DrunkenCookie is becoming NellieBakes.com!

Many baking recipes call for the same ingredients: sugar, flour, eggs, butter, vanilla. So if two people make the same recipe, why don’t they taste the same?

Sure, technique matters when baking, as do tools like pans, ovens, mixers, and so on. Don’t worry, this post won’t turn into a chemistry lesson. BUT, what if there was a simple way to take your baking to the next level?

Hint: use quality ingredients. If a recipe calls for butter, and you use “I can’t believe people think this is butter”, it’s not going to be the same!

I’ve found that vanilla packs a big punch on the overall taste of the final product. But as you’re probably aware, most grocery stores sell one or two kinds of pure vanilla extract, sitting on the shelf right next to the imitation vanilla (so tempting, at a fraction of the cost of pure extract!)

One alternative is to make your own vanilla extract. It’s almost as easy as boiling water, I promise. Here’s what you need:

• 1 cup quality vodka
• 3 (or more) Vanilla beans
• 1 glass, airtight bottle

Score each vanilla bean along the length of the bean with a sharp knife and drop into the glass bottle. Using a small funnel (or a steady hand), pour the vodka over the vanilla beans. Cap and shake gently. Then wait.

Every few days, give the bottle a shake. You’ll notice that the vodka will become dark and very fragrant. After about 8 weeks, the extract is ready to use. It’s not necessary to remove the vanilla beans; the longer the beans sit in the alcohol, the stronger the flavor.

I encourage you to explore the tastes that are out there for different varieties of vanilla. I’ve found a website – Beanilla – that offers several kinds of beans available for purchase. If you live near The Spice House, Penzeys, or similar, they also sell vanilla beans in their stores. I’ve found suitable bottles at places like Homegoods or even the dollar store!

You can also explore making your own extract with other spirits, such as rum. I just finished a batch with rum, and it add a sweet layer to the extract that doesn’t exist with vodka.

So impress your friends, make a few as gifts, and take your baking to the next level!