Homeade Extracts

Everything Tastes better when made yourself

These recipes are so #easy, you'll wonder why you ever even bought #extracts from the store. I'll show you some of the basic extract recipes below (vanilla, mint, orange and almond).

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Ingredients:

Vanilla:

1. 3 whole vanilla beans

2. Vodka (You can also use bourbon)

Mint:

1. ½ cup mint leaves

2. Vodka

Orange:

1. 1 large navel orange

2. Vodka

Almond Extract:

1. 10 raw almonds , chopped (unsalted, untoasted)

Directions:

Vanilla Step 1

Cut your vanilla beans in half, then split open each half to expose the vanilla seeds on the inside of the pod.

Step 2

Place cut vanilla beans inside your glass bottle.

Step 3

Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle.

Step 4

Seal tightly and store bottle in a cool, dry place.

Step 5

Every few days, tilt your bottle upside down to gently mix the liquid inside.

Step 6

After 5-6 weeks, you have extract! (If you leave in your vanilla beans, when you start running low, just add more vodka and wait a little.)

Mint

Step 1

Stuff mint leaves into your glass bottle.

Step 2

Using a chopstick, skewer, or other poking device, lightly bruise/crush the leaves inside the bottle.

Step 3

Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle.

Step 4

Every few days, tilt your bottle upside down to gently mix the liquid inside.

Step 5

After 5-6 weeks, you have extract! (I’m not sure if, like vanilla extract, you can just leave the mint leaves inside. Since it’s leafy plant matter which disintegrates more easily, it may be a good idea to take it out. My leaves went from a vibrant green in the beginning to kind of a dull brown by the end so I took them out just to be safe – I poured my mint extract into another container through a sieve and discarded the mint leaves, then poured the filtered extract back into the bottle.)

Orange

Step 1

Peel thin strips of zest from ½ of your orange.

Step 2

Place zest into your glass bottle.

Step 3

Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle.

Step 4

Every few days, tilt your bottle upside down to gently mix the liquid inside.

Step 5

After 5-6 weeks, you have extract! (I think with citrus peels the acid (and alcohol bath), it’s probably safe to leave the peels inside the bottle like a vanilla bean for re-fill purposes. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, take it out!)

Almond

Step 1

Chop your raw, unsalted almonds small enough to fit in your jar

Step 2

Place chopped almonds into your jar.