How to Make Homemade Botanical Extracts
Hortus Ltd./Mark Fonville
Everyone uses extracts, and they can be pretty pricey at the grocery store. Making your own extract is easy, inexpensive and a great way to encourage experimentation in the kitchen. Feel free to include some recipe ideas with your gift for an added personal touch. Get started on these now though, as steeping can take a month or more, and double or triple the recipes to suit your gifting needs.
Hortus Ltd./Mark Fonville
Mint Extract
Ingredients:
- 1 cup mint
- 12 ounces vodka
Directions:
Wash and de-stem mint. Add leaves and vodka into a Mason jar and gently crush mint leaves to release oils. Tightly close lid, and shake a few times. Store jar in a dark, cool place, and shake every day. Let steep for about one month.
When ready to gift, strain and funnel extract into smaller containers and decorate with labels and tags.
Almond Extract
Ingredients:
- 6 whole, raw skinless almonds
- 8 ounces vodka
Directions:
Roughly chop almonds. Add chopped almonds and vodka into a Mason jar, tightly close lid, and shake a few times. Store jar in a dark, cool place, and shake every day. Let steep for about one month.
When ready to gift, strain and funnel extract into smaller containers and decorate with labels and tags.
Vanilla Extract
Ingredients:
- 4 vanilla beans
- 8 ounces vodka
Directions:
Split vanilla beans in half, lengthwise, exposing insides.
Add beans and vodka into a Mason jar. Tightly close lid, then shake a few times. Store jar in a dark, cool place, and shake every day. Let steep for about one month.
When ready to gift, funnel extract into smaller containers and decorate with labels and tags.
Orange Extract
Ingredients:
- 2 large naval oranges
- 8 ounces vodka
Directions:
Peel or zest oranges. Zesting reduces bitterness by avoiding the white pith.
Add orange peels and vodka into a Mason jar. Tightly close lid, then shake a few times. Store jar in a dark, cool place, and shake every day. Let steep for about one month.
When ready to gift, strain and funnel extract into smaller containers and decorate with labels and tags.
