I hear you can get a full pound of vanilla beans for $25. That’s amazing! I got these beans, 10 for $5… and I bought 20 beans. I’m not going to do the calculations for how expensive this vanilla is… it’s fun to make, easy to make and I’m sure if you made it in huge bulk, it would be super-duper cheap to make. As it is, I think I’ll compete with Costco.
Ingredients in homemade vanilla:
1. Dry vanilla beans
2. Vodka (or other low flavor alcohol)
Directions:
1. Cut the beans in half lengthwise (you can see my beans were packed in sugar… yum). The bean on the right is cut in half.
2. Measure about 1 cup of vodka per 2-3 beans (1.75 liter of vodka is not quite as much as 20 beans calls for)
3. Put cut beans in glass jars (I had old snapple jars)
4. Cover completely with vodka
5. Let sit for a couple months
I plan on pouring out the vanilla and pouring fresh vodka on top of the beans. I think I can get two batches out of them… but we’ll see. If I can find some smaller, cute jars, this will make a good gift.
p.s.
Total cost – $12 for beans (including shipping)
$24 for mid-grade Vodka
= $36 for 1.75 liters of vanilla
I have done this. Didn’t keep any for myself and haven’t heard back from the recipients as to how they liked it.