Day 1
6 Weeks
I used to make these as gifts for holiday or housewarming baskets. Something fun about looking at someone’s face when they realize that it is 100% made in my home or from items in my garden. Me, I like the process. I like watching them go from clear vodka to a bright lemon yellow or a dark chocolate brown.
Not going to lie, the first time I made the mint and spearmint extracts, their brown color was a tad disconcerting. Their heavenly taste, fixed that concern really fast. It is delicious! I can’t live without it.
Once the extracts are allowed to “rest”, they will all become amazing gifts and deliver strong tastes in whatever you choose to use them in. For this post we are making Vanilla, Mint, Espresso and Lemon.
When it’s holiday season, I make them in large jars and pour them into smaller jars to put a cute label and string on. When I’m making them for myself, I make them in apothecary jars. Each week you need to shake them vigorously to continue their process of absorbing the vodka and in turn emit their delicious flavors.
You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food.
GOOD FOOD. GOOD FRIENDS. GOOD TIMES.
Homemade Extracts - Vanilla, Espresso, Mint & Lemon
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Ingredients
Vanilla Extract:
- 1 cup high quality vodka
- 3 Vanilla beans
Lemon Extract:
- 1 cup high quality vodka
- 1 large lemon
Espresso Extract:
- 1 cup high quality vodka
- 1/4 cup espresso beans
Mint or Spearmint Extract:
- 1 cup high quality vodka
- 1/4 cup mint leaves
Instructions
Vanilla Extract:
- Pour 1 cup of very cold vodka in jar.
- Take each of the beans and slice down the center with a sharp knife. Using a spoon, scrape the vanilla (looks like dirt) from the center and drop into the jar.
- Put the vanilla husks into the jar and close the lid.
- One day each week, shake the jar and let rest.
- At week 4 to 6 (ish) weeks open the lid and taste. It will be much stronger than a store version, however, the smell will be more vanilla than vodka. If you smell vodka, place lid back on jar and let rest another week.
- Vanilla extract color resembles a glass of dark hot tea.
Lemon Extract:
- Pour 1 cup of very cold vodka in jar.
- Take a very sharp knife (or potato peeler) and slice the rind of the entire lemon. Folding the skin gently, place it into the jar with vodka.
- One day each week, shake the jar and let rest.
- At week 4 to 6 (ish) weeks open the lid and taste. It will be much stronger than a store version, however, the smell will be more lemon than vodka. If you smell vodka, place lid back on jar and let rest another week.
- Lemon extract color is bright lemon yellow.
Espresso Extract:
- Pour 1 cup of very cold vodka in jar.
- Pour espresso beans into jar.
- One day each week, shake the jar and let rest.
- At week 4 to 6 (ish) weeks open the lid and smell. If you smell vodka, place lid back on jar and let rest another week.
- Espresso extract color resembles a cup of hot espresso
Mint or Spearmint Extract:
- Pour 1 cup of very cold vodka in jar.
- Push leaves into jar.
- One day each week, shake the jar and let rest.
- At week 4 to 6 (ish) weeks open the lid and smell. If you smell vodka, place lid back on jar and let rest another week.
- Mint extract color resembles a glass of iced tea.
These are the apothecary jars that I use. Note, I do NOT get paid to advertise these jars. They are what I have found work the best for my extracts and make the prettiest gifts.
