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....TLDR....
Use your preferred brand of Vodka or Bourbon. Cheapest is fine.
Use any kind of jar. I prefer flip top bottles, or you can reuse something you have or use a Mason jar.
Buy Swing Top Bottles HereSteep 7-8 vanilla beans per bottle in your alcohol of choice for 6 weeks minimum before using. Longer is fine, top off with more alcohol as you use it.
Buy Vanilla Beans Here
Trust me, worth it!
Trust me, worth it!
Making your own vanilla is super easy! Its basically just a tincture of vanilla beans in bourbon or vodka. Doesn't even have to be the 'good' stuff! For this TikTok video, I chose to use the cheapest bourbon my local store had available, a 750ml bottle for $16. The vanilla beans vary in price, but I'll link to the ones I used below. Yes, the cost up front is a little bit, but the beans can be reused over and over again for up to 3 years! YEARS. Making your own vanilla gives you the opportunity to know exactly where your vanilla comes from and what is in it.
Making your own vanilla is also a great gift to give anyone who loves to bake or make their own coffees. The swing top bottles that I recommend using adds an air of elegance to the gift as well. Have fun and enjoy!
Vanilla - you want to use B grade vanilla beans. The A grade beans are used for making ice cream and using the actual paste inside the beans. B grade beans are perfect for soaking and making vanilla tincture. You'll want about 7-8 beans in each bottle.
Buy Madagascar Vanilla Beans Here
Alcohol - For the basic recipe, you'll want to use plain vodka. I have used plain vodka many times and it makes perfect vanilla. Using bourbon adds a wonderful depth of flavor and taste to your confectionaries. I haven't tried this, but you could also try one of the many flavored vodkas and whiskeys. Hello, vanilla peach?! Sounds lovely!
Buy as much as you need. For the video I made for Tiktok, I had two 12.68 oz flip top bottles, so one 750ml bottle of bourbon filled both bottles exactly plus an extra sip. As you use your vanilla, remember to top it off again so you never run out!
Swing Top Bottles - You can buy any size bottle you want. I started out making vanilla using an 8 oz bottle, but I'd have to top it off with more alcohol every time I used it for a recipe. (For that matter, you could also use mason jars if you have them on hand, but I chose flip tops because of aesthetics, ease of use and less moving parts.)
Thank you for visiting! Write a comment on my TikTok video and let me know if you make it. I read every comment and try very hard to reply to every one!
Ya'll have a great day! <3
-Rachel
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