DIY Vanilla Extract

Apple Cake

This delectable Apple Cake has a slightly crunchy crust and a soft moist center that is loaded with chunks of sweet apple and pecans. It is perfectly spiced with cinnamon, ground cloves and nutmeg. It is lightly drizzled with an easy four ingredient caramel sauce. I make this cake several times each fall for bake sales, potlucks and family and friend get-togethers.

Easy Ratatouille

This easy ratatouille recipe is a classic summer French stew filled with vibrant, colourful and nutritious vegetables: tomatoes, zucchini and eggplant. It is a low-carb, gluten-free and vegan dish that can be made in one pan and served atop greens or grains, as a side to a main entrée, or all on its own.

7 Comments

Nam | The Culinary Chronicles on 1.16.2015

@hellena – I keep the vanilla pods in the bottle and once it gets nearly 2/3 done, I fill it back up with vodka and start the process over again

@Chaille S – Thanks!! The labels are from the Container Store and I bought the Boston Round Bottles online via Amazon

Chaille S on 10.30.2014

I love your bottles and labels, where did you get them?

hellena on 10.28.2014

So excited to make this. Do you leave the vanilla pods in there or do you take them out after the 2-3 month steeping period?

Donna H on 10.20.2014

Thanks Terri for getting back to me/us. I think I have used both vanilla’s not thinking about it. Maybe I was thinking the heat from the oven would bake the alcohol out of it. Who knows with me, lol!! I’m going to try to make this anyway and hope the alcohol bakes be gone, lol! Thanks again Donna

Terri @ that's some good cookin' on 10.20.2014

@ zimmsbride–use a mid price vodka. There is no taste advantage in using a high priced vodka. The stuff that I have been using for the past year cost about $10 and I have been producing excellent vanilla with it. By the same token, though, you don’t want to use the vodka sold on the bottom shelf, either.

@ Donna H–Pure vanilla extract is made with alcohol, so if you have been using it without a problem, then the homemade stuff will be just fine, too. On the other hand, if you avoid pure vanilla extract and use imitation vanilla extract so that you won’t have to encounter the alcohol, then making your own alcohol vanilla at home will be problematic.

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