DIY Vanilla Extract

Baking with vanilla beans is so much better than baking with store bought vanilla extract. But when you bake with vanilla beans, you scrape out the seeds and have no use for the pods. Vanilla beans are expensive however, so I hate the idea of wasting the pods. What you need is vanilla beans (use the seeds for something else, maybe a vanilla bean angel food cake?) and high quality vodka. I used a half pint jar and the pods of two vanilla beans. Chop up the pods and place in a mason jar. Fill with vodka. Store in a dark place, it will be ready to use after 6-8 months. When you use it you can always throw in new pods and pour in more vodka, so you will never run out. Use in place of store bought vanilla extract, it makes such a  delicious difference.

xo