Vanilla Extract
Make Homemade Vanilla Extract
1. Cut 3 to 5 vanilla beans in half lengthwise with a sharp knife or kitchen scissors.
2. Use a funnel to fill your bottle 3/4 full (about 6ozs.) with alcohol (vodka, bourbon, rum) or glycerin.
3. Add vanilla beans, halved.
4. Top the bottle off with more alcohol or glycerine until the beans are submerged completely.
5. Close the bottle tightly and allow the vanilla to sit in a cool dark place for at least 3-6 months (the longer the better).
Keeps indefinitely.
Note: The alcohol you does not need to be fancy or expensive. It simply extracts the vanilla goodness. The alcohol will evaporate off when you cook or bake with your vanilla.
Uses for spent pods: You can also make good use of the spent vanilla pods by drying them and then making vanilla sugar or flavored salt.
For more ideas, and sources for vanilla beans check out the Kitchn website.