It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to share this wonderful idea of making homemade vanilla! Is it possible that we can save money making vanilla again?
I did the math! I secured a discount! It’s possible! During this time when people are looking for ways to cut back and save money (and even make money) – I am so happy to share this idea again!
Laura’s Vanilla Bean and Homemade Vanilla Extract History
Way back in 2009, I discovered how wonderful it is to make homemade vanilla extract. The positives:
- It is completely pure
- It saved lots of money
- It is beyond delicious
- We could use half the amount of vanilla called for in recipes because this homemade vanilla is so strong, which results in even more money savings!
Many of you jumped on the Homemade Vanilla Extract train. It was so much fun!
Then around 2014, there was a crop failure and the price of vanilla beans went through the roof. No longer was I able to share that we should all make vanilla. :( I kept waiting and waiting for the prices to finally go down. But year after year, the prices of vanilla beans have remained crazy high.
This, of course, has affected the price of pre-made vanilla extract at the store. I’ve watched those prices creep up through the years, too. Such a bummer!
But what if here in 2020 we can now make vanilla extract affordable again!!!
How to make homemade vanilla extract affordable
I have always purchased my vanilla beans online from Olive Nation. They consistently offer the best price for the highest quality. And because they like working with us here, they offer all Heavenly Homemakers readers a 15% off discount code (HOME)! Plus they offer free shipping on orders over $50!
I’ve checked their site for the past few years to see how the vanilla bean prices are doing. Ouch. They’ve been so high! And I’ve known that if they are high at Olive Nation, they are higher from other places. So I’ve waited.
This week I saw that one of their varieties of beans is LOWER again!!! (Plus they give us a 15% off discount when we use the code HOME at checkout.)
Of course, the price is higher than it was when I started making vanilla in 2009. But seeing as the price of almost everything is higher than it was in 2009, I can be okay with that. Especially since the price I found for beans today is finally making it a possibility for us all to make Homemade Vanilla Extract again!!
Take note: Your initial look at the current vanilla bean pricetag may shock you still. Vanilla beans aren’t cheap!! But that’s why I did a complete price breakdown for us so we can see that when it’s all said and done, our Homemade Vanilla Extract can be made for HALF of what we can purchase it for at the store!!
To make 1/2 gallon of Homemade Vanilla Extract you need:
- 25 vanilla beans = $88 after coupon code HOME
- Shipping = FREE on orders over $50
- 1.75 liter bottle of vodka = Approximately $11
Total cost for 1/2 gallon of Homemade Vanilla Extract = Approximately $99
This breaks down to $1.59/ounces which makes 4-ounces of vanilla cost $6.36
Compare this to the cost of lesser quality, but still good vanilla purchased elsewhere:
- $13.62 for 4-ounces of Flavorganics brand at Azure Standard
- $9.69 for 4-ounces of McCormick brand at Walmart
BONUS
You can save your beans after you make a batch of vanilla and reuse them to make a second batch!!
I put my used beans into a lesser amount of vodka to get more bang for my buck. So for instance, for the first round, I use 25 beans in 1.75 liters of vodka. Then for the second round, I use the same 25 beans soaked in half that amount of vodka (.88 liters). The result is still amazing and I just spent a few dollars for a quart of great vanilla extract!
How to Make Vanilla Extract
- 1.75 liters of inexpensive vodka
- 25 Vanilla Beans enter code HOME for a 15% discount on Vanilla Beans through Olive Nation!!
- Slice through each bean lengthwise, leaving about one inch at the top of each bean uncut so that it stays together.
- Place all of your cut Vanilla Beans into a half-gallon jar.
- Fill the jar with vodka.
- Secure the lid and put the jar in a dark place (like in the back of a cabinet).
- Allow it to sit and "extract" for 4-6 months.
- Every few weeks during extracting time, shake the jar to mix it up a bit.
This vanilla extract is so strong that you can use 1/2 the amount called for in recipes to save yourself even more money. :)
Your Homemade Vanilla Extract is wonderful for your own use and to give as gifts!
Bonus Resources:
Yay! I JUST used the last bottle of vanilla that I had stored away in the back of the cupboard. There is nothing like homemade vanilla. It makes a great gift. After buying Olive Nation and thinking it was expensive (before the prices skyrocketed) I bought some cheap beans. I ended up with pretty little bottles of vodka. Never again. Olive Nation it is! Their quality is top. This is not a cheap craft/gift, but it is easy and fun. The timing is perfect right now for Christmas.
Yes! Olive Nation provides excellent quality vanilla beans. That’s a great point about Christmas!
-Bethany (HH Team)
Where do you get the pretty bottles and labels? How many bottles does the recipe make?
Thank you!!
The recipe makes 16 4-ounce bottles (or 8 8-ounce bottles). :) I get my labels here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SRW5ZC6?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwheavenlyho-20&camp=1789&linkCode=xm2&creativeASIN=B07SRW5ZC6 and my bottles here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AV16H0?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwheavenlyho-20&camp=1789&linkCode=xm2&creativeASIN=B000AV16H0&th=1
And after the second batch of vanilla, you can put the beans in sugar to make vanilla sugar! I fill a half gallon jar with sugar and put some beans in. I don’t remember how many I used, but it tastes great!
You can keep adding vodka onto the same beans, especially if you refill before it’s all gone. I’ve been using the same beans for years now. I rotate which vodka jar is stewing and which is in use.
How long will the vanilla store for? I would like to make some but would not want it to go bad before I could use it up.
It will keep for years, especially if you keep it in a dark place (like in the back of a cabinet).
They are already out of stock! I am so disappointed. I’m on my last bottle of vanilla that I bought in 2014.
I’m disappointed too!! I just emailed and asked them when they might have more. As soon as they are back in stock, I will let you know!!
A couple of question 1) how many times can I use the vanilla beans 2) why are these better than Amazon’s, Amazons are cheaper Thank you for your help.
I use them twice. After the second use, they don’t have much flavor left to extract. I’ve learned the hard way that the cheaper beans are dry and unusable. They don’t cut well (just fall apart) and they don’t have much, if any, flavor.
Since they are out of stock and I won’t be getting any, I wanted to ask about your gallon jar. Do you use the metal lid? Mine aren’t a tight fitting lid and wondered if that was a good thing or not.
I am checking in with them to see when they will have more in stock and will update you when I find out! I do use the metal lid. But since yours isn’t fitting well, I’d suggest putting a plastic bag over the top, secured with a rubber band. Then put the metal lid on top of that. I think that should work!
What proof Vodka should I use for the vanilla flavoring recipe?
I use the cheapest vodka I can find, and it is 80 proof.
I’ve tried ordering the beans twice, and the discount goes away when I put my address into the order–is this for a certain area of the nation and/or a specific brand of beans?
Hey Esther,
I just went over to the Olive Nation site to check. I tried this with several types of vanilla beans, and they all received the discount.
If you follow these steps it should work:
1. Add the vanilla beans to your cart
2. Fill out your address and payment information
3. Before you click “place order” enter HOME in the box on your right-hand side below “Coupon/Gift Certificate”
4. It should take off 15%
Let me know if that works!
Bethany (Laura’s assistant)
Thanks for this helpful post and discount! I’m putting small jars together for Christmas gifts. The price has gone up a teeny bit ince May: $91.11 for 25 beans with your discount.
Thanks for the update, Melissa! Hope you enjoy your homemade vanilla!
-Bethany (HH Team)