Let’s elevate vanilla extract. This recipe is super easy, all natural and delicious. It will make recipes extra special for you and any lucky recipient.
You need: Whole Vanilla Beans, Rum or Vodka and Mason Jar/s
Take whole vanilla beans and cut them in half. I used Kirkland Organic Whole Vanilla Beans from Costco. Then gently slice them down their center to open them up, exposing the inside. Put 5 of the halves in a Mason jar. Depending on how many beans you slice you can make one jar or many jars.
Fill the jar with white, dark or spiced rum or vodka. I used an off brand I had in my pantry. I made one jar with dark rum and the other with spiced rum as an experiment to see how they will differ in taste.
Next, cover the top of the jar with a small square of waxed paper then tighten the lid. Give it a gentle shake or two to stir it all up. Now you wait 12-16 months. Yes all good things are worth waiting for.
Give the jars a flip once per day for the first 2-3 weeks then a flip once per week for the next 2-3 months. After that, flip it once per month until it’s ready. Wait a minimum of one year. It gets richer and more depth of flavor if you wait even a little longer than a year. But even after the minimum of one year this will be the best vanilla extract you’ve ever tasted. You can add it to baked goods, cocktails or anything you want. These make great and thoughtful gifts. Plan your recipient list for next year and start vanilla-ing. For a visual, you can view my vanilla extract reel on Instagram. Good things come to those who wait. In the meantime Happy Holidays.
The Wondrous Journey of Being Here 