Homemade Vanilla Liqueur
This easy and delicious Homemade Liqueur with its sweet vanilla flavor is perfect for any occasion. Serve it straight up or over ice. Made with only 4 ingredients and time. It will become one of your favorites.
Nothing better than homemade, especially when it comes to your favourite liqueur. From everyones favorite, Chocolate Liqueur to Limoncello. Personally I can’t decide which one I like best, they all taste amazing!
Recipe Ingredients
- Vodka – use a good quality smooth vodka
- Water
- Sugar – granulated sugar
- Vanilla – I like to use vanilla beans although a good quality extract will work also
Vanilla – What is the difference?
Vanilla Extract – Is produced from the whole pod which is steeped (like tea), usually in a liquid that is alcohol based.
Vanilla Bean – The bean is the fruit of an orchid plant, it grows in the shape of a dark brown bean pod which is long and skinny. The orchids are grown in tropical climates.
Substitute 3 teaspoons of extract or vanilla paste for the scrapings of one whole bean.
How to make Vanilla Liqueur
Remove the seeds from the pod and cut the pod in two to four pieces.
In a large bottle add the vodka, the seeds and the cut pod. Close the jar and let sit in a dark cupboard for 15 days. Be sure to stir and shake everyday.
To make the simple syrup, in a small pot, boil the water and sugar until the sugar has completely dissolved. Once the sugar has dissolved remove the pot from the heat and let cool completely.
When it has cooled completely, combine it with the vodka mixture. Let it sit for an hour. Then strain the liquid through a narrow mesh to remove the seeds and pod.
Pour the liquid into a clean bottle and store in a cool dry place for 10-15 days before serving. If you prefer refrigerate or freeze before serving. Fill a decorative bottle and it makes the perfect gift!
How to serve Vanilla Liqueur
Vanilla Liqueur can be served straight up, over ice or even used in a few different vanilla liqueur cocktails. Such as a Baked Strawberry – Tini, Blue Angel, Blueberry Pie, Vanilla martini, and Aveja Reina to name a few.
The liqueur can also be used for adding moisture to cake layers. If you wish you can dilute it with a little water before brushing on the cake layers, then frost as you wish.
How to store it
The vanilla liqueur can be stored in a well sealed jar or bottle at room temperature or refrigerator. It will keep for up to 6 months. Once the sugar starts to crystallize it should be discarded.
More delicious liqueur recipes
Homemade Vanilla Liqueur
Ingredients
- 1-2 vanilla beans (I used 1)
- 1 cup vodka (good quality smooth vodka)
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Remove the seeds from the pod and cut the pod in 2-4 pieces.
- In a large bottle or jar add the vodka, the seeds and the cut pod. Close the jar and let sit in a dark cupboard for 15 days. Be sure to stir and shake everyday.
- After the time has passed, in a small pot boil the water and sugar until the sugar has completely dissolved. Once the sugar has dissolved remove the pot from the heat and let cool completely.
- When it has cooled completely combine with the vodka mixture, let sit for an hour. Then strain the liquid through a narrow mesh to remove the seeds and pod. If a few seeds remain that is fine.
- Pour into a clean bottle and store in a cool dry place for 10-15 days before serving. If you prefer refrigerate or freeze before serving. Enjoy!
Was looking at creme de menthe diy recipes, thought how much I love vanilla anything, and was wondering about making a vanilla -mint liqueur. Doing the mint infusion in one bottle and the vanilla in another and then mixing together for the final 2 weeks. You think something like that could work? I know Bailey’s has a vanilla mint product, so it seems like this would be quite tasty.
Hi Lori, that sounds really interesting. Try doing it that way and then combining. Let me know how it goes. Take care!
Hello Rosemary,
When making these liqueurs, my mother always used Everclear instead of Vodka. Do you know what the difference is between the two? Thank you for sharing these recipes. Vicky
Hi Vicky, yes in Italy they also use a type of everclear, which is extremely strong, which I think is the only difference, vodka is 40% and everclear is 95%. I prefer vodka and plus you can’t buy everclear in a lot of countries, one being Canada. You can use either. Hope that helps. Take care!
If you decide to make this using Everclear, make sure you are diluting it with distilled water to the most 100 proof. if you don’t, it will burn the vanilla bean and not extract much flavor.