Making it homemade was by far cheaper AND better tasting. Plus, I love having A TON of it! 🙂
So are you curious which was the best? I tried both Vanilla Extract made with Brandy and Vanilla Extract made with Vodka.
I figured the best way to test it out would be on my favorite brand of ice cream… BLUE BELL!
Personally, I liked the vanilla extract from the Vodka better. The one from Brandy was VERY strong. The stronger flavor might be better in things like cookies and cakes, but I’ve been using the Vodka vanilla in cookies & baking recipes and it’s great, so I’m going to stick with the Vodka recipe in the future.
This is such an inexpensive way to get several homemade gifts out of the way for friends and family!
And don’t forget to bookmark the Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe!
It’s super easy to package the vanilla. Just find a glass bottle at a craft store (don’t forget to search for craft store coupons) and tie some ribbon around it. You can even print out custom labels to stick to the outside of the bottle.
This post is part of the Surviving The Holidays: Gift Ideas For Less series!
Brandy, but for coloring frosting, vodka.
Ok, I LOVE the stocking stuffer ideas! Thanks for sharing the results. I still need to make some… I’ll have to sneak around to buy the vodka, though, lol. Being Baptist and all 😉
LOL, Amy! And a Baptist pastor’s wife at that!
funny i totally prefer the brandy version but HOW IS THAT CANVAS LABEL MADE?!?!?!?! I MUST KNOW!
Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice is the BEST!!!
I LOVE this idea. I’ve been wanting to do it for years. I just ordered the vanilla beans. Thanks for sharing it!
My homemade vanilla is ready this month, too, and I LOVE it! I was able to get vanilla beans online for cheap and on our cruise in May I picked up some vodka in Mexico (SUPER CHEAP!!). I keep thinking I need to make some as gifts for Christmas, but not many people in my family are bakers… I do think they would make cute little Valentine’s Day gifts 🙂
Oh that would be perfect!! I love the Valentine’s gift idea! It would be perfect in those cute little bottles.
OH! And teacher gifts too! That’s what I might be using some of mine for. This would be a perfect teacher gift!
And the great thing about vanilla is that it pretty much never goes bad, so even if someone only bakes a couple of times a year, it will just last them forever!
Do you have printable labels for this? How does one print on canvas?? Genius!!