• If you want to add something extra special to your baking, it’s time to make homemade vanilla extract. This adds a delicious flavour dimension to whatever it’s added to. Definitely worth the effort!

    Recipe, styling and photography by Katelyn Williams

    Homemade vanilla extract

    Serves: Makes 750ml
    Cooking Time: 5 mins + 2 – 4 weeks, to infuse

    Ingredients

    • 1 x 750ml bottle good-quality vodka
    • 6 – 8 vanilla pods, split

    Instructions

    1

    Place the vanilla pods in the bottle

    2

    of vodka and leave in a cool, dark

    3

    place, 1 month or until the vodka has

    4

    turned a deep brown.

    5

    2 Decant into smaller bottles, leaving

    6

    one or two vanilla pods in each jar.

    Notes

    Cook's tip: As you use the vanilla, top it up periodically with more vodka or more vanilla pods to keep your extract going.