A friend gave me some homemade vanilla extract. It is a whole vanilla bean sliced opened soaking in 4 oz. of vodka! I used 1 tablespoon of it in a double batch of icing and WOW!!

I don't know which taste is better, the vanilla or the vodka!!

What a wonderful idea! I have bottles and bottles of vodka that we never use - now I'm going ot make Vanilla extract for myself and as christmas gifts! Thanks for sharing!

Good to know. Thanks for sharing.

It is great, but you have to let it soak for some time (2 weeks min)... so if you are planing christmas gifts, better get started!
The only con I find about it is that it makes my cake too yellow... still the falvor is wonderful!

Ok - thanks for the info. I'll buy my vanilla beans tomorrow and get started!

I make my own vanilla. This wen site helped me a lot. You need a minimum of 1 month before the vanilla is ready to use.

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

I started making my own vanilla last year. That's a good link that madras gave if anyone wants to make their own.

Here's a discussion from here on CC too:
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=583550&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=vanilla&&start=90

I make mine out of KY bourbon and we live in a county that is dry! My son usually gets it for me, as he lives in a wet county...makes the best vanilla ever!

ok so how do you know my sister ???

really she just brought a 5th of vodka she had fixed with the vanilla beans for my Mother guess it has to sit a month

And she brought me the beans to make my own 2 different kinds of beans.


after it is down she said you can remove the beans and stick them in sugar for vanilla sugar.

omg, I totally love this idea!!!

And check Costco because they have a really good price on vanilla beans.

Oh my gosh, that link (Indestructables) says to use 98 BEANS in a gallon of vodka!!! It says anything less is just vanilla flavored booze! That's waaay more beans than I've ever seen used, but then, maybe you don't have to let it sit for months and months to steep? I've been meaning to try this, I guess now is as good a time as any!

Oops....Instructables, not inDEstructables, sorry! LOL

I never tried the vanilla, but I will now. Thanks for the info.
I made some with star anise and vodka, 1 quart vodka and 15 stars (star anise pods, found at Gro. store) and let steep for 6 months. W0W the taste is awesome, I used some in bc icing and it is so good, it does make the bc a light tan color. So Good tasting. I also use it in cookies. It has the taste of black licorice.