vanilla beans as a result of that they had 12k+ rankings and so many 5-star evaluations!

After which Jesse picked up the Vodka from a neighborhood retailer (and was very disenchanted he didn’t get carded… he got here residence and mentioned, “I had my license out prepared and so they didn’t even ask for it! I assume meaning I’m getting previous!”)

Two large Taaka vodka bottles and one smaller bottle sit beside an empty glass jar with a black lid on a kitchen counter near a window. In front of them are two sealed packages of Grade A organic Madagascar vanilla beans.

Does It Really Save Cash to Make Do-it-yourself Vanilla?

All instructed, it was round $80 for the vanilla beans and the Vodka. It ended up making round 150 ounces of vanilla. That comes out to be round $0.53 per ounce — which is certainly inexpensive than what you’d pay shopping for it on the retailer. In actual fact, I searched at my native shops and all of the vanilla I discovered was at the very least $3 an oz!

Close up of split vanilla beans spread across a round wooden cutting board.

After I shared footage of my vanilla on Instagramfairly a couple of individuals mentioned I may have used fewer beans to save cash. So if you wish to make it even inexpensive per ounce, you possibly can attempt that! Folks additionally mentioned that after the vanilla is made, you may put the vanilla beans in sugar and it’ll make vanilla sugar!

Large glass jars filled with vodka and split vanilla beans sit on a wooden cutting board near a bright window, with additional empty bottles, blue caps, and a knife arranged on the counter.

How To Make Do-it-yourself Vanilla Extract (It’s ridiculously simple!)

It’s so, really easy to make do-it-yourself vanilla! I noticed I’d been over-complicating the thought for years and may’t consider it took me this lengthy to attempt it!

In actual fact, if you happen to’re on the lookout for a do-it-yourself vanilla extract recipe, you don’t even really want one. All you do is slice the vanilla beans down the center, put them in a jar, and pour vodka over them. (You may as well use rum or bourbon.)

Split vanilla beans sit on a wooden cutting board.
A large glass jar packed with whole vanilla beans on a wooden cutting board near a sunlit window,
A hand pours vodka into a large glass jar packed with whole vanilla beans on a wooden cutting board.

Then, you simply let the jar sit in a cool, darkish, room temperature place for six to 12 months. Decide up the jar and provides it a shake each few weeks and guarantee that the beans are submerged in liquid.

That’s it! You should utilize the do-it-yourself vanilla in as quickly as a couple of months or wait 12 months or longer.

homemade vanilla in jars

For extra particulars and footage on making do-it-yourself vanilla, try Sally’s Baking Dependancy.

This might make such nice presents for Christmas if you happen to made it at times set it apart till December!

Do-it-yourself Vanilla Extract Success!!

Two young children sit and stand around a kitchen table helping bottle homemade vanilla extract.
Child wearing green candy cane pajamas uses a large syringe style baster to transfer dark homemade vanilla extract from a gallon jar filled with vanilla beans into a small glass swing top bottle.

The vanilla turned out SO effectively! The youngsters liked transferring it to the bottles with me.

Child wearing green candy cane pajamas uses a large syringe style baster to transfer dark homemade vanilla extract from a gallon jar filled with vanilla beans into a small glass swing top bottle.

I gave do-it-yourself vanilla for presents for Christmas and it was a HIT! We used these bottles to reward them and I feel individuals could have been extra excited in regards to the lovable bottles than the vanilla itself!

Hand holding a small glass swing top bottle labeled Vanilla Extract with dark amber liquid inside, with several more filled bottles arranged on a wooden table in the background.

I nonetheless can’t consider how simple that is and the way lengthy I waited to attempt it! Extremely, extremely really useful!

Two young children in Christmas pajamas use a large syringe style baster to transfer dark homemade vanilla extract from a gallon jar filled with vanilla beans into a small glass swing top bottle.

FAQs About Making Do-it-yourself Vanilla Extract

How lengthy does do-it-yourself vanilla extract final?

Pure do-it-yourself vanilla extract will final indefinitely! Merely take away the beans and retailer it in a cool, darkish place, and it ought to be good for a few years.

How lengthy does it take to make do-it-yourself vanilla extract?

It takes 5 minutes to mix the elements, however they’ll want to take a seat for 6-12 months to completely infuse the flavors.

When you preferred this submit, you’ll additionally love:

Have you ever tried making do-it-yourself vanilla earlier than? Have you ever made any new-to-you recipes or performed any new DIY tasks just lately?

Free goal worksheets

Let me aid you set, observe, and really accomplish your objectives this 12 months!


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