Christmas in July – Homemade Vanilla Extract
With just under 5 months until Christmas, it might be time to start thinking about gifts for your friends and family. That’s what I was doing about a year ago. I am definitely a big planner and had decided early in 2009 to make as many Christmas gifts as I could. Some of these gifts required quite a bit of time and some were easy to throw together. This week I’ll be sharing the gifts that I gave our family and friends last year.
The first gift came about due to a sale on Amazon. There was a great deal on 1/2 lb of vanilla beans. I started with two bottles of vodka and the vanilla beans. Once the beans were split (but not scraped) and placed in the vodka, the bottles just had to sit in a cool dark place. Every couple of weeks Hubby would pull the vodka out of the closet and shake the crap out of it. A couple months later the vanilla extract was ready to go!
I ordered some bottles online and made some labels for the bottles to finish off the look. I also placed two vanilla beans into each bottle.
I love that the vanilla extract tastes so good, has the specks of fresh vanilla beans, and will essentially never run out. If the vanilla starts running low, you can just top it off with some more vodka. As you use vanilla beans, just throw the pods in the bottle to replenish the vanilla flavor.
One Year Ago: Goat Cheese Potato Salad and Salmon with Yellow Pepper and Cilantro Pesto
Two Years Ago: Champagne Cupcakes
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Mmmm that sounds awesome! Such a unique dish!! I’m glad it turned out well, and extra props for not giving in to the bribery aspect, I’m sure you would have won otherwise =)
Looks soooo good!! I want to try to make this sometime 🙂
What a great idea!! I need to go eat breakfast now… wish I had this!!
oh yummmmmm. i’ve been craving cinnamon roll all week!
I want to make this this weekend! Thanks for posting!
Oh my gosh, this looks so amazing! Great idea. I think I just drooled on my keyboard a bit. 🙂
Genius!
Would you classify this as a dessert, or breakfast (or both)? 🙂
I’d def call this a breakfast item, but it would be perfect for dessert too!
Ok that is awesome! I gotta try that. Breakfast indulgence here we come!
My husband just suggested monkey bread to me last wknd. I like this version soooo much better, and he will too. Thanks for the great idea!
I usually make something like this on Christmas morning, but I just use regular monkey rolls. I am definitely trying it with cinnamon rolls next time. Thanks!
Awesome idea! I loved the link to the cinnamon roll cupcakes as well. I’m defiantly trying this out with my all time favorite cinnamon roll recipe. Thanks for sharing 😀
That is a genius idea combining your two favorites! I’m super impressed!
My goodness gracious those look good! I haven’t made monkey bread in ages, but have a recipe ready to go once I do. I love your twist!!
Happy Sunday! :O)
be still my heart. you’ve just combined two of the finest creations in all of food land. i bow at your feet. 🙂
WOAH this is sooo smart!!! yum. yum. YUM!
aww that is SO ADORABLE. monkey bread to the max!!!
thnx for sharing!~
Wonderful!
I had originally made your overnight cinnabuns a few months ago and loved them!
I think I have to give this one a go 😀
P.S I’m now following you :D:D
What a great idea-I am drooling all over the keyboard after reading this post! I am definitely going to try this the next time I make cinnamon rolls 🙂
Oh, man that’s a brillant idea! I like my monkey bread gooey so I agree with your suggestion of turning it out asap.
~ingrid