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. 
I saw your recipe last week and I had to make them. I had to save a few for my husband because when my kids came home for school they went nuts over them. So I had to run out to the store and get more cheese. I wound out making 7 different types of crackers. And they were all awesome…. I made Pepper Jack, Swiss and Black Pepper, Blue Cheese/ Brick, Chipotle Chedder, Chedder, Chedder Bacon, And Parmesan/Brick. For the Blue and the Parm I did them half and half because those two can be kinda strong on there own. I took them a party and they were a hugh hit.
I am planning on making more this coming weekend.
Thanks for the recipe.
beantownbaker — January 23rd, 2013 @ 8:27 am
Wow! All of those sound awesome. I made another couple batches last night too. My sister made some and threw in a packet of ranch dressing mix. The possibilities for this recipe are literally endless!
haha, love how excited hubby is about them 🙂 i’m going to have to make some crackers!!
beantownbaker — January 24th, 2013 @ 12:06 pm
My sister has already made them twice. And the girl NEVER bakes. And my friend made some this weekend. Not going to lie, I’ve made them 4 times already…
i’ve always really wanted to make my own crackers. i LOVE these flavors!
These are adorable. And I’m jealous of the Penzey’s across the street!
beantownbaker — January 24th, 2013 @ 8:44 pm
It’s kind of dangerous having one so close!!
With the Super Bowl coming, I will have to make these. They look so tasty! Love Penzey’s. I’ve never had fresher spices.
beantownbaker — January 27th, 2013 @ 4:10 pm
I would recommend doubling the batch for the Superbowl. I made more yesterday for hanging out with friends and the 4 of us went through an entire batch while playing cards.
OMG Jen these are adorable! I like cheesy crackers, but would so much rather make them myself and know what’s in them. Plus Car’s vote of approval is always a plus. 🙂
beantownbaker — January 29th, 2013 @ 12:41 pm
He more than approves of these. He asks me to make more every chance he gets.
Great information. Lucky me I found your website by chance (stumbleupon).
I have book-marked it for later!
Oh wow, I need to make these, like now. I love cheez-its and with chipotle? I’m sold!
beantownbaker — February 26th, 2014 @ 4:44 pm
They’re definitely awesome. We can plow through a batch in no time flat!
I used to eat store bought cheez-its until i saw the laundry list of preservatives and foreign ingredients. I am very glad you shared this, now I can make them myself!
I like the kick of chipotle, great idea!
beantownbaker — March 25th, 2014 @ 9:28 pm
They’re SO MUCH better than store bought! And no preservatives!