How to Make Vanilla Extract, Part One [and a Giveaway!]

Have you seen this one coming?  You know I love vanilla and making things from scratch, so it was only inevitable that I learn to make vanilla extract.  Luckily, the only thing that's difficult about making vanilla extract is the waiting.

The main thing you need for vanilla extract is high quality vanilla beans.  Vanilla beans are one of the hottest commodities in baking.  They can cost a pretty penny and you don't always get the quality you're looking for.  Not so with these amazing little beauties that Beanilla sent my way.  These are the plumpest vanilla beans I have ever seen!  They've got eight varieties of beans as well as vanilla paste, extract and powder.

Beanilla sent me four varieties: Madagascar, Tonga, Tahitian and India.  They have slightly different notes, but they're all plump and beautiful and full of flavor.  I chose to use the Tahitian for the extract, mostly because the beans were shorter and they fit nicely into the mason jar.

So here's what you need: some vanilla beans, some vodka, a paring knife, a clean mason jar, a dark place and some time.  You can make as much extract as you want, but the ratio of vodka to vanilla beans is one cup for every three beans.*  Here are your steps:

1. Slice each vanilla bean from top to bottom, leaving about a 1/2 inch uncut at the end.

2. Place the sliced beans in your jar.

3. Pour the vodka over top of your beans and screw on the top of the jar.

4. Give your jar a little shake and put it in a dark place.

5. Shake the jar every couple of days and in eight weeks, you've got the perfect extract.

Easy peasy.  I can't wait to unveil the finished product in January.  It will definitely be a test of my patience.  In the mean time, I have a little surprise for you.  One lucky Oven Love reader is going to get these little beauties in the mail:

A vial of Beanilla India vanilla beans of your very own!  You can make some extract, use the beans and pulp for ice cream or other desserts, put them in your sugar bowl.. there are tons of things to do with them.  I'll highlight some more vanilla recipes as we wait for the extract to finish up.

Just two simple ways to enter:

1) Leave a comment below with your email address telling me what you'd like to do with your beans.

2) Become a (first time) Facebook fan and comment again to tell me you're now a fan.

The giveaway closes on Thursday night at midnight ET.

Can't wait to hear all of your ideas for what to do with the beans.  Thanks, Beanilla!

*EDIT: Just had a quick note to add from our friends at Beanilla.  They recommend 5 beans per cup of liquid to get your best vanilla flavor with standard vanilla beans.  That being said, Beanilla beans are true Grade A and closely monitored for vanillin content, so 3 Beanilla beans should be sufficient.