For those of you who make your own vanilla-- do you use rum or vodka? I recently bought some Madagascar beans to do my own but don't know which is the norm. Thanks!

only vanilla taste -- vodka or everclear (which would have to be diluted with water after finished extracting)

using rum will give both tastes -- rum & vanilla (which can make a wonderful vanilla rum & coke!)

I like rum vanilla for chocolate cakes.
I prefer vodka vanilla in my other cakes (no tastes).
However, I much prefer vodka in my orange juice and rum in my coke.

everclear is the one you have to cut...not the vodka.

everclear is 190 proof (95% alcohol) so would want to do at least 1:1 with water to get it down to around 95 proof, the same range as a good vodka.

recipe:
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_vanilla_extract/

Doug, You always have a great answer for everything. Thanks for the help!

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Vanilla-Extraction/

This web site has all the answers.

I just use vodka-Ina Gartens recipe. It's great.

cooks illustrated just recommended in their latest magazine to use vodka...i actually bought some but haven't made it yet. going to make earlene's homemade kahlua while i'm being crafty also...have spent so much money on store bought, it's about time i make my own!!!!!

I found it by going to foodnetwork.com and went to her recipes.
www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/vanilla-extract-recipe/index.html

minivixen-is there a recipe for the homemade Kahlua?

Thanks Madras, I'll try that too!

I've been making my own vanilla for a few years now. My first batch was 3-4 beans, split, put into the vodka, gently shake the bottle a few times every day for a month - strain those bean pods out, add 3-4 more split beans, do the same for another month, strain those pods and add 3-4 more split beans - ready for use. I found that batch a bit strong so the next batch was 4 beans and another 4 beans. It's perfect in my opinion.
I also received a tip here on CC to use bourbon. I did a small bottle of bourbon and use that in my caramel recipe for caramel/chocolate covered apples and caramel popcorn.

here is the recipe for the homemade kahlua...it makes a very large batch, so make sure you have enough vodka purchased ahead of time, along with a big enough container (s) to hold it all. (that's my delay...have to buy one more thing of vodka)

http://www.earlenescakes.com/recipes.htm

Thanks Minivixen-theres some more great sounding recipes on there! Did you notice there is a recipe for a smaller amount of the Kahlua?

Don't forget to add the vanilla pods that you've scraped for other purposes into the vanilla brew - they still have a ton of flavor in them

I primarily use vodka, and the cheapest that I can find at that - it makes great vanilla extract! I started a jar of rum-based vanilla extract about a year ago, and at first it had a faint vanilla scent, but now it's just all vanilla. As I recall, the cheap rum was slightly more expensive than the cheap vodka.