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Homemade Vanilla Extract

Course Seasonings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 96 (2 cups)

Ingredients

Vanilla Extract

  • 6 vanilla beans split lengthwise
  • 2 cups vodka

Mint Extract

  • 1/2 cup mint leaves
  • vodka

Orange Extract

  • 1 large navel orange
  • vodka

Lemon Extract

  • 1 large lemon
  • vodka

Almond Extract

  • 10 raw almonds (unsalted, untoasted)

Instructions

Vanilla Extract:

  • Place vanilla beans in a tall jar; cover with vodka. Seal jar tightly. Let stand in a cool dark place at least 6 weeks, gently shaking jar once a week. Yield: 2 cups.
  • Cut your vanilla beans in half, then split open each half to expose the vanilla seeds on the inside of the pod.
  • Place cut vanilla beans inside your glass bottle.
  • Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle.
  • Seal tightly and store the bottle in a cool, dry place.
  • Every few days, tilt your bottle upside down to gently mix the liquid inside.
  • 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 Extract:

  • Stuff mint leaves into your glass bottle.
  • Using a chopstick, skewer, or another poking device, lightly bruise/crush the leaves inside the bottle.
  • Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle.
  • Every few days, tilt your bottle upside down to gently mix the liquid inside.
  • 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 Extract:

  • Peel thin strips of zest from ½ of your orange.
  • Place zest into your glass bottle.
  • Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle.
  • Every few days, tilt your bottle upside down to gently mix the liquid inside.
  • 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!)

Lemon Extract:

  • Peel thin strips of zest from your lemon.
  • Place zest into your glass bottle.
  • Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle.
  • Every few days, tilt your bottle upside down to gently mix the liquid inside.
  • After 5-6 weeks, you have extract!

Almond Extract:

  • Chop your raw, unsalted almonds small enough to fit in your jar.
  • Place chopped almonds into your jar.

Notes

Replacing Vodka: just substitute the alcohol called for in any extract recipe with three parts liquid vegetable glycerin and one part water.
You can also replace Vodka with Bourbon.