Make Your Own Extracts for Cooking and Gift Giving

Why Make Your Own Extracts

Good quality extracts can make such a difference in cooking! Baking sugar cookies? Vanilla is wonderful, but add some almond extract and now you really have a special treat. Or a touch of orange extract in the frosting on a chocolate cake. Oh, my!

Pure extracts can be pricey, but you can easily make them at home for much less. Package them in attractive jars, and you have a unique item for gift giving.

Below are 6 simple recipes to get you started. All of them use vodka. I prefer a brand that is GMO-free – I used Absolut brand for my extracts. It’s made from deep well water and winter wheat grown in Sweden (where GMOs are not allowed). When I was last in the liquor store I also spotted some organic brands of vodka.

The Extract Recipes

Vanilla extract

1 ounce vanilla bean pods, split down the side (where to purchase)
1 cup vodka

Combine the vanilla beans and vodka. Cover and store in a dark area for 6 – 12 months, shaking occasionally. Remove the beans if desired, and bottle in an attractive jar for gift giving.

For high quality vanilla extract, read Make Your Own Quality Vanilla Extract.

Mint extract

1/2 cup mint leaves, torn
1 cup vodka

Combine the mint leaves and vodka. Cover and store in a dark area for 1 – 2 months, shaking occasionally. Remove the mint leaves by straining, and bottle in an attractive jar for gift giving.

Almond extract

1 cup organic bitter apricot kernels (where to purchase)
boiling water
1 cup vodka

Pour boiling water over your kernels to blanch them; let them sit for 45 – 60 mins. Remove the skins.

Combine apricot kernels and vodka. Cover and store in a dark area for 2 – 3 months, shaking occasionally. Remove the kernels by straining, and bottle in an attractive jar for gift giving.

Orange / Lemon / Lime extract

peel of 5 – 6 oranges, lemons, or lime (use the higher amount for the smaller fruits) with the pith removed. The easiest way to do this is to peel the fruit with a vegetable peeler.
1 cup vodka

Combine the citrus peel and vodka. Cover and store in a dark area for 1 – 2 months, shaking occasionally. Remove the peels by straining, and bottle in an attractive jar for gift giving.

Chocolate extract

6 Tablespoons raw cacao nibs (where to purchase)
1 c. vodka

Combine the raw cacao nibs and vodka. Cover and store in a dark area for 1 – 2 months, shaking occasionally. Remove the cacao nibs by straining, and bottle in an attractive jar for gift giving.

Coffee extract

4 Tablespoons crushed coffee beans (use a mortar and pestle, or a coffee grinder but be sure to just pulse so that you don’t actually grind the coffee) (where to purchase)
1 cup vodka

Combine the coffee beans and vodka. Cover and store in a dark area for 1 – 2 months, shaking occasionally. Remove the coffee beans by straining, and bottle in an attractive jar for gift giving.