Homemade Vanilla Vodka

Homemade Vanilla Vodka requires just two ingredients to make at home and mix into cocktails. Whether you ran out and just need a little for a recipe, or planning to give it as a gift, it’s simple, quick and easy.

About this Homemade Vanilla Vodka recipe

Homemade liqueurs are so much fun to experiment with. They are one of my favorite things to make and give for holiday presents. Whether it’s homemade Irish cream or coffee liqueur, these easy recipes make great gifts.

This holiday season, one of the recipes I’m making for homemade gifts is homemade vanilla vodka. It’s a great addition to any home bartender’s bar cart ^* and can be used in all kinds of great cocktails, especially dessert drinks.

This vanilla vodka recipe has a gorgeous aroma and a homemade flavor that I just can’t get enough of. Plus, it’s so much more satisfying to make than to buy a bottle of vanilla vodka with unknown ingredients. With homemade infusions, you know exactly what goes into each bottle.

Pick up a few vanilla beans ^* (tips below!) and get started on a few batches of vanilla vodka. You won’t believe how simple it is!

Best plain vodka for homemade infusions

You only need two ingredients to make homemade vanilla vodka, so quality matters! You’ll want to pick up a great bottle of plain vodka to use in homemade liqueurs and infusions. Nothing too cheap, but not too pricy. For best results, use the highest quality you can afford, but a super-cheap vodka will not taste as great here.

Make sure it is unflavored so that you have the perfect blank slate — meaning room for optimal flavor — for an alcohol infusion. Some great brands to try are Tito’s, Reyka, Deep Eddy, Grey Goose and Absolut.

Best vanilla: Beans vs. Extract

For the vanilla flavor, you have two options: vanilla extract or real vanilla beans ^*.

Vanilla extract

If you need vanilla vodka ASAP, you can make it quickly by adding vanilla extract to vodka. The trick is to use a high-quality vanilla extract ^* like Nielsen-Massey. If the clear color is important for your cocktail, clear and colorless imitation vanilla flavoring will work too. (But keep in mind it isn’t real vanilla — it’s made with vanilla flavoring.)

Vanilla beans

For a stronger, more realistic vanilla flavor, a vanilla bean ^* infusion wins. It takes about a week to infuse into the vodka for a strong enough flavor, but the result is so rich and sweet. It tastes so much fresher than what you can find at the liquor store.

Vanilla beans are available at specialty grocery stores or online. They can be pretty pricy, but the good news is you can reuse the beans to make homemade vanilla extract or vanilla bean syrup after if you like. Or you can split vanilla beans and use the seeds to make homemade vanilla sugar, then use the pods in vanilla vodka.

There are a few different varieties of vanilla beans you can use:

• Mexican Vanilla Beans: Thicker beans with a bold, robust yet smooth flavor.
• Madagascar Vanilla Beans: Thinner beans with a clean vanilla aroma. Also known as Bourbon Vanilla Beans.
• Tahitian Vanilla Beans: The most expensive type with a floral aroma.
• Ugandan Vanilla Beans: Similar to Madagascar beans with bright chocolatey notes.

Each one has its own unique flavor thanks to the location, soil and climate where it’s grown. Experiment with different types to find your favorite.

How to make Vanilla Vodka: Two ways

There are two basic ways to make vanilla vodka. If you have time for the long method, the results are worth it, I promise! You’ll also want to pick up a few mason jars or swing-top bottles. In the photos you see here, I used 16-ounce glass bottles for my vanilla vodka.

Quick method: Vanilla extract

Making a recipe that needs vanilla vodka but you’re out and don’t have time to infuse vanilla beans for a week? Don’t fret — you can make vanilla vodka with vanilla extract ^*. Use 1 teaspoon vanilla extract for every 1 cup of vodka. You could also substitute vanilla simple syrup instead of whatever sweetener is in your cocktail and use plain vodka with it instead.

However, the flavor is not as ideal. It just isn’t the same as vanilla bean ^*-infused vodka or store-bought vanilla vodka, but it does work in a pinch. You can simply mix vanilla extract with your favorite vodka to make a fast, easy and ready-to-use vanilla vodka.

Long method: Vanilla beans

The long method is just as easy but takes more time. Simply drop one or two vanilla pods ^* into a bottle or jar of vodka (cut it with a sharp knife for smaller vessels). Let them infuse together in a cool, dark place for a week, giving it a good shake every other day or so. Then remove the vanilla bean, and voilà! Homemade vanilla vodka with a fresh vanilla flavor.

Vanilla to vodka ratio

You’ll want to get the ratio of vanilla beans just right, but it’s not a totally exact science. The basic rule is: Adjust the number of beans based on how much alcohol you are using.

For transforming a 750-ml bottle of vodka, use two beans. If you are infusing a small amount, like a cup of vodka, use one whole bean or even one half of a bean.

If you reach the end of 1 week and your vodka doesn’t smell strong enough, you can simply infuse it for a little more time. Check it every day after 1 week until you’ve reached the desired flavor of vanilla beans.

How long to infuse vanilla vodka

It takes about a week to make homemade vanilla vodka with a vanilla bean. You can leave it in for longer, but it will turn a yellowish-brown color over time.

If you leave the vanilla bean in the vodka for too long, you’ll wind up with your own vanilla extract. It takes about two months to get a vanilla extract.

In fact, I like to buy two vanilla beans and make a bottle of vanilla vodka first. Then I’ll move the vanilla bean to another bottle of vodka (or rum or bourbon) to make my own homemade vanilla extract.

(However, if you plan to make homemade vanilla extract in advance, split the vanilla bean in half vertically with a sharp knife to release the seeds and essential oils. It is the best for baking.)

Variations and substitutions

• Spiced vanilla vodka: You can add other whole spices into the infusion, à la spiced rum. Try cinnamon sticks, ginger, cloves and star anise.
• Clear vanilla vodka: Both vanilla beans and regular vanilla extract will give off a slight amber color. If you want to keep the color perfectly clear, use clear imitation vanilla ^* instead.
• Lemon vanilla vodka: Add a piece of lemon zest to the mix to add a hint of citrus flavor. Orange zest or lime zest works too.
• Vanilla tequila: Feel free to use other spirits like tequila or mezcal for an extra special spirit. You can also use rum or bourbon in this recipe. The sky is the limit!

Vanilla vodka cocktails

You can use vanilla-infused vodka in dessert cocktails in lieu of regular vodka. It brings a sweet, spiced flavor that’s hard to beat. Here are a few vanilla vodka drinks to try:

• Try it in a classic White Russian cocktail.
• Sub it for vodka in an espresso martini.
• Mix it into a holiday-themed sugar cookie martini.
• It’s a key component of boozy butterbeer.
• Try it in a vanilla Moscow mule for a spiced flavor twist.

More homemade liqueur recipes

• Caramel Vodka
• Plum Brandy
• Milk Tart Liqueur
• Jalapeño Tequila
• Marshmallow Vodka