13 Reviews of Home Brewed Vanilla Extract - Homemade - Copycat- Clone

From: s'kat

On Oct 7, 2002

This stuff is incredible. I haven't yet made it, but my mother-in-law uses that very same recipe from Southern Living. She has shared some of the extract with me in recent months, and I was amazed at the difference in flavour. If you've never had the pleasure of home made extract, do yourself a favour this holiday season and try it out!

From: Barb Gertz

On Jul 1, 2004

I used a whole bottle of Vodka, 10 Vanilla Beans cut into small pieces and stored it in the pantry for several months. Am just starting to use it. It adds a great and smells delicious. I ordered the beans on-line(nice big beans) and were so much cheaper than the health food store. This recipe makes for a lot better and cheaper vanilla. Thank you for posting.

From: Kasha

On Aug 10, 2003

Great recipe, I do it with a whole bottle of vodka and 8 to 10 split vanilla beans. I let it sit in a dark corner of the cupboard for 8 months to a year. I go through one vodka bottle of extract a year, so I remake one and always have one ready to be used when the current one is ready to run out. The beans are expensive, but the total cost must be less than buying all of that store bought extract, and this is so much better. You can take out the beans, after a year, dry them out and bury in a jar full of sugar for awhile, it makes the sugar taste good too, and you can use it in all sorts of things.

From: Cloudtears

On Oct 8, 2002

Thank you so much for this recipe. At last a way to get around the high cost of this very important ingredient. I think I may also try it with coconut flavored rum, sounds like a power house addition to baking.

From: Dotty2

On May 2, 2005

There will never be a bottle of store bought vanilla in my house again.I started this in Nov. and added a couple of extra beans but it has been ready for a while. I plan on starting another batch to have ready to give for Christmas gifts. This would be a wonderful hostess gift at any time of the year. A very treasured recipe. Thank-you

From: TXGrammio

On May 30, 2003

I made this recipe when it first came out in Southern Living, and have been using it ever since that time. It is wonderful and adds such a nice vanilla flavor that can't be beat! Wanda in Wichita Falls, TX

From: V'nut-Beyond Redemption

On Sep 8, 2004

I use the whole bottle of vodka and 6 beans (from Bali) and let it sit for about 6 months. It smells good. I prefer using brandy or rum but vodka is good too.

From: atlfitgirl

On Aug 11, 2007

I used 5 vanilla beans and 1c of vodka and placed the mixture in a mason jar. I have made this extract twice now...once using organic Tahitian beans and another using organic Madagascar beans. Both extracts are to die for!!! I will never buy the commercial stuff ever again. It is so much easier just to make it yourself if you can find a good source for fresh, plump vanilla beans. My extracts have been sitting in my pantry for almost 9 months now and are a beautiful amber color...not to mention smell so heavenly!!!

From: BothFex

On Jan 31, 2004

Made some of this and oh boy did it rock! Flew threw it. Will have to keep a batch perpetually going. After having my own vanilla- I'll never go back to store bought.

From: Silbee

On Jul 12, 2005

Well, having read the reviews i have started two bottles going, one with vodka and the other with a small bottle of brandy. After three weeks both bottles are shaping up and smelling beautifully. I'm not going to rush either mix, this is something that should be allowed to develop quietly. Should be great for Christmas baking however!!!