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Lifestyle

DIY Vanilla Extract

Katherine Carroll
This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at Cornell chapter.

Vanilla extract is the epitome of all things good. You can’t tell me it isn’t because that would be a sin against the very nature of baked goods. The world cannot survive without the delectable integrity of Mother Nature’s most intelligible edible.

A few reasons why I am so adamant about this must-have ingredient?

  1. It is the key component to basically every delicious item on the planet
  2. Its ‘less is more’ motto
  3. You can pull a Jennifer Love Hewitt and wear it as perfume
  4. If you smell vanilla extract before eating, you most likely won’t eat as much.  At least, so science says.
  5. You can make your own vanilla extract (!!)
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Photo by Jocelyn Baker

As the DIY queen, number five is a personal favorite of mine. The task is simple, really. You only need five things:

  1. A tightly sealed container, such as a mason jar
  2. A dark spot for the container
  3. A high-proof alcohol such as vodka, bourbon, or rum (and a little extra for you to help with the process)
  4. Three vanilla beans for each cup of alcohol
  5. Oh…and two months. Aka a lot of patience. Sorry.
Update on the Vanilla Extract

Photo by Mikey Sklar

Here’s how it works:

Cut the beans lengthwise with a sharp knife. Leave about an inch at the top of the bean uncut. Place inside of the container.

Cover the vanilla beans completely with alcohol. Note that this may require you to increase the number of beans you use. Follow the simple rule of thumb: three beans for one cup of alcohol.

Completely seal the jar and give it a little shake. Feel free to turn up the music to help with the shaking and getting rid of the extra alcohol you have. (Wink wink.)

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Photo by Joy the Baker

Store in a cool, dry place. Every week or so give it a nice shake.

After two months, your vanilla extract should be ready for use. Remember, every good thing that takes time.

Once your vanilla extract is ready, the real fun begins. Try your hand at baking (check out these recipes for ideas: molten chocolate cake, Boston cream cupcakes, hot vanilla with cinnamon whipped cream, red velvet cake ), grab some friends, find that extra alcohol you have lying around, and throw yourself a little party.

Enjoy!

Katherine Carroll

Cornell '17