Vanilla Bean Recipe - Kahlua

Cordials and liqueurs are a favorite kitchen craft of mine so when the fresh vanilla beans and the time (a snow day) presented itself, I went to work making a homemade Kahlua.

Kahlua Recipe

2 C water

2 C sugar

1/2 C dry instant coffee (a dark roast is best)

1 fresh vanilla bean, chopped

1-1/2 C vodka

Slice open and scrape the vanilla bean into the water. The more you scrape/chop the bean the more flavor you will release. Boil the water, sugar and vanilla bean together for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and slowly add the instant coffee and keep stirring.

Allow to cool and combine this sugar/coffee/vanilla syrup with the vodka. It tastes yummy right away but improves and mellows as it ages. If you want a cleaner product strain out the vanilla particles. If you want an even smoother taste add 1 t glycerin to the finished blend. Yield: about 4 cups.

Tip: Drizzle over ice cream. Oh my goodness....