This disclosure provides a method of preparing a crystalline molecular sieve comprising: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising at least one source of ions of tetravalent element Y, at least one source of alkali metal hydroxide, water, optionally at least one seed crystal, and optionally at least one source of ions of trivalent element X, the reaction mixture having the following molar composition: Y:X2=2 to infinity, preferably from about 2 to about 1000, OH−:Y=0.001 to 2, preferably from 0.1 to 1, M+:Y=0.001 to 2, preferably from 0.01 to 2 wherein M is an alkali metal and the amount of water is at least sufficient to permit extrusion of the reaction mixture, wherein the reaction mixture is substantially free of crystalline molecular sieve; (b) extruding the reaction mixture to form a pre-formed extrudate; and (c) crystallizing the pre-formed extrudate in a liquid medium comprising water under liquid phase crystallization conditions to form a crystallized extrudate having the crystalline molecular sieve.