You may remember the post I quickly threw together – Homemade Vanilla Extract – so that everyone could get started on their homemade vanilla extract in time for holiday baking. Well, if you followed along with me, it’s about that time to either package for gift giving or to make pretty for your own use. Of course, you could just leave your vanilla in a canning jar but I prefer to prettify it. 😉
First I strained out all of the little vanilla bean flecks. I really had a hard time deciding whether or not to strain them out. I am sure that they must add to the rich vanilla flavor but on the other hand, they are kind of icky looking floating around. Because I am gift giving, I decided it was best to strain – I’ll probably leave them in for my own bottle! I used a piece of muslin to strain but you could just as easily use a coffee filter.
I purchased my bottles very inexpensively at Save-On-Crafts.
There are quite a few blogs out there with great labels for packaging your homemade vanilla extract. I’m not an expert at this type of stuff but I’ve made some for my own gift giving that you are free to download if they float your boat. Just print them on sticky paper, cut them out and affix them right over the arranged ribbon.
Vanilla Extract Labels PDF File
If this is the first you’ve heard of making your own vanilla extract, it’s not too late to order supplies and get these started for holiday gift giving. I would put the beans and vodka directly into the jars and add a hang tag that says it will be ready for use in 4 to 6 weeks from the date you started them!
Happy Gifting!
Such pretty little gift bottles. I’d be tempted to make some myself, but we designated the last of our vanilla beans to making vanilla sugar. Do you have a favorite source for vanilla beans?
My daughter is making vanilla sugar right now with the left over vanilla beans. Have you tried yours? Is it good? I’m excited to try it! In my original post there’s a link for Madagascar vanilla beans.
https://www.simplynotable.com/2011/homemade-vanilla-extract/
Hi. Met you on Pic the Holidays!
Dearest sweet carli, these are absolutely wonderful gifts!! Thanks so much for sharing how to make these and i love your gorgeous bottles you used. Very beautiful!
So glad i came by from picture the holidays group! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!
Thank you so much Diana & Jacqueline! I sure enjoyed making these little gifts.
Can’t wait to get started on the Picture the Holidays! 😉
Wow, I just realized the spice site you get your vanilla beans from is where I got my last batch from as a free sample for ordering something else. Guess I stumbled onto something good there! As for our sugar, we haven’t tried it yet because it isn’t ready, but my MIL has been doing this for years and says it always come out wonderful. It’s my first real experience playing with vanilla and it’s yummy! My newest trick is vanilla added to mashed sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving – divine!
Their prices seemed pretty reasonable to me! I also got 2 free spices when I ordered. Pumpkin spice and Black peppercorns. Both wonderful (and almost gone already!) Vanilla added to sweet potatoes sounds DELICIOUS!!!
I make my vanilla in a dark brown bottle…not nearly as pretty, but safer for the extract, expecially if not storing it in a dark cabinet:
from http://www.baktoflavors.com/
“Vanilla extract should be stored dark glass bottle. Vanilla extract contained 35% alcohol and if stored in plastic
for long period of time will change its taste and lose quality. Vanilla extract contained many different phenols
which are sensitive to light, tint, dark bottle is the prefer way to store vanilla extract”
And I buy the beans from ebay for a ridiculously low price – just search for vanilla beans and you’ll find dozens of hits.
I did read that Laurie but like you said, not nearly as pretty packaging. I will be sure to tell my gift recipients to keep the vanilla in their pantries. 😉
I have a question! I’m about to try this but only have a few jars. Do you think placing 2 cups vodka and 6 vanilla beans in one jar would work the same? If not, I need to buy some more jars! Thanks! And great idea! I can’t wait to start it!
Kelsey
Hi Kelsey, that would work perfectly. It’s what I did with my 2nd batch after I got my vanilla bean order. Both batches turned out beautifully! Have fun!
Thanks for the quick and easy recipe. I made some for family Christmas gifts, they were a hit!
How did you sterilise bottles? The recipe given 1 cup vodka and 3 vanilla beans does that make enough to fill one bottle?
Lisa 🙂
Hi Lisa, I placed mine in the dishwasher on a sterilize setting. My bottles were approximately 8 oz. so I could certainly fit 1 cup into one of my bottles. 😉