Homemade Vanilla

Cut vanilla beans lengthwise into quarters and then in half the other direction.

Place the whole cut vanilla beans (cut into four sections as stated above) into a glass bottle. You can buy perfect little four-ounce bottles online or just use a canning jar that you might already have at home.

Fill the bottle the rest of the way with vodka. You can also use a mild brandy or bourbon instead of vodka if you like.

Place the lid on and store in the pantry or cupboard for at least 6-8 weeks, giving the bottles a good shake about once a week.

When finished, decorate bottles with cute labels and ribbons (labels and ribbons optional). They make great gifts for friends who like to bake. It’s a good idea to include a recipe if you are giving it to friends who have never used their ovens to make a cookie from scratch.

Although the vanilla beans can sometimes be pricey, they are worth every penny because to refill extract, you can just add vodka (or brandy) to the vanilla beans again whenever you start to run low. You don’t have to replace the beans for a long time.