for those of you who made your own vanilla...

CTFandme

did it ever get dark?  I have had mine brewing forever. Literally forever because I forgot about it.  oops.  It smells great, but it's kinda light. I'm wondering if it's good vanilla extract or if I should just add some sprite to it and drink it as a cocktail.  Is the light color normal?  TIA

 

bbscabral

what's your vanilla bean to vodka ratio? I made mine back in Sept and it's really dark

BridgetMc

Mine is pretty dark.  How many vanilla beans did you use for how much vodka?

TheMorrisseys

Mine definitely got dark, too.

stacey.taylor

Mine got dark too.  You definitely have to use plenty of beans and make sure they are cut open.

2bJenniferT

I started mine in October and it definitely got dark. 

PoliticsChick

Mine is dark, but not the way that commercially produced vanilla extract is. 

kmmssg

I started mine in late October.  40 beans in 1/2 gallon of vodka.  I didn't cut them open because Ina Garten showed how she doesn't cut hers open while she is making the vanilla and then when she wants to use the beans she just squishes everything out of it after it comes out of the vodka.

I just cut open a few of the beans last week because it wasn't getting very dark.  Do I need to cut ALL of them open? 

 

LauraBeth1401

Mine didn't get dark either.  I used the ratio I saw either on Annie's Eats or from Nigella Lawson.  I haven't tried using it but maybe I will add a few more vanilla beans. Glad it wasn't just me!

CTFandme

TheMorrisseys:

Mine definitely got dark, too.

I followed the recipe in your blog and I did cut them open too.  I'll add a few more beans and let it sit for a little while longer.  It isn't clear, but it's not super dark either.  thanks for the input!