Homemade vanilla is fun to give in decorative bottles with attractive labels. Share it with special friends who like to cook or bake.
—Becky Jo Smith, Kettle Falls, WA
Prep: 5 min. + standing • Makes: 2 cups
6 vanilla beans, split lengthwise
2 cups vodka
Place vanilla beans in a tall jar; cover with vodka. Seal jar tightly. Let stand in a cool dark place at least 6 weeks, gently shaking jar once a week.
1 tsp.: 11 cal., 0 fat (0 sat. fat), 0 chol., 0 sod., 0 carb. (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 0 pro.
HACK
Add a Little More Vanilla
One of our favorite tricks is to add an extra splash of vanilla to baked goods such as cookies, muffins, cakes and breads. A little extra vanilla has the most impact on delicately flavored foods like cakes and cookies that don’t have a lot of mix-ins like caramel bits, peanut butter chips or mint candies.
