The recipe of 2-in content that I always do 6 months before Christmas

Before we start, you need to know two things about me:

1. Giving is my love language.
2. I am a person of type B who desperately tries to exist in a world of Type A.

Year after year I find a new hobby that I – from canned goods to embroidery – in the hope of going to a embroidery in the end Treasure group homemade gifts Give my friends and family during the holiday season. Most of the time, however, my annual habit leads to a number of semi -finished projects that are stuffed in the back of a closet. It is enough to say: I’m not a planner.

But there is a homemade gift that is so simple, even I can handle it – I just have to remember to make it every July.

My favorite gift with 2 content foods

Did you know that you can Make vanilla extract at home? Well, you can! It is actually much cheaper than buying the things bought in the store. All you have to do are steep vanilla beans in alcohol (typically vodka) for at least six months. Tied with an arc it is the perfect thoughtful Christmas present. If you want to go the extra parts, throw in a handwritten recipe.

What you need

Vanilla beans

In most grocery stores you will find vanilla beans in the spice cycle. If you have never bought entire beans before, you will receive a fair warning: you could get sticker shock. Depending on your location, a 2-color glass McCormick Beans resigns about $ 10 (approx. 5 US dollars per bean). But Buy in Loser online -purchase is a huge money saver. Fortunately, I had an Amazon gift card – so I only paid a little more than $ 30 for $ 50.

vodka

Choose for an 80 -proof alcohol (or 40 percent alcohol). Vodka is by far the most common choice because it does not give any additional taste – it lets vanilla speak for itself. Vanilla from vodka is most similar to the basic extracts bought in the store and is therefore perfect for all types of bakers. You can use bourbon, rum or brandy for a deeper, more customizable taste.

While alcohol of higher quality obviously leads to an extract of higher quality, this is not the time to enjoy. Save your top shelf bottles for sipping!

Glass bottles

Use what is available! This is a great opportunity to reuse all glass bottles or glasses that you have on hand. As long as their ships have airtight seals, they are good. I chose 8 -unzen bottles with floating tips because a.) the perfect size B.) Airtight and C.) Aesthetically appealing. I got a 9-pack for $ 20 on Prime Day, so that each bottle costs a little more than $ 2.

How to make homemade vanilla

We have a lot of Homemade vaniller recipes To choose, but I combined a couple to make my own. I do the following:

1. Cut a vertical slot into the vanilla beans from top to bottom with a sharp knife. It is not necessary to share the beans in half – as long as the middle is exposed, they are good.
2. Place four to five beans in each 8 -unzen bottle. If the beans are too big to fit the container, simply cut them into smaller pieces.
3. Place a funnel in the bottle neck and pour the vodka over the beans. Make sure you cover them completely.
4. Seal the bottles tightly and store at least six months in a cool, dark place before giving.