Homemade Vanilla Extract for Gifts

Make homemade vanilla extract for gifts! This makes a wonderful Christmas gift idea, or you can make it for yourself in these cute little bottles.

We’ve been making our own homemade vanilla extract for many years, because it’s just so easy and tastes delicious!

Homemade Vanilla Extract for Gifts

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One of my favorite things to do is make homemade vanilla extract for gifts in cute bottles.

This would make a wonderful and useful Christmas gift idea, packaged in a cute basket with some homemade beeswax candles and other items.

Add a label and some twine, a few hand-knit dishcloths (here’s a free pattern!) and a cute kitchen towel, and you have the perfect gift.

One thing I love about giving homemade vanilla extract for gifts is that it’s not clutter.

Everyone can use vanilla extract in their kitchen, and then when the vanilla is gone, they can recycle or repurpose the bottle for another use.

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How to Make Vanilla Extract for Gifts

Making your own vanilla extract is one of the simplest DIY projects ever. You literally only need two ingredients to make this.

1. Vanilla beans
2. Vodka

That’s it! Add a suitable container (I used these 4 oz. glass bottles with lids), and you’re ready to go!

Here’s how simple it is to make your own homemade vanilla extract for gifts.

Ingredients and Supplies

• Vanilla beans
• Vodka (or any 80 proof alcohol)
• Glass bottles with lids (I used these)
• Funnel
• Kitchen shears

Instructions

1. Thoroughly wash the bottles and lids in warm, soapy water (or sterilize them), and let them dry.
2. Using the kitchen shears, cut the vanilla beans in half and then cut each half down the center, lengthwise.
3. Put the vanilla beans in the bottle. For these small 4 oz. bottles, I used one and a half beans per bottle. The usual ratio is about 3-4 beans per 8 ounces of alcohol.
4. Using the funnel, pour Vodka over the beans in the bottle and fill to the top (leaving a bit of space at the top). Try to make sure the beans are completely covered with the alcohol.
5. Give each jar a shake, and then store in a cool, dry place. Shake each jar about once a week. Wait at least 3 months (but longer is better), until the vanilla has turned a dark brown color.

Notes: I usually store my brewing vanilla in the pantry, and I give it a shake whenever I think about it. If you’re making this for gifts and there isn’t time for it to get as dark as you’d like, just include a note to wait until a certain month before using.

Get the Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe

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Homemade Vanilla Extract for Gifts

Make homemade vanilla extract for gifts! This makes a wonderful Christmas gift idea, or you can make it for yourself!

Equipment

• Glass bottles with lids
• Funnel
• Kitchen shears

Ingredients

• Vanilla beans
• Vodka or any 80 proof alcohol

Instructions

• Thoroughly wash the bottles and lids in warm, soapy water (or sterilize them), and let them dry.
• Using the kitchen shears, cut the vanilla beans in half and then cut each half down the center, lengthwise. You can also cut them smaller to fit your container size.
• Put the vanilla beans in the bottle. For these small (4 oz.) bottles, I used one and a half beans per bottle. The usual ratio is about 3-4 beans per 8 ounces of alcohol.
• Using the funnel, pour Vodka over the beans in the bottle and fill to the top (leaving a bit of space at the top). Try to make sure the beans are completely covered with the alcohol.
• Give each jar a shake, and then store in a cool, dry place. Shake each jar about once a week. Wait at least 3 months (but longer is better), until the vanilla has turned a dark brown color.

Notes

I usually store my brewing vanilla in the pantry, and I give it a shake whenever I think about it (usually about once a week). If you're making this for gifts and there isn't time for it to get as dark as you'd like, just include a note to wait until a certain month before using.

Gift Giving Ideas

As I mentioned above, these bottles of vanilla extract would be so cute tied up with twine (like this red baker’s twine) in a basket with some other kitchen items. Here are a few ideas for what to put in your gift basket:

• Homemade Beeswax Candles
• Hand-Knit Dishcloths
• Kitchen Towels
• Cookie Cutters (this set of every-season cookie cutters would be cute!)
• Rolling Pin
• Apron

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This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my disclosure here. Sharing here.