@susieq : Where did you get your vanilla beans from?
Sure is a great recipe and a nice gift too!

These came from Costco. There are also vanilla bean clubs to order them from, and Whole Foods. Vodka once again came from Costco. Funny story about me and the liquor store.
I do not drink, never have, but decided I wanted to make vanilla extract one day. I went to my first ever liquor store, went in, and asked for some vodka. "How much?" "Uh, 2 cups, I only want to make vanilla extract." of course they looked at me like I was crazy. "What Price?" this I knew, "cheap." Between my stupids and their limited English, we decided it would be best just to show me what they had. I should have known to ask for MLs, which I figured out when I saw the bottles. I got my choice and went to the register. Paid, and walked out with them shaking their heads. When I told the kids about my big adventure, all three told me to "stay out of liquor stores, mom. If you need something, ask, and one of us will get it for you." Of course I still go myself, they don't shop for the pretty bottles like I do.

@susieq : 😂 😂 You remind me of my mom! I went with her to the liquor store when I was little. She needed some rum for a recipe she was making. She finds what she needs and is waiting in line to check out, and for some reason feels the need to announce to everyone that she isn't going to drink this, it's for some cookies she is making. Then everyone in the line starts saying...Oh yeah, me too....Yeah, I got my cookies right here. I was sooooo embarrassed.

They were embarrassed, and they were not even with me!I forgot to say split the beans and scrape out the seeds adding them to the vodka. Leave the ends together a bit, so the two halves stay together.

That vanilla extract sounds delicious. Never knew it was made with vodka. But now I'm going to try it. That's for the recipe

You can use anything you like, from bourbon to brandy, but vodka will give you a more pure vanilla flavor. You can also do orange or lemon pretty much the same way, just make sure to only use the colored part of the peel, none of the pith. Let it steep in the vodka for 2 - 3 weeks, and smell it, left too long it can get bitter. Vanilla only gets better over time. Years even. When you use all the vodka, take the beans and put them in sugar for several weeks and have vanilla sugar to make cookies with a special twist.

@susieq : That is too funny ! I bought a bunch of fancy bottles a few years ago thinking I would make some vanilla extract for my friends for Christmas. Well the bottles have been sitting in the attic all this time. I think I would like to try it this time. Thank you for the inspiration !

It is so easy. Right now, I have been using my current bottle for a year, so it is really 2 years old. I have another year old bottle to open when it is finished. I have a friend who has some that is more like 10 years old.

Im my opinion, vodka is best as a neutral spirit, but Everclear diluted with distilled water is better, from what a read.

@Blackbird : I think I prefer vodka. I have Everclear, and have searched recipes for extracts using it, and have not found any. Using it to make flavored moonshine, yes, and a few recipes along that line.

susieq: you amaze me with your cooking skills.

I enjoy using Mexican Vanilla in my baking.

@cocosmom : Thank you, but this is easy. You really should try it. If you do it the traditional way, make some now and it will be ready to gift next Christmas. Do it with the instant pot, and it will be ready for this Christmas.

@Musicmaker : Mexican vanilla isn't always safe. Several years ago, there was some that was being made with ssome toxic ingredients. I quit using it then, and started making my own. I don't know how the quality is now, I am sure it would depend on the source.Many times it contains coumarin in it, which is in the same family as warfarin, which can cause bleeding. Warfarin is a major ingredient in rat poison.It isn't in all of it, so just check your ingredients. There have not been any reports recently of problems with humans using it. I just like to be safe if I can.

@susieq : Thank you for this information.