The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This Homemade Vanilla Extract recipe is straightforward to make, costing around $0.68 per fluid ounce. It’s perfect for gifting or stocking your pantry!
If you are short on the time this recipe requires, we recommend you try our Instant Pot Vanilla Extract!
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Every year we love to make gifts for neighbors and teachers, and every year we stress about it! We want it to be thoughtful, useful, original, and something that will not break the bank! That is a hard list of expectations, right? Until now!
We have an awesome gift idea for you with this Homemade Vanilla Extract recipe. Everyone can always use Vanilla, right? And guess what, Homemade Vanilla Extract is about 100 times better than store-bought!
The smell alone of this homemade version is worth it to make it. AND then the flavor? Oh my goodness, it is amazing. Everything always tastes better homemade, right? Homemade Vanilla Extract is no exception. We cannot express enough how much better this tastes than the store-bought. Your neighbors and friends will love you for making homemade vanilla extract for them this year.
Here’s the other thing, guys, we don’t know about you, but we do not like paying a crazy amount for something that we can easily make at home for less. Isn’t that the worst? Vanilla extract falls into this category. It is so expensive!
We just cannot believe how pricey it is. It pains us every time we have to buy it. It costs about $5.84 for 1 fl oz at the grocery store. Are you serious! Don’t do it! You can now make it for approximately $2.72 for 4 fl oz! That’s awesome!
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
COST PER 4 OUNCES (WITH GIFT BOTTLES): $4.38
RECIPE COST WITH GIFT BOTTLES: $57.97
This recipe will make 1.7 liters of vanilla extract or just over 7 cups!
For the price of a 1-ounce bottle of Vanilla Extract from the grocery store, you can gift a 4-ounce bottle of homemade vanilla extract to friends or neighbors!
- 25 Vanilla Beans from Amazon – $18.99
- 1.7 liters of Vodka – $18.99
- 12 (4 ounces) glass bottles from Amazon – $19.99
To learn more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
How to Make Homemade Vanilla
- First, split the beans in half lengthwise.
- Then, cut the beans in half and put them in Vodka for 10-12 weeks.
- Next, pour the vanilla into the desired bottles and set them aside.
- Then, every week flip the bottle upside down a couple of times to distribute the vanilla throughout the bottle evenly.
- Finally, after you have hit the 10-12 week timeframe, you can enjoy the Vanilla extract in your recipes!
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
Storage Tips
Store: Store the extract in a cool dark area, and it will keep indefinitely!
Freeze: We do not recommend freezing the extract.
Recipe FAQs
Is homemade vanilla extract better?
We can say with a resounding YES that homemade vanilla extract is better than store-bought. Isn’t everything better homemade?! Don’t believe us, try it!
How long does homemade vanilla extract last?
According to Eat By Date, below is a table of how long Vanilla is good for:
(Unopened/Opened) | Pantry |
Pure Vanilla Extract lasts for | Indefinitely |
Imitation Vanilla Extract lasts for | 2-4 years |
Vanilla Beans last for | 1+ years |
What is the best alcohol to make vanilla extract?
The best alcohol to use is Vodka. The reason Vodka is the best alcohol to use is that it is the most neutral tasting as far as flavor goes. You could experiment with other types, such as bourbon or brandy, but we think Vodka is the best choice. Just beware that the flavor of the vanilla extract will change if you use a different variety of alcohol.
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Let them help flip and shake the bottles.
Ages 4-5: Let them help flip and shake the bottles. They can also help you deliver the finished vanilla extract.
Ages 6-8: Let them help split and cut the beans in half and then help flip the bottles.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Discover why we love getting the kids involved in the kitchen and more tips in our How to Get Kids Involved In Cooking article.
What to Serve with Homemade Vanilla:
Add it to the following recipes:
- Chocolate Dipped Gingerbread Cookies
- Chocolate Dipped Sugar Cookies
- Chocolate Glazed Biscuit Donuts
- Chocolate Pecan Pie
- Death by Chocolate Poke Cake
- Easy French Toast with Blueberry Syrup
- Homemade Buttermilk Syrup
- Homemade Granola
- Red Velvet Buttermilk Waffles
- Sheet Pan Pancakes
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Equipment
- paring knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 25 Vanilla beans
- 1.7 liters Vodka we used the Kirkland brand from Costco
Instructions
- Split the vanilla beans by cutting them in half lengthwise. Then, cut the beans in half.
- Open the bottle of vodka and pour out about ¼ cup.
- Place the vanilla beans inside of the vodka bottle, and screw the cap back on.
- Once a week for 10-12 weeks, shake the bottle for about 30 seconds.
- The extract will be ready in 10-12 weeks.
FOR GIFTING:
- Split the vanilla beans by cutting them in half lengthwise. Then, cut the beans in half.
- Place 1 ½ vanilla beans inside of 12, 4-ounce glass bottles.
- Fill each bottle with vodka, and screw the cap back on.
- Place the remaining vanilla beans back into the vodka bottle along with the excess vodka.
- Once a week for 10-12 weeks, shake the bottles for about 30 seconds.
- The extract will be ready in 10-12 weeks.
Ashley says
I love making homemade vanilla extract and keeping it on hand to give as a hostess gift!
Jess Jankowski says
We love it too!
Jenn says
I’m SOOO happy to see this recipe! Good extract can be so expensive – I’ll be making my own from now on. Thanks!
Jess Jankowski says
It is mind blowing how expensive it is to buy it from the store!
Andrea Metlika says
Never thought to make my own vanilla but now I can’t wait to do this. I’m going to give it out as gifts too.
Jess Jankowski says
Let us know how it goes!
Whitney says
I would have never of thought to make my own and as expensive as it can be, this is a great idea!
Jess Jankowski says
We love how inexpensive it is but also it is a different gift idea than just your normal cookies that end up getting thrown away.
Genevieve says
This vanilla extract tutorial is amazing! Pinning for later, thank you!
Jess Jankowski says
Thanks for pinning it! Hope you stop by again.
Micki says
I love this recipe! Where I live in Canada, Costco is one of the cheapest places to buy pure vanilla, and it’s well over $30 a bottle. I’ll be making my own from now on.
Jess Jankowski says
Isn’t that crazy!? So happy we can help you save some money with this recipe.
Justine says
Homemade vanilla extract is soooooo good. The hardest part is waiting for it to be ready to use!
Jess Jankowski says
Agreed!
Fitoru Keto says
Wow! This is awesome! I’m going to try this tomorrow and I’m so excited about it. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Jess Jankowski says
You will never buy store bought again! I just filled my jar up today as I was getting low coincidentally!
Sam says
Is this safe for kids? If not, what can I use as an alternative for the vodka?
Jess Jankowski says
Hi Sam, all pure forms of extract, vanilla included, have a percentage of alcohol in it. It is safe to use in cooking/baking because recipes often call for such a small amount. However, while we have never tried it, we did find that you can use vanilla beans, food-grade vegetable glycerin, and water to make vanilla extract.
Bischa says
Any idea if it could be in anayway benefitial to scrabe out the vanilla seeds and of course also add them to the bottle, so they can float around in the vodka to infuse it maybe even more and then maybe also give the benefit of getting some of the seeds in to the future recipes the extract is used in to get those ‘pretty black’ vanilla speckles, we all likely love in icecream etc.
Jess Jankowski says
Hello, because you slit the pods open before adding them to the vodka, the seeds will spill out naturally and float around to do exactly as you say!
Sheryl Granade says
How many beans would you put in a 750 mL bottle of vodka?
Jess Jankowski says
Hi Sheryl, 750 mL is about 25 ounces. For every 6 ounces, you would use 4 vanilla beans. Hope that helps!