How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract Using Bourbon

Store-bought real vanilla extract is expensive and the imitation just doesn’t taste quite right. Making homemade vanilla extract is easy. It just takes patience.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fifth of bourbon
• Six bourbon vanilla beans
• Dark cabinet

1. Purchase a fifth of bourbon. Make sure the bottle is bourbon and not whiskey. It doesn’t have to be expensive, the cheapest bourbon will do.

2. Purchase bourbon vanilla beans. These can be found at either your local health food store or online at places like Bulk Foods.

3. Remove one to two shots of the bourbon from the bottle. Drink these if you so desire.

4. Use a sharp knife to slip the six vanilla beans in half, exposing the inner fruit and skin. Do this before Step 3 if you drink the two shots.

5. Drop each bean half into the fifth of bourbon. Put the lid back on the bottle.

6. Store the bourbon bottle in a dark cabinet for at least 3 months. The longer it sits, the more vanilla taste the bourbon will have.

7. Use as desired for recipes.

Tips & Warnings

• Vodka and dark rum can also be used to make homemade vanilla extract. As with the bourbon, neither has to be the expensive stuff.
• Buying vanilla beans in bulk is cheaper than purchasing them individually.
• After the extract is made, the vanilla can be stored in smaller bottles. Colored bottles will allow the extract to retain its taste longer.
• Homemade vanilla extract makes wonderful gifts. Add in the ingredients for a special recipe to make a gift basket.

Resources

• Bulk Foods