How to Make Never-Ending Homemade Vanilla Extract from Scratch

This never-ending vanilla extract will be a staple for any home baker’s pantry! Made of just vanilla beans and vodka, this recipe is so easy!

For this recipe, you will need…

3 vanilla beans (I use Spice Islands brand)

6 oz of plain vodka (any kind… even the cheap stuff works!)

2 oz high quality vanilla extract (I use Spice Islands brand)

Sharp paring knife

Glass jar with Canning Lid

Let’s get started!

For this vanilla extract, you will be able to add vanilla beans to it indefinitely.

So, every time you bake something that needs vanilla beans, even if you just used the caviar in the vanilla beans, throw the old beans into the jar! They will intensify the flavor of your vanilla extract over time.

This recipe will save you more money than you can believe if you are a baker, as you probably go through a TON of vanilla extract. Even if you are not an avid baker, you will save money because this vanilla extract will not go bad, even after a couple years in the pantry!

I can’t wait to show you how easy this is. Let’s jump in!

Preparing the Vanilla Beans

The first step to making this extract is slicing the beans length-wise to extract the caviar.

This is where all the flavor is located! Over time, these little seeds and the pods they came from will become infused in the alcohol mixture, making an awesome extract!

Slice all 3 beans lengthwise. Next, use a small spoon to scoop out the tiny little vanilla seeds. See the picture below of what we are looking for.

Once all beans have been scraped, add the scraped vanilla bean caviar to your glass canning jar. Add the bean pods, too!

Adding the High Quality (Already Made) Vanilla Extract… and Why

To the vanilla caviar, add the 2 oz of high quality vanilla extract.

This helps the vanilla extract taste good from the start, allowing you to use it faster. You technically could leave the 2 oz of high quality vanilla extract out and just wait for the vodka and beans to do their thing, but you would be waiting for a while.

If leaving out the 2 oz of high quality vanilla extract, this recipe needs to sit for about six months before you will get a true vanilla flavor. You could probably use it after about two months, but the vodka taste will overpower any vanilla flavor present.

If using the 2 oz of high quality vanilla extract from the start, your results will be a lot better from the start. In fact, you could use it same-day! The flavor profile will develop over time, and start to get really good around 2-3 months.

Remember, keep adding every bean pod you get! It is well worth it!

Adding the Vodka

Next, add the 6 oz of vodka directly to the jar. Every kind of PLAIN vodka will work. Stay away from artificially flavored stuff. This will not mix well with the vanilla beans!

Finally, put the lid on the jar and give the jar a good shake!

Congrats!

That’s it!

Seriously… that is ALL you have to do to make your own vanilla extract from scratch.

This recipe will last for years, and if you keep adding to it, the flavor will get better and better! Just like fine wine 🙂

I hope you enjoy this vanilla extract recipe. Our family loves it, and it serves up very well!