Vanilla Extract

Loren's Field Notes

Looking for an easy little hostess gift? Try making homemade vanilla extract. It's easy and a nice little conversation piece.

All you need is a couple vanilla beans, some vodka, and a four to six ounce decorative bottle.

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Place two beans in the bottle and pour the vodka over it. Cork it and wait.

It takes six months to a year for the alcohol to fully extract the vanilla, but in the meantime, it's fun to watch the liquid turn from clear to amber to dark black.

Wrap a ribbon or piece of raffia around the neck of the bottle, and voila!