Have you ever wanted to make homemade extracts such as vanilla, lemon or almond? Maybe you thought it was too time-consuming so you didn’t try. Well, I have great news it’s actually very easy to make and the taste doesn’t even compare to store-bought extracts. These make great gifts for family and friends, think Christmas gifts for the bakers in your family or gifts for your kid’s teachers. Make sure you buy Grade B Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans which are specifically meant for extracting and yield the most flavor. Grade A vanilla beans are meant for cooking. Also, make sure you use organic lemons since you’re using the rind.
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Ingredients
- 3 to 5 vanilla beans
- 8 ounces 80 proof vodka
- Cutting board and knife
- Clean jar or bottle ( I like using these pint canning jars )
- Amber-colored bottles for packaging
- Coffee filter
Directions
- Split each vanilla bean in half lengthwise. You can also chop the beans into smaller pieces to fit in your jar or bottle.
- Place the vanilla beans in a jar and cover with alcohol making sure they are completely submerged.
- Label, date and cover the jar or bottle and give it a good shake.
- Keep the jar in a dark place and shake daily for the first week then occasionally for the next 5 weeks.
- Infuse for at least 6 weeks. Taste the extract and let it infuse longer if you want a stronger flavor.
- You can strain it if you like, removing the vanilla pods and decant the extract into a bottle for gifting.
- The little flecks of seeds can be a nice touch, but if you want a clear extract you can strain them out using a coffee filter.
Homemade Almond Extract
Ingredients
- 15 raw almonds
- 2 cups of 80 proof vodka
- 1 pint-sized mason jar
- Amber-colored bottles for packaging ( I like these 2 oz bottles )
- Coffee filter
- Cutting board and knife
Directions
- First, you need to blanch your raw almonds. Put the 15 almonds into a pot of boiling for one minute. Drain quickly and rinse with cold water. Lay almonds out on a paper towel to cool. The skins should look shriveled.
- Once they are cool enough to touch you should be able to just squeeze the almonds from the skins and discard the skins. Then put them on another paper towel and allow them to finish drying.
- Rough chop your blanched almonds and place those in a pint jar.
- Pour vodka over the chopped almonds in the jar and cover with alcohol making sure they are completely submerged.
- Label, date and cover the jar and give it a good shake.
- Keep the jar in a dark place and shake daily for the first week then occasionally for the next 5 weeks. Taste your extract, if you want it stronger let it sit until 8 weeks.
- Strain your finished almond extract through a coffee filter and bottle it.
- You can keep the entire extract in a mason jar or put it into small amber bottles for gifts.
- Make sure to label them so you don’t get them mixed up.
- This makes 1 pint of extract.
Homemade Lemon Extract
Ingredients
- 1-2 organic lemons
- 8 ounces 80 proof vodka
- 1 pint-sized mason jar
- Amber-colored bottles for packaging
- Cutting board and knife
- Coffee filter
Directions
- Peel thin strips of zest from your lemon making sure you don’t get the white pithy part which is quite bitter. You can use a zester or a vegetable peeler.
- Place the zest in your canning jar and add vodka making sure they are completely submerged.
- Label, date and cover the jar and give it a good shake.
- Keep the jar in a dark place and shake daily for the first week then occasionally for the next 5 weeks.
- After 6 weeks you have an extract.
You can now make your own extracts at a fraction of the price of buying them. You know what’s in your extracts and there aren’t any chemicals or fillers added. Have some fun and surprise your family and friends with gifts you have made from your heart.