Heavenly Homemakers

Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting

Get Our Homemade Vanilla for Gifts and Baking (While Supplies Last; Freebie with Purchase!)

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This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

It’s that time of year again! We have a batch of our delicious Heavenly Homemakers Vanilla Extract bottled up and ready to ship out to you!

Our Heavenly Homemakers Vanilla Extract is perfect for:

  • Holiday Baking! and
  • Gift Giving!

Our vanilla is:

  • 100% pure
  • Not watered down
  • Has no sugar added
  • Shipped for free!

We make it like this – it’s the best of the best. It’s better than what you can buy at the store, yet it costs about the same or even less. Shipped to your door!

BONUS – free “Made With Love” Stickers!

When you buy 2 or more 8-ounce bottles of vanilla, or 3 or more bottles of 4-ounce bottles of vanilla, we’ll send you a free sheet of these gorgeous Made With Love stickers ($8.95 value ~ 20 stickers per sheet!)

Use these beautiful stickers as you give gifts of homemade goodies this Christmas season! (You can personalize them here if you want to purchase them separately!)

Our Homemade Vanilla quantities are very limited, so get this while you can!

Usually, we sell out within less than 48 hours.

Home / Shop

Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce

$32.00
Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce
Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce

Home / Shop

Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce

$32.00
Model Number: 8-ounce-vanilla-extract
Maximum quantity exceeded
Minimum purchase amount of 0 is required
Maximum purchase amount of 0 is allowed
OUT OF STOCK
Categories: Vanilla Extract
Manufacturer: Heavenly Homemakers
  • Description

Made with only the best ingredients, this vanilla extract is 100% pure! Ingredients include high-quality vanilla beans and vodka - that's it! Slow brewed for 6 months, this vanilla is delicious and perfect for your baking needs. Because this extract has such a strong, pure flavor, feel free to cut the amount of vanilla in half when following a recipe - then you can get even more bang for your buck! FREE SHIPPING included with your purchase!

Home / Shop

Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces

$20.00
Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces
Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces

Home / Shop

Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces

$20.00
Model Number: 4-ounce-vanilla-extract
Maximum quantity exceeded
Minimum purchase amount of 0 is required
Maximum purchase amount of 0 is allowed
OUT OF STOCK
Categories: Vanilla Extract
Manufacturer: Heavenly Homemakers
  • Description

Made with only the best ingredients, this vanilla extract is 100% pure! Ingredients include high-quality vanilla beans and vodka - that's it! Slow brewed for 6 months, this vanilla is delicious and perfect for your baking needs. Because this extract has such a strong, pure flavor, feel free to cut the amount of vanilla in half when following a recipe - then you can get even more bang for your buck! FREE SHIPPING included with your purchase!

How we make Vanilla Extract

Want a peek into how we make our Vanilla Extract? Here you go! We highly recommend that you try this at home. ;)

Want to make it quickly – even in time for Christmas? Here’s how to make Vanilla Extract in your Instant Pot!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Are Vanilla Bean Prices Going Down?

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This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Is it true? Are vanilla bean prices going down? After several years, I can finally tell you yes!

What happened to the vanilla bean prices?

Back in 2017, there was a major vanilla bean crop failure which caused a shortage of beans and a huge price spike. It was a big bummer for those of us who love to use vanilla extract for cooking and baking, but even more so for those of us who love to make our own vanilla.

Finally, about a year ago, I checked prices again and found that there was a little bit of a rebound. Prices were lower. Not low, mind you. But lower than they had been. So I did the math and began to again recommend that making vanilla would save you money. (Because the price of commercial vanilla had also gone way up! Making it at home saved money even though vanilla bean prices were still on the high side.)

{Bonus! Olive Nation gives us an extra 15% discount when we use the code home, so that helps even more!}

Then, just a few weeks ago, a reader emailed to clarify what kind of vanilla beans I usually buy. See, in this post I had said that you can buy 25 beans for $91 after our special 15% discount. But she saw the regular price for 25 beans listed at $62. Was she looking at the correct beans?

I didn’t read her email correctly at first, so I thought, “Oh no! Did the price go up again?” Haha, Laura. Read the email again. :) :) Not up, but down! The price went down!!!

You guys! This is all so exciting! We’ve waited a long time for this and we can all get vanilla beans at a much lower price and make vanilla extract again for huge money savings! Not to mention – homemade vanilla is amazing!! 

Where I get my vanilla beans

I always buy from Olive Nation. I’ve worked with them for years and am always so happy with all they offer. Their prices are the best. Their quality is the best.

Side note: Once, a long time ago, I bought from another source and the beans were dry and shriveled. Never again. Olive Nation always now for me!

Because Olive Nation has worked with us here for so long, they really appreciate Heavenly Homemakers readers. They give us a forever discount because they want us to be extra happy with our purchase. They know we all love to save money as we care for our families well. So they’ve set up the code home and it gives us all a 15% discount on our vanilla bean orders! (Orders over $50 also receive free shipping so there’s that perk too!)

What kind of vanilla beans do I buy?

I currently purchase Olive Nations Papua New Guinean Beans. Why? Because they are the lowest in cost right now.

When the vanilla bean shortage made prices go up, Olive Nation started bringing in a supply of beans from several different countries. The prices from each range from $62-$172 for 25 beans from different areas around the globe. I’ve definitely found that the quality of the less expensive beans is still wonderful! So I go with the $62 bean package and have been very happy with what I get!

Another side note: I rarely only buy 25 beans at once. Usually, I buy two-four times that many. But I’m using that as an example because I’m guessing some of you don’t make homemade vanilla in such bulk quantities!

Is it hard to make Vanilla Extract?

Not even a little bit. It’s incredibly easy. Get all the details and see a full tutorial here. Or follow these simple instructions:

Are Vanilla Bean Prices Going Down?
 
Save Print
Author:
Serves: ½ gallon
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Slice through each bean lengthwise, leaving about one inch at the top of each bean uncut so that it stays together.
  2. Place all of your cut Vanilla Beans into a half-gallon jar.
  3. Fill the jar with vodka.
  4. Secure the lid and put the jar in a dark place (like in the back of a cabinet).
  5. Allow it to sit and "extract" for 4-6 months.
  6. Every few weeks during extracting time, shake the jar to mix it up a bit.

Bonus Resources:

Time to make vanilla again!

Enjoy this fun price dip and the discount we receive to go with it. Make some vanilla to enjoy in your kitchen – how fun!!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

10 Easy Food Items You Didn’t Know You Could Make at Home (Save $$!)

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This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

I bet you didn’t know you could make these food items at home! (Actually, if you’ve been reading here long, you probably do know about most of these, but act surprised anyway.) ;)

The old me used to make EVERYTHING from scratch. Some of you probably remember that girl. I made homemade ketchup, homemade tortillas, homemade grape nuts cereal, homemade hashbrowns, homemade tator tots… Wait. Homemade Tator Tots?? Yes. It was a reader request and I figured out how to do it! I was what one might call “an overachiever.” (Or “that really crazy heavenly homemaker lady.”)

Now I’m in a different season in life with a big houseful of littles and have decided that there are some food items that aren’t worth my time to make at home. Loving my people is more important than making Homemade Peanut Butter Captain Crunch. Oh my goodness yes. I even tried that too.

But today I want to share 10 food items that are easy to make at home, will save a lot of money, and are worth your time!

10 Easy Food Items You Didn’t Know You Could Make at Home

1. Vanilla Extract

We’ll start with my favorite! This saves a lot of money and is amazing to make in your very own kitchen!

2. Peanut Butter (super creamy – spreadable, like Skippy or Jif)

This tastes so much better than any store brand and is so much fun to make. Watch peanuts turn into peanut butter! So cool.

3. Gatorade

This costs pennies and is so much better for us!

4. Chicken Wings

I always thought this was restaurant food. Turns out, it’s super cheap Friday night dinner at home.

5. Whipped Cream

No, it isn’t cool whip. It’s 1,000 times better.

6. Ranch Salad Dressing

Hidden Valley who?

7. Poptarts

These taste so incredibly good and are easy to make in bulk amounts to freeze and pull out for easy breakfasts!

8. Graham Crackers

The kind from a box will never taste as good as these gems. You can even make them chocolate!

9. Instant Oatmeal Packets

Make a bunch of packets or make a big batch in a jar for easy, inexpensive breakfasts!

10. Frappe

Because why pay $5 at a coffee shop when you can make it for much less at home?

Stevia Sweetened Chocolate Frappe

Which of these have you tried? Ready to try something new?!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

10 Fun Ideas to Try This Year

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It’s too easy to put off trying fun new ideas! So I’ve made it easy for you. I made you a list. Which of these have you already tried? Which have you thought about trying but still haven’t? Now’s the time!! These are all so much fun!

10 Fun Ideas to Try This Year

1. Make Homemade Vanilla. I hear from many of you that you have thought about it many times but still haven’t tried this fun idea. Maybe now’s the time!! Here’s the “old fashioned way” to make vanilla. Here’s how to make Vanilla Extract in your Instant Pot. You’re going to love this!

2. Drink a Green Smoothie. It’s the best way to eat lots of greens every day. Just do it!! (Or eat a salad, whichever you prefer!)

3. Make Frozen Muffin Batter. This idea is so fun and practical that if you haven’t tried it yet, you simply must. Freeze your muffin batter. Pull out batter balls and easily bake fresh muffins with no effort!

4. Make a High Five Recipe. Scroll through these recipes that only call for 5 or fewer ingredients. These are so easy and good!! Make one or two of them. And if you love them (which you will, of course) go get our lovely printed High Five Recipes Cookbook!

5. Make a Five Minute Recipe. Most of these recipes call for very few ingredients also! Most of them take just a few minutes to prepare. Yet they are all made with real, healthy ingredients! Pick one to make soon. They are so good and easy! Here’s our Simple Real Food Recipes Cookbook filled with recipes that are ridiculously easy to make.

6. Make mashed Potatoes in the Crock Pot or Instant Pot. I’d stopped making mashed potatoes because they felt too messy and hard. Then I learned how to make them in the Crock Pot. Then I learned to make them in my Instant Pot. Life-changing!!

7. Make Stir and Pour Bread. Have you been thinking about trying this but still haven’t taken the time (haha, this hardly takes any time!!)? Go get the recipe and make your family some bread! You will all be amazed at the goodness!

8. Read your Bible regularly. It’s easier and way more amazing than you think. Here’s how.

9. Make one simple, healthy change in your kitchen. It’s as easy as switching from margarine to butter. Truly, there are so many healthy changes that won’t rock your world one bit!

10. Make Coffee Ice Cubes. This is simply too much fun not to try! People are amazed when they find these in my freezer. What a fun way to enjoy iced coffee at home!

Which one of these ideas will you try first?

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Heavenly Homemakers Vanilla Extract for SALE!!!!! (While Supplies Last!)

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This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Exciting news!! We have a batch of our delicious Heavenly Homemakers Vanilla Extract bottled up and ready to ship out to you!

Our Heavenly Homemakers Vanilla Extract is perfect for:

  • Holiday Baking!!
  • Gift Giving!!

What is most exciting right now about us offering our vanilla for sale is that while vanilla extract at the store is pretty pricy right now, we can send you our completely pure (no sugar, not watered down!) vanilla at around the same price (or less!) than it can be found at the market. And with FREE SHIPPING too!!

BONUS – free High Five Recipes Cookbook!!!

When you buy 2 or more 8-ounce bottles of vanilla, or 3 or more bottles of 4-ounce bottles of vanilla, we’ll send you a FREE copy of our brand new High Five Recipes Cookbook! No coupon code necessary – the book will simply be included in your order. :)

Our quantities are very limited, so get this while you can!

Home / Shop

Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce

$32.00
Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce
Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce

Home / Shop

Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 8 ounce

$32.00
Model Number: 8-ounce-vanilla-extract
Maximum quantity exceeded
Minimum purchase amount of 0 is required
Maximum purchase amount of 0 is allowed
OUT OF STOCK
Categories: Vanilla Extract
Manufacturer: Heavenly Homemakers
  • Description

Made with only the best ingredients, this vanilla extract is 100% pure! Ingredients include high-quality vanilla beans and vodka - that's it! Slow brewed for 6 months, this vanilla is delicious and perfect for your baking needs. Because this extract has such a strong, pure flavor, feel free to cut the amount of vanilla in half when following a recipe - then you can get even more bang for your buck! FREE SHIPPING included with your purchase!

Home / Shop

Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces

$20.00
Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces
Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces

Home / Shop

Heavenly Homemakers Homemade Vanilla Extract - 4 ounces

$20.00
Model Number: 4-ounce-vanilla-extract
Maximum quantity exceeded
Minimum purchase amount of 0 is required
Maximum purchase amount of 0 is allowed
OUT OF STOCK
Categories: Vanilla Extract
Manufacturer: Heavenly Homemakers
  • Description

Made with only the best ingredients, this vanilla extract is 100% pure! Ingredients include high-quality vanilla beans and vodka - that's it! Slow brewed for 6 months, this vanilla is delicious and perfect for your baking needs. Because this extract has such a strong, pure flavor, feel free to cut the amount of vanilla in half when following a recipe - then you can get even more bang for your buck! FREE SHIPPING included with your purchase!

How we make Vanilla Extract

Want a peek into how we make our Vanilla Extract? Here you go! We highly recommend that you try this at home. ;)

Want to make it quickly – even in time for Christmas? Here’s how to make Vanilla Extract in your Instant Pot!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Vanilla Extract in the Instant Pot. Is it Good??

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This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

I’ve heard about making Vanilla Extract in the Instant Pot. But I had to wonder: Is it good? As good as the Homemade Vanilla Extract I usually brew for 6 months? I decided to give it a try!

Yum

I’ve been making my own vanilla extract since 2009. It’s super easy to make, but it does take 4-6 months to finish extracting so that we end up with good strong vanilla.

Recently I saw on the internet that you can make vanilla extract in the Instant Pot – in 40 minutes!!! Fun fact: 40 minutes is a lot less time to wait on homemade vanilla compared to waiting for 6 months. I figured it wouldn’t cost much to try it out and compare it to my super special 6-month homemade vanilla. So I gave it a try!

First, let’s look at how this works:

When I long-brew my vanilla extract, I cut my beans and put them into a big jar filled with vodka for 4-6 months. It’s as simple as can be and turns out THE MOST AMAZING vanilla extract!

The Instant Pot method for making vanilla extract takes fewer beans and way less time. I cut a total of 6 beans – first the long way, then in half so they fit into pint-sized jars.

I then fill the jars with vodka and put them on the trivet in my Instant Pot. Carefully set lids on the jars, but do not screw on tightly. Add water to the Instant Pot, seal, and set the timer to 40 minutes at high pressure.

Allow the vanilla extract to pressure cook for 40 minutes, then carefully quick release the pressure so that you can open your Instant Pot lid. The result?

Beautiful vanilla extract in just 40 minutes!!!

How to make Vanilla Extract in the Instant Pot

Vanilla Extract in the Instant Pot. Is it Good??
 
Save Print
Author:
Serves: 32 ounces
Ingredients
  • 6 vanilla beans (use the code HOME for a 15% discount!)
  • 1 quart of vodka
  • 2 pint jars with lids
Instructions
  1. Cut vanilla beans along down the middle of the bean, then cut them in half and place them into 2 pint-sized jar. (3 beans per jar)
  2. Pour vodka over the beans.
  3. Place a trivet into your Instant Pot.
  4. Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the pot.
  5. Set the prepared jars of vodka/vanilla beans onto the trivet.
  6. Loosely place the lids on the jars, not sealing tightly.
  7. Lock on the Instant Pot lid and seal the pressure valve.
  8. Cook on manual setting for 40 minutes at high pressure.
  9. Quick release the pressure valve (watch out for the steam!)
  10. Carefully remove the jar and allow the vanilla to cool.

How does it compare?

The old fashioned me wants to say, “Oh, the long brew method of making vanilla extract is so much better!!” But the truth is that I actually can’t tell much difference.

Therefore, the simple-cook me gets to say, “Hey, want to save A LOT of time and effort making vanilla extract? Try making it in your Instant Pot!!”

So in summary, we’ve got a win-win here! If you decide to stick with the regular, long brew method you’ll turn out wonderful vanilla extract! And if you have an Instant Pot and decide to make a fast batch, you will still turn out wonderful (tho not quite as strong) vanilla extract!

Make this for Christmas gifts!

If you do have an Instant Pot, you can order your beans and make a bunch of vanilla for gifts – it’s not too late!! People love receiving homemade vanilla as a gift – teachers, family members, neighbors, co-workers!

Where to buy vanilla beans:

I always buy my vanilla beans from Olive Nation. I’ve tried other sources to “save money” but instead ended up wasting money because the quality of the beans from cheap sources was terrible!

Olive Nation beans are so, so good. I’ve used their beans for years. They love working with us here at Heavenly Homemakers so they offer us 15% off when we use the coupon code: home. Plus we get free shipping on orders over $50!

Cost Breakdown to Make Vanilla in the Instant Pot:

I ordered the 25-bean package on this page and used the lovely discount code, home. This landed me 15% off plus free shipping, so total cost for 25 beans was $50.14. With these beans, I can make 4 quarts of vanilla!! (I’ve just made 1 quart so far.)

Cost for one quart of vanilla in my Instant Pot:

  • 6 beans = 12.00
  • 1 quart of vodka = $5.50
  • TOTAL = $17.50

With this, I can put together four 8-ounce bottles of vanilla for gifts!! This makes each 8-ounce bottle cost just $4.38! That is an incredible price!!

(Cost at the store for high-quality vanilla? Most of what I find has water added, and it’s still $8.97 for just TWO OUNCES. Homemade cost for two ounces is just $1.10!!!)

Extra resources:

I’m super excited about this option for making vanilla extract! Have you tried it before?!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Start Making Vanilla Extract for Christmas Gifts!

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This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Now’s the time to start making Vanilla Extract for Christmas gifts!

Christmas in July is fun. :) Start a batch of homemade vanilla extract now and it will be ready just in time to bottle up and give as gifts this December!

Bottles of homemade vanilla are extremely awesome gifts! However, you need to start making it now because it takes 4-6 months for a big batch of vanilla to be strong and delicious.

How do you make vanilla extract?

It’s actually super easy, though the result will make you feel like you’ve made something gourmet! People love receiving this as a gift.

Find a thorough tutorial here to learn the specifics about making homemade vanilla. Or, if you’re feeling comfortable, simply follow this easy recipe:

How to Make Vanilla Extract

4.0 from 1 reviews
Start Making Vanilla Extract for Christmas Gifts!
 
Save Print
Author:
Ingredients
  • 1.75 liters of inexpensive vodka
  • 25 Vanilla Beans enter code HOME for a 15% discount on Vanilla Beans through Olive Nation!!
Instructions
  1. Slice through each bean lengthwise, leaving about one inch at the top of each bean uncut so that it stays together.
  2. Place all of your cut Vanilla Beans into a half-gallon jar.
  3. Fill the jar with vodka.
  4. Secure the lid and put the jar in a dark place (like in the back of a cabinet).
  5. Allow it to sit and "extract" for 4-6 months.
  6. Every few weeks during extracting time, shake the jar to mix it up a bit.

Once your vanilla as finished extracting 4-6 months from now:

Here’s how to finish and bottle up your homemade vanilla!

Where to buy vanilla beans:

I always buy my vanilla beans from Olive Nation. I’ve tried other sources to “save money” but instead ended up wasting money because the quality of the beans from cheap sources was terrible!

Olive Nation beans are so, so good. I’ve used their beans for years. They love working with us here at Heavenly Homemakers so they offer us 15% off when we use the coupon code: home. Plus we get free shipping on orders over $50!

To make 1/2 gallon of Homemade Vanilla Extract you need:

  • 25 vanilla beans = $50 after coupon code HOME
  • Shipping = FREE on orders over $50
  • 1.75 liter bottle of vodka = Approximately $11

Your total cost for 1/2 gallon of homemade vanilla extract will be about $61. This breaks down to $1.09/ounces which makes 4-ounces of vanilla cost $4.36

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!

Extra resources:

Go get your beans!

And yeah, go get your vodka. :) :) :)

Make yourself a delicious batch of vanilla extract and get ready for Christmas!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Can You Save Money Making Vanilla Again?!

by 20 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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 a few years ago, 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 = $54 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 $65

This breaks down to $1.02/ounces which makes 4-ounces of vanilla cost $4.08!

Compare this to the cost of lesser quality, but still good vanilla purchased elsewhere:

  • $15.77 for 4-ounces of Flavorganics brand at Azure Standard
  • $8.98 for 2-ounces of McCormick brand at Walmart (I couldn’t find a 4-ounce price to compare, but look at the huge savings compared to the 2-ounce price!)

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

5.0 from 3 reviews
Can You Save Money Making Vanilla Again?!
 
Save Print
Author:
Serves: 64 ounces
Ingredients
  • 1.75 liters of inexpensive vodka
  • 25 Vanilla Beans enter code HOME for a 15% discount on Vanilla Beans through Olive Nation!!
Instructions
  1. Slice through each bean lengthwise, leaving about one inch at the top of each bean uncut so that it stays together.
  2. Place all of your cut Vanilla Beans into a half-gallon jar.
  3. Fill the jar with vodka.
  4. Secure the lid and put the jar in a dark place (like in the back of a cabinet).
  5. Allow it to sit and "extract" for 4-6 months.
  6. 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:

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

With the High Price of Vanilla Beans, Should You Make Homemade Vanilla Right Now?

by 10 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

I’ve been making Homemade Vanilla since 2009. Why?

  • To save money
  • So I can trust my vanilla to be pure and healthy
  • Because Homemade Vanilla is ridiculously delicious

How To Make Vanilla Extract

See, most vanilla extracts on the market have sugar added. I don’t want that, of course. Also, most have been watered down, so they aren’t as strong and flavorful as I’d like. But Homemade Vanilla is completely pure, extremely flavorful, easy to make, and makes awesome gifts! However…

The price of vanilla beans has risen drastically.

In the past three years, the price of vanilla beans has gotten crazy high! Making Homemade Vanilla used to be super cost effective, saving oodles of money compared to buying it. Since there are so many other benefits to making it, it became a no-brainer to me!

But now there’s a major vanilla bean shortage, so the price has risen dramatically. (This stinks for those of us who want to make vanilla, but my research tells me that this is a much worse situation for farmers whose livelihood depends on good crops. We are simply inconvenienced; but these farmers are hurt deeply by this. With this news, suddenly my concern for my homemade vanilla price takes a back seat in the world of “what actually matters.”)

With the high cost of Vanilla Beans, does it still make sense to make Homemade Vanilla Extract

Does it still save money to make Homemade Vanilla?

Having said all of this, I wanted to share that I recently crunched some numbers again to see if it even made sense to make a batch of homemade vanilla right now. I was pleasantly surprised, and want to share my findings with you!

The upfront cost still seems high, but read all the way through to discover how to get the most bang for your buck.

It is most cost effective to make a gallon of Homemade Vanilla at once, instead of making a small batch. A gallon will last a very long time, or you can use it for gifts! (Homemade Vanilla is an awesome gift at Christmas for friends, family members, and teachers!!)

Price Break-Down to make a gallon of Homemade Vanilla

50 Vanilla Beans: $200 (use the code HOME to save 15%!)
3.5 liters of 35% alcohol Vodka: $30
Total Cost: $230
Price per ounce: $1.80

This makes an 8-ounce bottle cost $14.40.

Remember, the quality of vanilla is ultra strong, not watered down, with no added sugar.

Cost of High Quality Purchased Vanilla

Imitation Vanilla is made of nothing real, so I recommend avoiding it even though it’s cheap. The best pre-made “pure” Vanilla Extract I could find at Azure Standard costs $2.20/ounce.

This makes an 8-ounce bottle cost $17.60. This is more expensive than homemade, but more importantly —–>

Note the ingredient list of this purchased vanilla (listed in this order):

  • water
  • 35% alcohol vodka
  • vanilla bean extractives

Not only is purchased vanilla extract more expensive, it is watered down, so not nearly as strong.

So Homemade Vanilla Extract wins the prize for being lower in cost and entirely pure.

Which leads me to my best advice and even better news about the cost:

Use Half the Amount and Cut the Cost in Half!

Because the Homemade Vanilla Extract is so very potent, I recommend that you use half the amount called for in a recipe. Doing this will double how long an 8-ounce bottle will last!

Therefore, the $14.40 it costs to make 8-ounces of Homemade Vanilla will last you twice as long, giving you what store-bought 16-ounce bottle gives. In this way, you can think of your 8-ounces of homemade vanilla being broken into TWO 8-ounce bottles which cost only – drum roll please –

$7.20 each.

And with that, I absolutely recommend that we all still make Homemade Vanilla Extract!

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I forgot we get 15% off!!!

Good grief. I can’t believe I wrote this entire post and forgot to figure in the fact that Olive Nation gives Heavenly Homemakers readers 15% off! Time to crunch new numbers! I’ve been working with them for many years now, and they are happy to give us a discount. (They’ve been keeping me up to date on vanilla bean shortages and prices too. I love working with them.)

Get the best quality vanilla beans at the best price here. Use the code home to get 15% off, a code made exclusively for Heavenly Homemakers readers! Get free shipping when your order is over $50.

Discounted cost for Homemade Vanilla Extract

50 Vanilla Beans $160.00
3.75 ounces Vodka $30.00

Total cost: $190.00 (woot!)

Per ounce breakdown: $1.48/ounce
Price for 8-ounces of Homemade Vanilla: $11.84

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Make Vanilla For Christmas Gifts

One last note! Most everyone loves receiving Homemade Vanilla Extract as a Christmas gift! Because it takes 4-6 months for vanilla beans to “extract” I recommend you start a batch right away to have it ready to give in December.

I think that about covers it. Any questions? (I’m actually at church camp right now so answers will probably be delayed!) I’m so glad I finally crunched the numbers instead of continuing to cringe over the bean prices!

Fun Homemade Vanilla Labels

If you are giving your Homemade Vanilla Extract as gifts, use these pretty labels on the bottles! They can be personalized, and there are several designs you can choose from! What fun!

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20% Off Vanilla Beans Through March 30!

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This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

When vanilla beans are offered at 20% off at Olive Nation, we have to take advantage! They always offer free shipping on vanilla bean orders, so that’s a great bonus.

Read here about how to make homemade vanilla extract.  I mean, why else would I suggest you buy a bunch of vanilla beans?! :)

Making my own vanilla has saved me so much money over the years. Plus, I know that my vanilla is absolutely pure. Olive Nation is the only place I purchase vanilla beans. Their quality and prices are best. I just took advantage of this 20% discount so my savings is even greater than normal. Super exciting!

vanilla_beans

Find the discounted vanilla beans on this page at Olive Nation. Use the code EAST20 for the 20% discount to apply. Get your homemade vanilla started and love the deliciousness! (Coupon code expires March 30, 2015.)

This post contains affiliate links.

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!