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I started making my homemade vanilla extract today - I used a bottle of Swedish vodka (a fifth?) and 12 split vanilla beans.

I don't know anything about liquor so I asked the salesperson for a mid-range mild vodka -- not top shelf, not rot gut. He recommended the Swedish Svedka.

I ordered the vanilla beans from Olive Nation. 27 beans for $16, free shipping. I ordered them Saturday, received them today, Tuesday. Plus there was a 20% off coupon for other oils, spices, pastas, etc. -- good for a month.

So now I will just put it in the cupboard and forget about it for a few months. I plan to use it also for Christmas baskets.

To use the ounce of vodka that was displaced by the beans I put it in a small jar and filled it up with left over gin (from my experiment with gin soaked raisins for arthritis) and added another split bean and a half. Will it work? I don't know. I'll find out in a few months.

Have you made your own vanilla? How was it?

Two months it should be done. I have a pint of vodka with 3 beans in it. Set it back on February 14. Anxious to check it out.

I've been making my own vanilla for at least 30 years but I prefer rum -- it gives a deeper flavor I think. When I read about using vodka, I did a batch with the vodka but I preferred the rum version. I use white rum and it does turn dark.

I always have one I'm using and one about ready and one just being made.

There isn't anything better to cook with than your own vanilla!!!

I also make vanilla sugar which is good in baking -- cut up beans in sugar and when you use you can add more sugar -- it lasts a long time too!

I haven't been doing that for 30 years but I bet close to 20.

Martha

KYIS -- hope you let us know in April how your vanilla turned out. I am completely out and have to go buy some commercial vanilla until my homemade stuff is ready.

Until Pinterest, I did not know people could make their own vanilla, laundry detergent, and all the other good stuff posted there! What a sheltered life I have led.

The rum vanilla sounds good. Maybe I'll get a pint of that started too. I think everyone I know is going to get a little jar of homemade vanilla this coming Christmas!

And I just put a split bean in the sugar too!

Thanks for the inspiration.

Your welcome. The vanilla sugar adds another dimension to baked goods. And in baking I don't change the amount of the vanilla called for in the recipe.

Martha

I will...

Ooooh! I'll have to try rum before the vodka vanilla runs out and see which I like the best.

I have mixed up a vodka batch in October and another in November. I also bought cute little square bottles with stoppers to put it in. I was hoping to use them for Christmas gifts but the color and smell didn't seem enough "vanillanoee"...(is that a word?) Anyway, I shook my bottles today and you're suppose to do weekly I think. Can't wait to try making this with Rum. Thanks for the tips ladies!

Oh, good idea to use rum! I have a bottle of spiced rum I bought before Christmas but no one but me likes it and I don't drink enough to ever finish it! Good way to use it.

I'm not sure the SPICED rum would be good in homemade vanilla. It would be a different product than plain rum (or vodka) and vanilla beans. Might be good and you'd only be out the beans and it may give an oomph to spice cookies and cakes that plain vanilla wouldn't.

Martha

Lucky, I drink Captain Gordon! If I come to your house, can I have some???? You'll just have to keep working at it. Doesn't go bad so far as I know.

Sure wish I could visit your neck of the woods again.

I don't do enough baking to make it worthwhile to make my own vanilla. I'm sure its wonderful, though.

Martha, I'll eventually try this and let you all know how it tastes. I'll have to wait til I travel to the city to get good vanilla beans. I'm sure whatever the stores around here sell are not the best.

quote:

Originally posted by Florida Farm Girl:
If I come to your house, can I have some????

Sure wish I could visit your neck of the woods again.

Absolutely you can have some spiced rum. I'll mix it with whatever you like!

If you ever are up this way let me know. I'm not too far off the highway to Alaska.

Oh, wow, never realized there was such a thing as homemade vanilla extract.