I always use Vanilla Extract in my bakes and sometimes even when the recipe doesn’t list it, I would still add 1 teaspoon. In my cupboards, I tend to have several bottles of vanilla extract, I never understand why they don’t sell it in a big bottle!
Last August, I saw on Gemma’s blog that you can make homemade vanilla extract with just 2 ingredients! I thought it was a complicated process but when I read her blog post, it couldn’t be simpler! I was amazed how easy this was to make, it is just a matter of really waiting for the vanilla pods to be absorbed. You can visit her blog as she gives you methods of how you make other flavoured extracts.
All you need to buy is a probably 5- 6 vanilla pods, split them in the middle to open up the seeds and then get a bottle with a tight cap/lid and pour the vodka in! It will be a clear mixture but as the weeks goes by, you will see the colour change and it will be a nice brown colour! Shake the bottle a few times during the week to mix it and the vanilla extract will be ready to used to in about 6 week’s time! I was really surprised that it was made of vodka!! My vanilla extract is now ready to use so I can’t wait to try the flavour!
After 8 weeks, I tried it and you can definitely still taste the vodka which was pretty strong! I thought how can this be used to bake but found online that the alcohol would just burn off when the mixture is being baked. So, I tried this with my favorite banana cake recipe and it’s true, you can’t taste the vodka!! The cake was delicious! Can’t believe I made my own vanilla extract with vodka!!
Aunty G's Kitchen 