How long does homemade vanilla extract last?

It can last for years. As long as it smells good, you’re good to go!

Is it cheaper to make your own vanilla essence?

Yes, it is cheaper to make it homemade. I mentioned earlier that after we moved to Georgia, the price of vanilla extract doubled. When I first shared my top items to buy at Costco , I had vanilla extract listed at $6.99 for a 16 oz bottle. Shortly thereafter, I paid $16.99. Isn’t that crazy?! I was convinced to make my own vanilla extract when I learned about the additives it can contain, but when the price nearly doubled, that sealed the deal.

What are the best vanilla beans to make vanilla extract?

I’m a firm believer that quality ingredients just taste better. But in the case of homemade vanilla extract, go cheap – as cheap as you possibly can! The quality of alcohol doesn’t matter when you’re done making vanilla extract, so you can skip buying the good stuff. Your goal should be to find the best deal you can find for vodka, rum, brandy, or bourbon and that’s it. Personally, I use vodka because I use it in other recipes like Homemade Hand Purifiers and Essential Oil Bug Repellent . If you already have another suitable alcohol at home, I’d go with that.

Simple Homemade Vanilla Extract with Only 2 Ingredients!

Name: Homemade Vanilla Extract
Prep time: 1464:00
Cook time: 00:00
Total time: 1464:00
Yield: 16 oz
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16 ounces alcohol (vodka, rum, bourbon or brandy); 4 whole vanilla beans

Homemade Vanilla Extract

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4.6 from 10 reviews

Make homemade vanilla extract without added sugar or preservatives. You only need 2 ingredients and a bit of patience for a delicious baking staple to put in the pantry or give as a gift!

Author: Tiffany
Prep Time: 2 months
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 1464 hours
Yield: 16 oz 1x
Category: Sauces & Condiments
Method: Bowl
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

16 ounces alcohol (vodka, rum, bourbon or brandy)
4 whole vanilla beans
clean jar

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Instructions

Combine alcohol and whole vanilla beans in a clean jar and seal.
Place the jar in a cool, dark place for 2 months, occasionally agitating the beans in the alcohol.
When the extract is done, you can leave the beans in or remove them.

Notes

Some say to split the vanilla beans in half lengthwise before submerging and others say to submerge the vanilla bean whole for the extraction process. It doesn’t seem to affect the final outcome, so I say do whatever is easier for you.
Make Vanilla Extract Faster. I haven’t tested this myself, but I’ve read that you can cut the vanilla beans in half, or even smaller, and that you’ll make extract in as little as 3 weeks. I usually aim for about 2 months for my vanilla extract, but the longer you let it sit, the more the flavor develops.

Nutrition

Calories: 13

Find it online: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/homemade-vanilla-extract/