Update: Vanilla Extract Is Completed!

The Organic Vanilla Extract is Complete! See my tutorial here on how to make the extract. It took 2 months! The adorable amber bottles have been collecting dust(bought them on Amazon). Wayne got on photoshop and made the labels the perfect size for me, and tiled them to fill the page. They look great huh? I went with a vintage style. The project is for personal use only. I am not going to be selling these bottles. So I will tell you that I did take the label idea from Eat Drink Chic's DIY Free Vintage Apothecary Labels download. Once downloaded I screenshotted it, and deleted everything but the border, and the two lines that strike through the center. I wouldn't have been able to do this project and make it so cute without her free label download. So full credit to Amy Moss for that!
I filtered the vanilla extract with two layers of cheesecloth inside my tea kettle's loose leaf tea insert over a jar(it fit inside the jar perfectly somehow). Once the jar was full- I funneled the extract into each bottle. Rinsed the bottles, and dried them. Then carefully placed the label on the bottles. The labels were printed on sticker label paper-Full sheets(got mine at Amazon). We cut the labels out by hand for the vintage look to make rounded corners.

Other than the fact that I have an endless supply of homemade gifts, I now have tons organic vanilla extract for all baking needs! 

I just purchased more organic vodka. The key to keeping the extract going, and getting better and better with time is leaving a quarter of the jar full of extract and just adding more vodka as you take it out. Leave the original seeds, and vanilla beans in there and keep the rotation going. Don't forget to shake the jars one to two times a week!

How To Make Organic Vanilla Extract!

I became completely inspired to make vanilla extract because I came across a Call Me Cupcake blog post. She said it was two ingredients. My mouth dropped.. How is that possible? Vodka and Vanilla Beans! It is just about as simple as that. Let me show you how.
We bought our vanilla beans online. They are organic and Tahitian. Tahitian beans- are flowery, fruity and anisic with a smooth flavor. There are three different kinds of vanilla beans so not every extract will be identical. Next step was buying an organic vodka. There were only a couple of organic options at the liquor store we went to. So that is the reason for the selection. You can use any liquor you want for making vanilla extract, but go for one with at least an 80 proof (or 40% alcohol). Vodka is commonly used because of its neutral or “flavorless” taste, allowing the flavor of the vanilla to really come through. Next all sanitized items- a knife/scissors, a mason jar, and a measuring cup.

You need three vanilla beans for each cup of vodka. The one pictured is a 2 cup mason jar. So six vanilla beans are being used.

Each bean has to be cut down the center starting at one end, and leaving the other connected. This exposes the seeds inside to the vodka. As they are split place them in the mason jar.

Measure one cup of vodka, and pour it over the beans.

Measure the second cup of vodka, and pour that also over the beans.

Now shake that baby up! You will see the seeds floating around. Next- place a label with the date on it, because it needs to be stored in a dark and cool cabinet for at least two months. You will need to shake it one to two times each week. You can keep your jar of vanilla extract going indefinitely by refreshing it with additional beans and refilling it with more liquor. Since it’s primarily alcohol, vanilla extract can last decades. Below pictured is what one day old vanilla extract looks like.

I purchased cute amber jars, and have created a vintage style label to print out to be gifted once these babies are ripe and ready. I will post the completed product when they are well and ready for distribution.

Source: here