Reviewed: May 12, 2012

I followed the recipe and after 5 months I am disappointed in the results so far. Fairly weak flavor, and that's with using extract grade beans. The recipe doesn't even specify to use them and I expect the results would be even more disappointing using regular grade beans. I agree with those who assert that more beans are needed for this to work. I just now added 5 more beans and we'll see what happens.

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Reviewer:

CC♥'s2bake

Home Town: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Reviewed: May 8, 2012

I made a double batch of this starting on October 15, 2011. I made a batch with vodka and another at the suggestion of What's for Dinner, mom? using bourbon. Each bottle was 750 ml and I put in 10 split vanilla beans that I purchased from spicesage. I waited the 6 months before using it, shaking the bottles every week or so. The results are wonderful smelling vanilla. I made a batch of 'Vanilla Wafers II' from this site, spliting the recipe so that I could use both vanillas in the same recipe. Both cookies had a great vanilla taste, and you could tell a difference. I would like to make this again to have for Christmas gifts. I won't be purchasing pure vanilla anymore when this one is so easy to make. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

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Reviewer:

Molly

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Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Huntertown, Indiana, USA

Living In: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA

Reviewed: Mar. 14, 2012

I used 750ml of a good-quality vodka, and 24 small vanilla beans I had ordered some months back that had started drying out. It took less than a week before the extract was a good, dark colour, that smelled entirely of vanilla. I admit - I tasted it at that point, and it seemed ready to go. Fewer beans and I would let it steep for longer to extract the maximum flavour. I also sliced each bean in half lengthwise and scraped out the seeds. I tossed everything into the vodka. I will make my own from now on.

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Reviewer:

noblezac

Home Town: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Reviewed: Dec. 21, 2011

So much fun to make and wait for. I would go in to the cupboard every once in a while just to admire and shake the bottle! I started mine back in the spring to have ready for Christmas gifts. Recipients were intrigued and thrilled with such an unusual and useful gift. I will try more beans next time though, as it didn't seem as strong as it should have.

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Reviewer:

Happybaker

Cooking Level: Expert

Reviewed: Dec. 14, 2011

Made this today...so easy! I can't wait to try it in three weeks! I used a medium size bottle of vodka and three beans. Update: I used my extract to make frosting. Yum! I plan to add more beans to make the flavor stronger.

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Reviewer:

MrsFisher0729

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA

Living In: Dallas, Texas, USA

Reviewed: Nov. 19, 2011

One word: IndriVanilla! I got my vanilla beans from them really inexpensively. I did my vanilla extract in a combination of gold and spiced rum instead of vodka but followed the same method and it's amazing. I've been adding the empty pods after I scrape them and use them in other recipes, too, and the flavor is just getting better and better developed. So much better than storebought!!!

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Reviewer:

Chef W

Cooking Level: Professional

Living In: Logan, Utah, USA

Reviewed: Nov. 5, 2011

I started my extract a couple of months ago in preparation for Christmas gifts for my baker friends and family (I'm also making vanilla infused sugar for them as well). I decided to experiment with one bottle of Smirnoff Orange as well. I used the orange extract just last night in a custard recipe - and it was delicious! I can't wait to finish sampling all the other extracts I've made for my friends/family (want to make sure they taste yummy before I hand them out)! At first, I was a bit hesitant to make my own extracts/sugars because I thought the vanilla beans themselves were so expensive... but my friend told me to check eBay - and I buy the beans now by the 1/2 pound. Surprisingly less expensive and so far, they are excellent quality. :-) It's especially great if you're making a lot as gifts and need a lot of beans!

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Reviewer:

JULIE COWEN

Reviewed: Sep. 18, 2011

I bought some vanilla beans on ebay, following the suggestion of other reviewers. I love using this. It is so much cheaper, and fun to be using something I made myself!

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Reviewer:

CHEFJULIE1

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Boulder, Colorado, USA

Living In: Chesterfield, Virginia, USA

Reviewed: Sep. 5, 2011

Super easy. Very inexpensive. Batch #2 is already in the works!

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Reviewer:

hoytr99

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Bedford, Ohio, USA

Living In: Solon, Ohio, USA

Reviewed: Sep. 3, 2011

At four months, I can see that my extract is moving in the right direction. I think it will be great at six months but there is no way that I would have used it at three weeks. Time is this recipe's best friend and I would not try to rush it with the minimum time recommended.

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